The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy, in partnership with Flowstate Films, hosted a virtual program to explore the important history highlighted in the film, Changing State, a feature-length documentary that examines the experience of African American diplomats representing the United States overseas during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and early Cold War period. Through a wealth of archival sources and the voices of family members, colleagues, historians, and diplomats, Changing State explores the lives and legacies of Edward R. Dudley, Carl T. Rowan, and Terence Todman, who represented the best of American ideals abroad while facing discrimination at home. The Department of State was one of the last federal agencies to truly desegregate, yet these early Black diplomats would push past historical and institutional racial barriers to reach high-ranking appointments, creating a lasting impact on the U.S. Foreign Service. Changing State reveals the little known story of these early Black diplomats and their bid to narrow the gap between principle and practice in American diplomacy for generations to come.

Changing State is produced by Flowstate Films and is scheduled for a February 2022 broadcast.

Moderated by Ms. Tonija Hope, Director of the Ralph Bunche Center for International Affairs at Howard University, Meridian will bring together a panel of experts on the subject to include; Dr. Michael Krenn, Professor of History, Appalachian State University; Ms. Leola Calzolai-Stewart, Flowstate Films; and Mr. Irvin Hicks, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of State. After the moderated discussion, panelists will answer questions from the audience.

свернуть