"I see these things, Yet am I slave, When banners flaunt and bugles blow, Content to fill a soldier's grave."(P.40) This is an old poem written by Colonel C.T. Laham, which represents Colin Powell's life as he grew into it. Colin Powell is the embodiment of the American dream. The son of diligent Jamaican immigrants, Powell was born in Harlem where he grew up in the racially integrated South Bronx, attended the City College Of New York, joined the R.O.T.C., and discovered his passion for military. With this poem, Colin Powell realized how he has to cope with the psychological problems of racism. However, it did not happen the way Colin Powell thought it was going to proceed. The incidents of racism that Colin Powell experienced were isolated generally in private, and dealt with apparent bitterness. If people are stupid enough to be bigoted, then that is their problem, not Powells.
U.S. Army General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Jo...
English: Colin Powell on a visit to Google on Marc...
English: US Army (USA) General (GEN) Colin Powell,...As I read these first two parts of "My American Journey," it was obvious that Mr. Powell was not going to allow someone else's feelings about him become his obsession about himself.
Colin Powell Growing up Colin Powell was born on April 5, 1937, when the family was living at Morningside Ave. in Harlem. After a couple of years living in Harlem and a few other places, Colin's family settled at 952 Kelly Street in the Hunts Point section of South Bronx. "We kept our doors and windows locked. I remember steel rods running from the back of our front door to a brace on the floor, so that no one could push in the door. Burglaries were common."(P.9) This is a place were the third generation welfare families had to live because of the low rent and tax base.
Colin Powell being introduced to Racism The neighborhood had...