Rep. Karen Bass Wants Diversity in the State Department

This is the episode of Black Diplomats where Rep. Karen Bass starts the soft diplomacy on Terrell, trying to talk him into joining the State Department!

Bass represents California’s 37th district in Los Angeles, and is a fierce advocate for all the good things. As Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa she has regular contact with folks from the Continent and a lot of good ideas for how we can improve our behavior on their behalf. She’s involved in the Represent America Abroad Act to diversify our diplomatic corps, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to bring incremental change to American policing. Terrell asks her if the bill goes far enough, and she provides the kind of candid answer you don’t usually get from politicians.

As they get deeper into her roots, we find out that being a foreign policy wonk is nothing new to Karen Bass. She cut her teeth protesting against the Vietnam War and was dedicated to the anti-apartheid movement in the ‘80s. Her critical analysis of white supremacy in the global context is honed to a razor’s edge, and on display in this episode.

Near the end of their conversation Bass breaks down America’s history of supporting bad actors in Africa, and then flips it - suggesting Terrell should help diversify the State Department by signing up for service!

He is a Black Diplomat, right?

Thanks for listening!