Colin Powell's Wife Ethnicity, Race & Heritage: Who Is Alma Powell? Full Background Explained

Quick answer: Alma Powell (née Johnson) is Black American. Born on October 27, 1937, in Birmingham, Alabama, she is the widow of General Colin Powell, the 65th United States Secretary of State and former National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Alma Powell is of African American heritage, rooted in the Deep South, and is a prominent philanthropist and advocate for early childhood education.

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Is Alma Powell Mixed Race? Is She Biracial?

No — Alma Powell is not mixed race or biracial. She is Black American — of African American heritage, born in Birmingham, Alabama, during the era of Jim Crow segregation. Her parents, Robert C. Johnson Jr. and Mildred "Micki" Johnson (née Green), are both Black American.

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What Is Alma Powell's Ethnicity?

Alma Powell's ethnicity is Black American — specifically African American, rooted in the Birmingham, Alabama community. Born in 1937, Alma grew up during the era of racial segregation in the American South — a formative experience that shaped her perspective on America and on the country she and her husband Colin would come to represent at the highest levels of public service.

She attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee — one of the nation's historically Black universities (HBCUs) — where she studied audiology. She met Colin Powell, a Jamaican-American military officer, at a blind date arranged by a mutual friend while he was stationed in Boston in 1962. They married on August 25, 1962.

Over the next six decades, Alma Powell became one of the most important figures in the American military and diplomatic world — supporting her husband through 35 years of military service and his tenure as National Security Advisor (1987–1989), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), and Secretary of State (2001–2005).

Colin Powell passed away on October 18, 2021, from COVID-19 complications at age 84. Alma Powell continues to carry forward his legacy through the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College of New York.

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Father's Side: Black American Heritage

Alma Powell's father is Robert C. Johnson Jr., a Black American man from Birmingham, Alabama. He was a prominent figure in Birmingham's Black professional community during the era of segregation.

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Mother's Side: Black American Heritage

Alma Powell's mother is Mildred "Micki" Johnson (née Green), a Black American woman also from Birmingham. Like her husband, she was part of the Black community in Birmingham that navigated the harsh realities of Jim Crow segregation while building professional and community lives within the constraints of the era.

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Nationality vs. Ethnicity

Alma Powell is American by nationality, born in Birmingham, Alabama. Her ethnicity is Black American (African American). She is the widow of Colin Luther Powell, who was of Jamaican heritage (of African and Scottish-Irish descent, born in New York City to Jamaican immigrant parents).

Their marriage — between a Black American woman from Birmingham and a Jamaican-American military officer from the Bronx — reflected the diversity of the African diaspora in America.

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Children's Heritage

Alma and Colin Powell had three children:

• Michael Powell (born March 23, 1963) — Black American/Jamaican-American; former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Linda Powell (born April 16, 1965) — actress
• Annemarie Powell (born May 20, 1970) — marketing professional

All three children carry the heritage of both their parents — African American (through Alma) and Jamaican-American (through Colin).

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Alma Powell in Her Own Words

Alma Powell has spoken about her life and her marriage to Colin Powell:

"Colin and I built a life together over six decades. He was the most disciplined, most principled man I have ever known. Birmingham made me who I am — it taught me about strength, about faith, about dignity in the face of injustice."

▶ Watch on YouTube →

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Is Alma Powell Alive?

Yes, Alma Powell is alive. Born October 27, 1937, she is currently 88 years old. She continues to honor her late husband's legacy and serves on the board of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College of New York. Her husband, General Colin Powell, passed away on October 18, 2021.

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Visual Family Tree

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Sources

• Alma