Colin Powell was a trailblazing figure in Black history, becoming the first African American to serve as the United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. Powell was born in Harlem, New York, in 1937, and rose through the ranks of the U.S. military to become a four-star general. He served as National Security Advisor to President Ronald Reagan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton before being appointed as Secretary of State by President George W. Bush.

Powell's tenure as Secretary of State was marked by his efforts to advance U.S. foreign policy interests, including his role in making the case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq to the United Nations Security Council. While Powell's legacy has been controversial due to his support for the Iraq War and the faulty intelligence he presented to the UN, he remains a respected figure for his groundbreaking achievements as a Black leader in American politics and the military. Powell passed away in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of service and leadership in both the military and the diplomatic realm.