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“Never let the dying hand of racism rest on your shoulder, weighing you down. Let racism always be someone else's burden to carry.”

Source: Commencement address at Howard University, Washington, D.C., 14 May 1994

Context He gave this commencement address to graduates of Howard University, the historically Black university in Washington, months after retiring as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Portrait of Colin Powell
Colin PowellUnited States · 1937–2021
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