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Colin Powell
General, first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs & Secretary of State
The son of Jamaican immigrants who rose to the summit of America's military and diplomacy.
The rise
A career army officer of Jamaican heritage from the Bronx, Powell climbed to four-star general and, in 1989, became the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
What they did
He shaped U.S. strategy in the Gulf War, articulating the 'Powell Doctrine' of overwhelming force, and in 2001 became the first Black U.S. Secretary of State.
The full picture
His 2003 United Nations speech asserting Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, used to justify the Iraq War, proved false and became, in his own words, a permanent blot on his record.
Why it matters
Powell broke racial barriers at the pinnacle of American power and remained a symbol of disciplined public service across party lines.
“Never let the dying hand of racism rest on your shoulder, weighing you down. Let racism always be someone else's burden to carry.”