Today
Achieving Power in Government
In recent years, two black Americans were asked to assume roles among the most powerful people in the world. In 2005, Dr. Condoleezza Rice became the first-ever black woman to be appointed Secretary of State, the President's top adviser on foreign affairs. Before Rice, the post was held by Colin L. Powell, the first African American to have the job. He was appointed in 2001.

Rice grew up in Alabama during a time when segregation and racism were rampant. She has said that she felt she had to be "twice as good" to succeed. She went to college at the age of 15, served on former President George Bush's National Security Council, and became the youngest, first female, and first non-white provost at Stanford University. A provost is a highly-ranked managing officer at a university. In 2001, Rice became the first-ever black (and woman!) Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Adviser.

She gives a lot of credit to her parents for her successes. "My parents had me absolutely convinced that, well, you may not be able to have a hamburger at Woolworth's but you can be President of the United States."

Powell grew up in a poor area of New York City, but was determined to work his way out of it. A professional soldier for 35 years, Powell became the first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989. The chairman is the principal military adviser to the president, and is the nation's most prestigious military position.

Secretary Powell was also the founder of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to motivating young people from every part of American life. "America's Promise is pulling together the might of this nation to strengthen the character and competence of youth. And it's working," Powell said.