One notable U.S. Secretary of State in Black history is Colin Powell. He served as the 65th Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush, becoming the first African American to hold that position. Powell had a distinguished military career before entering politics, rising to the rank of four-star general in the U.S. Army and serving as National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Powell played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during his tenure as Secretary of State, particularly in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the lead-up to the Iraq War. He famously presented the case for military intervention in Iraq to the United Nations Security Council in 2003, although some of the intelligence he cited later turned out to be inaccurate.

Despite facing criticism for his role in the Iraq War, Powell remains a respected figure in U.S. politics and has been a trailblazer for African Americans in government and diplomacy. His legacy as Secretary of State is complex, reflecting both his achievements and the controversies surrounding U.S. foreign policy during his time in office.