Letter of commendation for Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater
- On View
- Making a Way Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Making a Way Out of No Way
- Written by
- Moose, George E., American, born 1944
- Received by
- Bridgewater, Pamela E., American, born 1947
- Subject of
- United States Department of State, American, founded 1789
- Owned by
- Bridgewater, Pamela E., American, born 1947
- Date
- May 3, 1994
- Medium
- ink on paper
- Dimensions
- H x W (a): 11 × 8 1/4 in. (28 × 21 cm)
- H x W (b): 5 × 2 15/16 in. (12.7 × 7.5 cm)
- Caption
- The role of Black women in foreign and international affairs is unique. Prior to the appointment of Edith S. Sampson to the United Nations in 1950 and Patricia Roberts Harris as Ambassador to Luxembourg in 1965, Black women involved themselves in global affairs through unofficial channels, ranging from women’s organizations like the National Council of Negro Women and Sojourners for Truth to reporting for newspapers like the Chicago Defender and Associated Negro Press. Other Black women were considered unofficial ambassadors for the State Department, particularly during the Cold War (see: Penny von Eschen’s Satchmo Blows Up the World). The transition from independent international leaders to official appointees marks the acceptance of Black women as world leaders, who represented not only Black Americans but American women on the global stage.
- Description
- An original one-page commendation cable (a), with note (b), sent from the U.S. Department of State's Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, George Moose, to U.S. Consul General for Durban, South Africa, Pamela E. Bridgewater, May 3, 1994 for the role she played aiding South Africa’s transition to democracy, amid civil unrest in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The commendation is typed in black ink on a translucent white paper and at the top and bottom headers, in black text, are “UNCLASSIFIED” and “STATE 115186”. The message reads in part “I want to thank you and your staff for the invaluable role you have played in advancing this process. In every instance you have responded with the grace and fortitude that I have come to expect” and ends with “Please convey to your staff South African and American, my gratitude for a job superbly done. Talbott.” There are no markings on the reverse.
- The cable is accompanied by a note (b) handwritten in black ink reading: [ORIGINAL / CABLE / From. Assistant / Secretary of State / for Africa Amb. / George Moose / For / Consul General / Pamela Bridgewater]. There are no markings on the reverse of the note.
- Place depicted
- Durban, South Africa, Africa
- Classification
- Documents and Manuscripts
- Type
- documents
- letters (correspondence)
- Topic
- Activism
- Africa
- Civil rights
- Government
- International affairs
- Politics
- Women
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pamela E. Bridgewater, United States Ambassador (Retired)
- Object number
- 2023.51.6ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public domain
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.