Black Pioneers in Politics
The Most Successful African-American and African Politicians
Aug 24, 2009
The few Black high profile politicians that have held power have not only transformed their country's policies, they've also captivated the world.
Colin Powell - Ex-US Secretary of State
On December 16, 2000, Colin Powell was appointed the 65th US Secretary of State in George W. Bush's administration and became the first African-American to hold the post.
Born to Jamaican Immigrants in New York in 1937, Powell embarked on a military career and climbed the ranks to become an Army General in 1989. His first major political assignment was as President Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor before he was unanimously voted in as Secretary of State, making him the highest ranking African-American in any US administration.
Regarded as a political moderate, he was instrumental in rallying the USin support of the war on terror following the September 11 attacks. Powell was tipped to run for President in 1996 and 2000 but declined.
"He has an immigrant background, a Bronx childhood, a record of Vietnam heroics and a towering presence on the world stage. General Colin Powell is, to his countrymen, a totem of all that is achievable in their land of the free." ("Colin Powell Profile, BBC Four, Undated)
Condoleezza Rice - Ex-US Secretary of State
During US President George Bush's eight years in office, Condoleezza Rice was his right hand woman. Born in Alabama in 1954, she had completed a Political Science degree by the age of 19 and by 27 had completed a Masters and PhD and was the Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford University.
A specialist in Soviet Union Politics and fluent in Russian, Rice's first major appointment in Washington was as the senior director of Soviet and East European Affairs for President George W.H Bush in 1989. She then became George Bush junior's foreign policy advisor during his 2000 presidential campaign and was promoted to National Security Advisor when he won, becoming the first woman and first African-American to take the role.
In 2004, she reached another milestone when she became the second African-American secretary of state after taking over from Colin Powell. Nicknamed 'Warrior Princess' due to her delicate manners and stern demeanour, she initiated talks with South Korea and Iran, brokered peace deals between Israel and Palestine and led the Russian negotiations over missile defence.
Twice named the Most Powerful Woman in the World by Forbes magazine, she has travelled to over 83 countries and was widely tipped to run for President in 2008 but declined.
Barack Obama - US President
As the first African-American President of America, Barack Obama's rise to the highest political office in the world broke new ground and set campaign and voting records.
Born in Hawaii in 1961 and a graduate of Harvard Law School, Obama's mother was a white American and his father Kenyan. His first step on the rungs of power was in 2005 when he became only the third African-American to be popularly elected to the US Senate, winning by the largest margin in the history of Illinois.
During his 2008 presidential campaign against Republican John McCain, Obama was the first candidate to turn down $84 million in public funds and instead relied on small donations from over 3 million donors- more grassroots support than any other candidate- who gave a third of the record $650 million raised.
Obama's rampant publicity machine was also pioneering: his image and slogan of 'Change We Can Believe In' was on everything from lapel pins to sushi, and he was the most effective at using the internet to amass votes, gaining the highest youth support with 70% of under 25s voting for him. The largest voter turnout since the 60s eventually clinched a historic victory for Obama, the first candidate to become president without family backing or military records.
"Obama owes his political success to many things... [including] his...inspiring personal story and his campaign organisation's... strategic discipline. Mostly, though, Obama's rapid climb up the political ladder has been marked by rung after rung of notable speeches...it is hard to think of a politician of the modern era whose mastery of the seemingly old-fashioned art of political speechmaking has propelled him further or faster than Obama." ("Power of the Orator May Propel Senator to the Very Top", The Guardian, August 29, 2009)
Nelson Mandela - Ex-President of South Africa
A monumental politician globally embraced by leaders and ordinary citizens, Nelson Mandela has come to symbolise the fulfilment of the dream behind decades of activism.
Born in 1918 in a South Africa under apartheid, Mandela led the African National Congress (ANC) from the 50s as the party attempted to end white-minority rule. Originally Influenced by Mahatma Ghandi's methods of non-violent resistance, the party later moved to armed struggle as a last resort following years of violence and increased repression.
In 1964, Mandela was arrested along with other ANC members and charged with sabotage. In a statement for his defence he said:
"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
He was sentenced to life imprisonment and served 18 out of 27 years in the now infamous Robben Island. Whilst incarcerated, the world grew sympathetic to his cause and pressured the ruling Afrikaans to release Mandela and end apartheid.
He was eventually freed in 1990 in jubilant scenes broadcast worldwide and immediately went to work with reconciliation. A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Mandela was elected the first African President of South Africa in 1994 and served one full term, and since his retirement has become an icon of African nobility in the face of prejudice.
Related article: Kimberly Ward's Eyewitness Account of Obama's Inauguration captures the sights and sounds of being in the crowd at the historic event
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