First Black Secretary of State of the United States: Powell

Author: Author Country: China
Editor-in-Chief: Bai Mo et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-05-01
Features: The success story of an African Black descendant in a racially discriminatory American society, the legend of a child from a New York slum ascending to the position of U.S. Secretary of State, and a myth that makes all Black and colored people proud
Detailed Introduction: Colin Powell, the 65th U.S. Secretary of State, is a legendary figure in many respects. Born in the famous Harlem neighborhood of New York City, his parents were Jamaican immigrants who came to the United States "to strike it rich." Growing up in poverty, he worked while attending school, carrying packages and cleaning floors to earn some spending money. In his youth, his academic performance was average, and he lacked ambition. However, after reaching adulthood, he had a profound awakening and rose to prominence. Starting as a second lieutenant, he spent 35 years in the U.S. military, rising to the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the highest military commander in the United States—before retiring in 1993. On December 16, 2000, President-elect George W. Bush nominated Powell to serve as his government's Secretary of State, marking another peak in Powell's political career. Compared to the hustle and bustle of the presidential election, Powell's nomination seemed natural and inevitable, earning unanimous praise from all sectors of American society. Due to his outstanding abilities, Powell was also considered one of the top contenders for the position of Secretary of State in Vice President Al Gore's designated new cabinet. As a result, some American media jokingly said, "In reality, President Bush won the right to nominate Powell as Secretary of State."
Powell is an upright person. He is a good husband and father. He fixes household plumbing, accompanies his wife to the movies and travels, and watches his daughter's theater performances. He enjoys short, powerful, and easily understandable aphorisms; admires the sunset views of Washington, D.C.; and plays squash and disassembles old Volvo cars in his spare time. Even during his upbringing in Harlem, thanks to strict family discipline and self-control, young Powell remained untainted by the environment around him. He never touched drugs, and while serving overseas alone, he maintained impeccable integrity, earning the respect of his colleagues.
Powell is a legendary American military figure. His military career began at the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps of New York City College, where he held various positions, including Pentagon staff member, military instructor, White House researcher, regiment commander, deputy division commander, military assistant to the Secretary of Defense, corps commander, commander of the Army Forces Command, National Security Advisor to the President, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He once guarded atomic cannons on the East-West front line in West Germany, participated in the Vietnam War twice, was deployed to overseas U.S. military bases three times, and spent years shuttling between the Potomac River and the White House and the Pentagon.
Powell is an outstanding military strategist and politician. Having personally experienced both the Cold War and the hot war, he has unique and profound insights into the military and war. His four terms in senior government positions in the United States gave him the opportunity to directly participate in the decision-making processes of major historical events, such as summit meetings between the United States and the Soviet Union, handling the "Iran-Contra" scandal, and invading Panama. Notably, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he planned and commanded the 1991 Gulf War. At the height of his fame in 1995, he nearly became the first Black American to run for president. Some compared the Gulf War hero Schwarzkopf to an open book, while Powell was likened to a closed one—easily understood by others but enigmatic in his depths.
Powell is not a perfect person. One of the goals he pursued throughout his life was to become a true soldier. However, after his first visit to the White House in 1972, he became inseparably tied to politics and was ultimately remembered as a "political general" in history. Powell's own political views also reflect his contradictions. As a young Black officer who had just joined the military, he voted for Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election. Later, as he grew older and served in the Republican government for 12 years, he became a Republican. Additionally, as a Black man, Powell benefited from equal opportunities in the military, yet as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he adopted a very intolerant attitude toward homosexuality in the armed forces.
Powell is full of contradictions, but through his own efforts, he achieved a near-perfect state. Powell embodies the "American Dream." There are two layers of meaning behind this: The first layer refers to the fact that during his upbringing, he did not become discouraged when he nearly lost his weapon as a new soldier, nor did he become because he faced unequal treatment as a Black person, nor did he become depressed due to misunderstandings from superiors or family difficulties. Instead, through relentless personal effort, he ultimately achieved success. In this sense, Powell's moving experiences themselves embody part of the "American Dream." The second layer refers to the fact that Powell grew up in the United States and was a product of a certain environment. For example, in the preface to his autobiography, he asserted, "(This story) can only happen in America." His worldview and values are inevitably colored by the "American-made" label. Moreover, in a racially discriminatory America, whether Black or white, people largely view Powell's political achievements as a miracle and a myth, earning him widespread attention.
This book was co-authored by five authors, with specific contributions as follows: Preface and Part 5: Bai Mo; Part 1: Zhang Song, Wang Dong; Part 2: Li Wei; Part 3: Zhang Song; Part 4: Wang Jun. The entire book was uniformly reviewed and edited by Bai Mo. March 2001