I'm reading Colin Powell's autobiography "My American Journey" and a lot of his narrative is about being black. But, I still can't believe Powell's beliefs align with ObaMao in any fundamental way.
By his own account, Powell was inconvenienced by segregation in the south, but he is also a political animal who benefited from his color - being talented and in the right place at the right time. Powell networked with other blacks in order to promote based on the color of their skin (P.160 he joined a group called "the Rocks" - "A group of black officers in the Washington area had taken a leaf from the white power structure; with Bob Burk as their leader, they formed an old-boys network.").
Yes, Powell looked for competent, talented, patriotic people and he hated mediocrity - kudos for that! ObaMao does not fit that description.
“Yes, Powell looked for competent, talented, patriotic people and he hated mediocrity.”
Isn’t Colin Powell a poster boy for mediocrity?
A relative of mine, a career Army ret'd, said that Army colleagues in Virginia and DC regarded Powell as more political than military.
As such, Powell did not have a lot of respect among some in the Army - maybe a lot in the Army - I don't have a head count.
But, the sentiment of lacking respect for Powell was certainly prevalent.