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Multiculturalism and Social Work | San Francisco State University

THE AMERICAN WAY: EDITH SAMPSON, THE NAACP, AND AFRICAN AMERICAN IDENTITY IN THE COLD WAR.

Author: Laville, Helen and Lucas, Scott; with commentary by Horne, Gerald; VonEschen, Penny M.; and Plummer, Brenda Gayle.
Author Background:
Date 1/1/96
Type Journal
Journal Title: Diplomatic History
Volume/Pages 20(4)
Publisher
Subject Matter Social/Public Policy and Administration
Population
Pedagogies
Abstract Edith Sampson, a successful black attorney, toured the world for the US State Department during the 1950 s, espousing the virtues of American society and democracy. Because she was a self-made woman,Sampson preached the doctrine of working with the system and self-help. In the early 1960 s, she began to waver in her unmitigated support of the American system and to identify somewhat with the civil rightsmovement. For this she was swiftly dismissed from her government post, though she never totally embraced the movement. At the same time Sampson worked for the State Department, the NAACPcame out in support of US anti-Communist policy. Scholars have criticized Sampson s public relations activities and the NAACP s anticommunism as accommodationist, but this view overlooksthe democratic and moral virtues promoted by both ends of the black political spectrum.
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