Press Releases: African American Trailblazers in Diplomacy Panel Discussion 

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

February 27, 2019

In recognition of African American History Month, the United States Diplomacy Center at the
U.S. Department of State will host a special program exploring the diplomatic careers of five African American trailblazers in diplomacy: Ebenezer Bassett, Ralph Bunche, Edward Dudley, Patricia Roberts Harris, and Mabel Murphy Smythe.

The event will feature presentations by a panel of distinguished scholars and diplomats, including Dr. Michael Krenn, Ambassador Ruth A. Davis, James T. L. Dandridge II, and Foreign Service Officer Christopher Teal. Dr. Krenn, Professor of History at Appalachian State University and author of Black Diplomacy: African Americans and the State Department, 1945-1969, will moderate. The panel will also explore the lasting contributions of these trailblazers to the Department of State and the practice of diplomacy.

This event is made possible with support from The Thursday Luncheon Group, Appalachian State University, and Mr. James Dandridge of the Diplomacy Center Foundation. Other partners include The Carl T. Rowan Chapter of Blacks in Government and the Association of Black American Ambassadors.

The event will take place at the Diplomacy Center Pavilion, located at the Department of State’s 21st Street entrance on February 28th from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. The event is open to the press. At the conclusion of the program, there will be a private reception closed to the press.

Final pre-set time for cameras is 3:30 p.m. from the 21st Street entrance.

Final access time for writers and stills is 3:15 p.m. from the 21st Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. government-issued photo media credential (e.g., Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center); or (2) an official photo identification card issued by their news organization; or (3) a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their current employment as a journalist.

Additionally, they must present an official government photo identification card (i.e., U.S. driver’s license or passport).

For further information, please contact DiplomacyCenter@state.gov.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.