The Foreign Service Journal, June 2015

In light of this month’s FSJ focus on diversity, I am pleased to turn my column over to Commercial Service Officer Tamarind Murrietta, who wrote the following introduction and letter to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. —Steve Morrison Last July, I accepted a posi- tion as a Foreign Commercial Service officer and was offi- cially sworn in by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. That month, the country cel- ebrated the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I was pleased with the coincidence and began reflecting on the need to address diversity in the dip- lomatic corps. This led me to send an email to Sec. Pritzker thanking her for swearing us in and highlighting the signifi- cance of this occasion. Just recently, I read a column by Gary Silverman in the Financial Times in which he reflected on race in America. He concluded that black lives are not valued the same as white lives in the United States. Mr. Silverman said this is a “particular kind of made-in-America pain.” Programs advocating and addressing diversity and equal rights are still needed today. In addition, decades of movement toward equality, including the passage of that vital legislation, should not go under-recognized or under- valued. Foreign Service Diversity and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 To that end, I would like to share with fellow AFSA members my message to Sec. Pritzker: On the dawn of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, I paused to reflect on this life-changing legislation. The anniversary was especially noteworthy for me since it coincided with my swearing- in as a U.S. diplomat. The stories of leaps and bounds, pain and suffering recited by my ancestors have made me appreciate the significance of this moment. While my grandmother was valedictorian of her graduating class and brought oratorical fireworks to her recitation of writings such as “Invictus,” she remained primarily a housekeeper and office secretary for most of her life. As fortunate as my grandmother’s life has been, and as fortunate as we are to have her in ours, she paid the price for arriving before this momentous act was passed. As her granddaughter, I exemplify all that can now be attained due in some way to an act that gives all of us the opportunity to be the archi- tects of our own lives. Being sworn in as a com- mercial diplomat, I have the remarkable authority to represent our great country in commercial and busi- ness affairs, as well as assist small businesses to grow by exporting their products to other cultures and com- munities globally. These businesses are essential to American growth. The anniversary of the Civil Rights Act reminds me of the unparalleled contribu- tion of my ancestors, which steered the existence of the America we see today. My ancestors—the backbone of this great country—led us to the signing of an act that paved the road to my swearing-in. Their great undertakings allowed me to not only fulfill my dreams, but also those of my grand- mother, my ancestors and our entire country. For me and those I love, the occasion of my swearing in was doubly celebratory, landing as it did on this his- toric anniversary. As current recruits submit applications for this exciting career, I continue to stand by our organization’s efforts to increase the diversity of all who represent it. Racial and gender minorities make up a small percentage of our com- mercial diplomatic corps. I offer to work tirelessly to contribute to increasing the representation of all and inciting hope in the many others who have benefitted from the Civil Rights Act and worked so hard to achieve the qualifications neces- sary to join the U.S. Foreign Service. This hard work is the continuation of the labor of so many. Madame Secretary, thank you for taking the time to swear in my colleagues and me as the newest group of commercial diplomats. And thank you for taking part in something that has caused my grandmother to wear a proud smile and my ancestors to give a nod of approval. n —Tamarind Murrietta Tamarind Murrietta is a Foreign Commercial Service FSO currently serving in Nai- robi on her first assignment. She joined the Foreign Service in 2014. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 53 In April, the Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board bid farewell to its chair, Jim DeHart, who is departing for his next assignment, as deputy chief of mission in Oslo. AFSA thanks Jim for his service and wishes him well in Oslo. n NEWS BRIEF FORE I GN SERV I CE JOURNAL SALUTES J IM DEHART AFSA/DEBRABLOME Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA FCS VP. Contact: steve.morrison@trade.gov or (202) 482-9088 FCS VP VOICE | BY STEVE MORRISON AFSA NEWS