General Colin Luther Powell – The Political General

Colin Powell

The Political General

 

by DALE RICARDO SHIELDS 

April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021

Powell,-Colin

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” – Colin Luther Powell 

 

“GENERAL COLIN POWELL’S 13 RULES OF LEADERSHIP!”

 

“Have a vision. Be demanding.” – Colin Luther Powell

 

The story of Colin Luther Powell is the epitome of the American Dream. Colin Powell was born to Jamaican immigrant parents in New York’s Harlem borough at a time when African-Americans were given very few opportunities to succeed. However, Colin Powell would go on to defy the odds to serve in the highest position in the United States Military and become the first African-American Secretary of State. Colin Powell is one of the most admired and respected people in the United States, and he has served under Republican and Democratic Presidents even though he considers himself a Republican. Throughout his military and political career, Colin Powell has been very influential in the United States Military and Government.

 

Early Life

Colin Powell’s parents immigrated from Jamaica in the West Indies to the United States to start a more prosperous and opportunistic life. Colin was born in Harlem on April 5, 1937, however, he was raised in South Bronx from the age of four. Colin was named after a heroic World War II flyer named Colin P. Kelly Jr. Powell was the second child of Maud Arial and Luther Theophilus Powell. Powell attended Morris High School before moving on to City College in New York in 1954.

"I was doing selfies 60 years before you Facebook folks."

“I was doing selfies 60 years before you Facebook folks.”

Colin Powell (1937–2021) was an American Army general and statesman who became the first African American to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, from 2001 to 2005

. His distinguished career also included serving as National Security Advisor and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

Death
Powell died on October 18, 2021, at the age of 84. The cause was complications from COVID-19, which he contracted while undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that compromised his immune system. Although fully vaccinated, his weakened immune system made him particularly vulnerable to the virus. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 
Major career milestones
  • Military Career: A son of Jamaican immigrants, Powell was born in Harlem and raised in the South Bronx. He joined the Army through ROTC at City College of New York and served for 35 years.
    • Vietnam War: He served two tours in Vietnam and earned a Purple Heart.
    • Operation Desert Storm: As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993, he oversaw the U.S. military response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
  • “Powell Doctrine”: He famously articulated a military doctrine that called for the use of overwhelming and decisive force only when clear national security interests are at stake, with public and international support, and a clear exit strategy.
  • Political Appointments:
    • National Security Advisor: Served President Ronald Reagan from 1987 to 1989.
    • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Appointed by President George H. W. Bush and served through the start of the Bill Clinton administration.
    • Secretary of State: Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001, he was the first African American to hold the position.
  • The Iraq War and UN Speech: His legacy was complicated by his controversial 2003 speech to the United Nations, where he presented faulty intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq. He later described the speech as a “blot” on his record. 
Public life and legacy
  • Bipartisan Appeal: After retiring from the military, Powell was considered a potential presidential candidate for both parties but chose not to run.
  • Shifting Allegiance: Though he served in Republican administrations and was a registered Republican for many years, he endorsed Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, and Joe Biden in 2020.
  • Founding America’s Promise: After his military retirement in 1993, he founded America’s Promise Alliance, an organization focused on helping at-risk youth.
  • Author: He wrote the best-selling autobiography My American Journey (1995) and the leadership book It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership (2012). 

 

 

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iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.

Here's a summary of his background and achievements:

Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.

Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.

Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:

Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.

Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.