Many ask, "Why doesn't US Secretary of State Colin Powell run for President?" General Powell, although one of America's staunchest supporters of affirmative action, has consistently enjoyed a popularity among Americans that has been practically off the charts since the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The September, 2002 National Gallup Poll gave Powell an 88 percent favorable rating. Black Major General Harry W. Brooks, USA (Ret.), a former Oakland businessman and Vice President of World Airways, was Powell's commander and mentor in Korean. Brooks says Powell's wife weighs heavily on his decision not to run for President, but "Colin is not afraid to run."

My "twist" is that Powell carefully watches eminently qualified Blacks leading in major political races, dramatically lose in the final count, such as the losses this past November election of Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk for US Senator from Texas and New York State Comptroller Carl McCall for Governor of New York. In their disappointment, Black Americans wonder, probably like Powell, if white America is really ready for major Black political players. Would white America vote what they say in the Popularity Polls or would the symbolism of a serious Black presidential candidate, although losing, be enough to absolve its guilt of America's racism?

However, congratulations go out to Black Maryland Republican Party Chairman Michael S. Steele and Black Columbus City Councilwoman Jennette Bradley, who became Lieutenant Governors of the States of Maryland and Ohio, respectively. Blacks see these positions as symbolic with little power to change their plight, however. The "good news" is that the Congressional Black Caucus held on to their seats and even picked up one new seat to total 39 members. The "bad news" is that the anti-affirmative action Republican Party now controls the Senate, Congress and the White House and there will be no Black Republican Congressman, like J. C. Watts, to block the destruction of affirmative action at the Federal level, as he did in 1996. "With Congress now in the hands of far right ideologues, there is little that stands in the way of the White House's goal of packing the federal courts," states the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

True, affirmative action could be in grave danger in the future, but there seems to be no replacement. In the hopes of admitting more Blacks and Latinos, the University of California implemented a new admissions policy that expands the academic qualifications to include such factors as special talents and experiences with adversity. "No substantial effect," concluded the University wide academic senate. Some states like California, Texas and Florida, have X-percent plans guaranteeing admission to prestigious public colleges for high school seniors, who graduate in the top X-percent of their class. Again, the bad news: "The plans are not as effective as racial preferences (affirmative action)," states a US Commission on Civil Rights Report. The good news: Affirmative Action is a remedy for the present and future effects of past and continuing racial and gender discrimination. Undoubtedly, the struggle will continue.