One prominent U.S. Secretary of State in Black history is Colin Powell. Powell served as the Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush, becoming the first African American to hold this position.

Powell had a distinguished military career before entering politics, rising to the rank of four-star general and serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking military officer in the United States. As Secretary of State, Powell played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, including the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

Despite his accomplishments, Powell's tenure as Secretary of State was not without controversy. He famously presented evidence to the United Nations in 2003 that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, a claim that was later found to be inaccurate. Powell later expressed regret over the role he played in making the case for the Iraq War.

Colin Powell's legacy as Secretary of State is complex, but he remains an important figure in Black history for breaking barriers and achieving a high level of leadership in the U.S. government.