By Isatu Gbla
In honour of Black History Month, United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone June Carter Perry hosted a film show and discussion session on Monday, February 4 at the Kissy Library.
The film’s screenplay, “African American Lives,” was written by the eminent African-American scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, and the showing was open to the public.
In her introductory remarks, Ambassador Perry remembered her own involvement in the civil rights movement in Chicago and around the United States, including her work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader of the non-violent civil rights movement in the United States and an advocate for human rights around the world. His vision of all people working together in harmony was recognized when he became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1964.
February in the United States is Black History Month, during which school children and adults alike learn about and remember the contributions of African Americans to history and our society as a whole.
Ambassador Perry emphasized the importance of respect for human rights and civil rights, but also discussed the significance of the non-violent means by which the American civil rights movement found success.
“The way to see real change in a society is through nonviolent, rational resistance against unjust laws and unjust leaders through an ongoing dialogue between all parties. The principles of non-violence were central to the success of the civil rights movement in the United States, and should be at the core of any civil rights movement that intends to succeed. It is with that in mind that we celebrate the achievements of the civil rights movement in the United States and of African Americans in general.,” she declared.
In addition to the showing at Kissy Library, the film was screened at the American embassy for invited students and for the university community at Fourah Bay College.
The American Embassy’s Black History Month program will culminate with a program at the end of February involving university-level students of African and American history and drama. Renowned Sierra Leonean playwright and dramatist Raymond DeSouza George of Fourah Bay College will also contribute to the program.
According to information on the website of the American State Department, Ambassador June Carter Perry(photo) was sworn in on August 27, 2007 as ambassador to Sierra Leone. She was confirmed by the Senate in June, 2007.
Previously, she served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho. She has also served in the State Department as Director of the Office of Social and Humanitarian Affairs in the International Organizations (IO) Bureau with responsibility for policy matters within the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women.
Ms. Perry is a graduate of Loyola University/Chicago (B.A.) and the University of Chicago (M.A.), the State Department’s Senior Seminar and the National Defense University’s CAPSTONE program. She has served on national security and international affairs delegations in Asia, Africa and Europe. Ambassador Perry was Diplomat-in-Residence at Howard University where she promoted Secretary Powell’s Diplomatic Readiness Initiative. She was selected for the State Department’s 2002 Diplomat-in-Residence of the Year Award.
Ambassador Perry served as Deputy Chargé of Mission (DCM) in the Central African Republic and Madagascar. Previously, as Political Affairs Officer in the office of South African Affairs (AF/S) responsible for Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, she initiated bursaries funding for South African students and established the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and SADC.
Other State Department assignments include Senior Advisor in the Africa Bureau, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary, Chief of Internal Political Affairs and Narcotics Coordinator at Embassy Paris and Deputy Director/Director, Office of Policy and Plans, Political Military Affairs Bureau. She also served in Zambia and Zimbabwe and received Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards as well as Senior Performance Pay.
Before her diplomatic career, Ms. Perry was Director of Public Affairs at the national volunteer agency, ACTION, including Peace Corps; Special Assistant at the Community Services Administration; and Director of Public Affairs at WGMS/RKO Radio Corporation. A former instructor at the University of Maryland and North Carolina A&T State University, she was Vice President of The Women’s Institute and the Thursday Luncheon Group.
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