There have been several notable African Americans who have served as U.S. Secretary of State throughout history. One of the most prominent figures is Colin Powell, who served as the 65th Secretary of State under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. Powell was the first African American to hold the position and also the first African American to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Another notable figure is Condoleezza Rice, who served as the 66th Secretary of State under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009. Rice was the second African American to hold the position and the first African American woman to do so.

Both Powell and Rice played significant roles in shaping U.S. foreign policy during their tenures as Secretary of State, and their appointments represented important milestones in Black history and American politics.