Facing Diplomacy
America’s diplomatic corps has not always been representative of the diversity of the nation’s population.
Diplomats of color have broken barriers and accomplished much, but their stories are often untold. The battle for a more diverse and inclusive Department of State and Foreign Service is now being told through the museum’s Facing Diplomacy project, where we are curating academic resources and telling the stories of diverse diplomats.
African American Diplomats
African Americans have made important contributions to American diplomacy since the mid-1800s.
NMAD has compiled resources that encompass the relationship between the Department of State and African Americans seeking a voice in their nation’s foreign policy, including primary and secondary sources, media, podcasts, and oral histories from former African American diplomats
Story of Diplomacy
8 Lessons in Diplomacy from Ambassador Edward J. Perkins (1928-2020)
Ambassador Edward J. Perkins knew segregation well. He was born into a segregated and racist society in 1928 on a small farm in the American…
Story of Diplomacy
The Composure and Leadership of Ambassador Aurelia Brazeal
Serving 41 years in the United States Foreign Service, Ambassador Aurelia Erskine Brazeal was the first African American woman to be appointed ambassador by three…
Story of Diplomacy
The Diplomatic Career of Frederick Douglass
“One of the duties of a minister in a foreign land is to cultivate good social, as well as civil relations, with the people and…
Story of Diplomacy
Ebenezer D. Bassett: America’s First African American Chief of Mission
In 1869, Ebenezer D. Bassett was appointed as the U.S. Minister to the Republic of Haiti, making him the first African American Chief of Mission.…
Story of Diplomacy
Sarah Parker Remond: Citizen Diplomacy and the Emancipation Proclamation as Foreign Policy
When the Civil War erupted in April of 1861, President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward’s official reason for the war was to…
Story of Diplomacy
A Hero of U.S. Diplomacy: Dr. Ralph J. Bunche (1904-1971)
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche was a pioneering African American diplomat who shaped some of the most remarkable moments in the twentieth century. Dr. Ralph Bunche…
Story of Diplomacy
Race, Citizenship, and Red Scares: Robert Robinson and Foreign Service Officer Bill Davis
When U.S. citizens travel abroad with their official documents, like visas and passports, they expect to be able to travel freely. And they also expect…
Story of Diplomacy
The Legacy of Edward R. Dudley: Civil Rights Activist and the First African American Ambassador
In 1949, Ambassador Edward R. Dudley was the first African American to hold the rank of ambassador. His legacy also includes a long history of…
Story of Diplomacy
The Diplomatic Skills of Ambassador Terence A. Todman
Diplomacy skills are not just any skills. They are the specific skills diplomats employ to succeed in their duties. To help the public demystify the…
Story of Diplomacy
Carl T. Rowan: From Journalist to Diplomat
The path to becoming a diplomat is not always obvious. For Carl T. Rowan, he paved his path with his storytelling. His many articles on…
NMAD wishes to thank James Dandridge, Dr. Michael Krenn, Dr. Carlton McLellan, and the State Department Affinity Groups, Blacks in Government (BIG) and the Thursday Luncheon Group for their support.
Hispanic American Diplomats
Hispanic Americans have made significant contributions to U.S. diplomacy. However, many of these figures are less known in diplomatic history.
NMAD has compiled resources highlighting the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American diplomacy, including primary and secondary sources, media, podcasts, and oral histories.
Story of Diplomacy
The word esperanza in Spanish means “hope” or “expectation.” This word, both in its promise and sense of duty, captures the career of Carmen G.…
Story of Diplomacy
Ambassador Mari-Luci Jaramillo: The First Hispanic American Woman Ambassador
Mari-Luci Jaramillo was a renowned educator who served as Ambassador to Honduras under Carter’s administration from 1977-1980. Jaramillo started her career as a teacher but…
Story of Diplomacy
Diplomacy through Many Storms: Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez
When Lino Gutiérrez joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1977, he found himself to be the only Latino in his class. At that time, Hispanic…
Story of Diplomacy
From Mentee to Mentor: Ambassador Arnold Chacon and Leadership in the Foreign Service
Ambassador Arnold Chacon has served as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service for 40 years. His dedication to his career as a public servant…
NMAD wishes to thank the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA) and Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez for their support for this project.
Asian American Pacific Islander Diplomats
While Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Americans do not have a long history of serving as commissioned U.S. diplomats, these Americans have represented America as citizen diplomats and goodwill ambassadors for several decades.
NMAD has compiled resources highlighting the contributions Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made to American diplomacy, including primary and secondary sources, media, podcasts, and oral histories.
Story of Diplomacy
The Dedication and Leadership of Ambassador Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir
How does a diplomat become a great leader? Who and what has inspired them? The National Museum of American Diplomacy helps answer these questions through…
Story of Diplomacy
Boa Lee: Diplomacy Can Overcome Tragedy
In 2012, I had just arrived at my first overseas assignment in Sierra Leone when I was asked to deal with a protest outside the…
Story of Diplomacy
A Dedication to Service: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto
Americans who choose to enter the United States Foreign Service do not take the decision lightly. These professional diplomats spend most of their careers abroad,…
Story of Diplomacy
Dr. Sammy Lee: Olympic Champion and Goodwill Ambassador
Born in California in 1920 to Korean immigrant parents, Dr. Sammy Lee represented and served the United States in many ways. By the 1950s, Lee…
NMAD wishes to thank the Asian American Foreign Affairs Association (AAFAA) for their support for this project.
More Coming Soon
Check back for more stories of diverse figures in American diplomacy.
Join Our Digital Storytelling Campaign
This campaign leverages the StoryCorps platform, a free web or smartphone application for public use, to record audio interviews of American diplomats of all backgrounds. When stories are uploaded through the StoryCorps platform, they are automatically archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Who can participate?
We define diplomacy broadly and welcome all members of the American foreign affairs community. This includes civil and foreign service professionals, past and present, as well as family members, locally employed staff, interns, participants of the fellows programs, and contractors. Browse the stories.
How can I participate?
To join the campaign, use the StoryCorps mobile app or the StoryCorps web app to record and upload your audio interview. For more tips on how to participate, download our toolkit.
The National Museum of American Diplomacy is proud to launch a crowdsourced digital storytelling campaign as part of our Facing Diplomacy series in order to build a more complete history of American diplomacy. This effort is in collaboration with the Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
