Colin Powell’s commencement address delivered to the graduates of Howard University on May 14, 1994, is among the most remembered speeches of an impressively influential African American in the late twentieth century. The speech helped keep the recently retired General Powell in the headlines at a time when many thought he might be the first black candidate for the presidency on a major party ticket. Like most commencement addresses, Powell’s remarks were designed to urge the listening graduates— and their friends and families—to aspire to greater philosophical and career goals. But because of his unusually popular public reputation and his potential presidential candidacy, Powell’s address had a much larger public audience. Today, this speech has been largely overshadowed by some of Powell’s remarks as secretary of state during the presidential administration of George W. Bush.