The Legacy of Colin Powell

If you walked through the Andrews University flag mall last week, you may have noticed that the American flag was at half mast. This is because America is mourning the death of former Secretary of State and decorated general Colin Powell.

Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937 in Harlem, New York to parents Luther and Maud Powell. He was raised in the South Bronx, surrounded by his loving family and active community. He graduated from Morris High School in 1954 and attended the City College of New York, majoring in geology with no definite plans for the future. It was there that he joined the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps), where he truly found his passion for military service.

After graduating in 1958 from the City College of New York, Powell was recruited as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. There he met the love of his life, Alma Vivian Johnson whom he married in 1962.

Soon after, Powell was stationed in Southern Vietnam during the Vietnam War. There he proved himself as a crucial tactical advisor and heroically saved his fellow soldiers from a helicopter crash in which he was also injured. Powell returned to the United States a national hero, and over time rose through the ranks, becoming both the first African American and youngest four-star general in the military while in his early fifties.

In 2000, Powell was appointed Secretary of State by President George W. Bush. Under the Bush Administration, Secretary Powell was crucial in the interactions between the US and the conflicts in Iraq, in addition to many other international endeavours. Powell later resigned and retired in 2004 after admitting to Congress that information he had been given to testify to the UN Security Council was false.

However, the tactical approach of Iraqi Invasion was solely based on the Powell Doctrine: a method of war in which nations enter with every intention to win at all costs using every advantage that they have. Everything was done in a cold and calculated fashion to fight against international crimes; however, I think that Powell overcalculated. Yes, these exaggerated actions such as administering numerous troops to the area, using superior weapons, and utilizing highly developed explosives quelled acts of terrorism for a time. Yes, Powell was only working with the misinformation that he had received from the CIA. However, that does not excuse how the severity of his response painted the picture that the rest of the world views as America’s method of dealing with international affairs and conflicts.

Following his resignation, Powell openly criticized the Bush administration. Many people suggested that Powell run to become the first African-American president. For a time, Powell considered the endeavour; however, he was quoted to later say he “did not have the fire in the belly” for it. Instead, Powell endorsed Barack Obama’s candidacy and openly celebrated when President Obama was elected.

It is important to note that at this time Colin Powell was a registered Republican. Honestly, that confused me at first, because I thought that it was imperative in the realm of politics to support the candidates from one’s own party. However, Powell supported Obama’s candidacy and later presidency without losing his own identity as a Republican. Powell had moxy for doing that, and I admire him for it. Sometimes the best thing that one can do for their country is the one that they do not initially agree with.

During the rest of his retirement, Powell enjoyed time with his family, giving speeches on leadership and endorsing his old college, the City College of New York. Colin Powell faced health challenges in the later years of his life, including multiple myeloma cancer. He contracted Covid-19 this year and died on October 5, 2021, age 84. Powell is survived by his wife, three children, and many grandchildren. Powell is remembered as an American hero, general, world leader, first of his station, and ultimately a public servant.