Without the unceasing commitment of my coauthor Jim Robison, a respected Florida historian, author, and journalist, we would not have the detailed chronology of my ancestry. We would not have the accurate references to the diplomatic history noted herein. My big brother Judge Harry’s memoir provided the core traditions of the Elam family, which shaped my life and ethics. Without Jim Dandridge’s patience as I responded to questioning during his more than eleven hours of my oral history interview, we would not have the essential details of my foreign and domestic assignments. Without the first readers, Wilfred Thomas, Olive Kelsey, and Patricia Ambinder, I could not pass the work on for others to edit. Christopher Datta tops that list, for he did yeoman work on the umpteenth draft. A consummate diplomat and published writer, Chris reminded me of important grammar lessons I had forgotten. He also provided the missing critical eye with respect to the challenges during the integration of USIA to State.
Because he recognized the impact of facts and accurate figures, my husband, Wilfred, researched the number and then calculated the percentage of African American women who served as chief of mission. Wilfred, who still calculates complex figures in his head, wanted to show me why it was important for me to write this book. He was right. The percentage was so low that it proved the point that his spouse was part of a distinctive circle of African American women who served as career ambassadors.
My very special thanks go to my Global Perspective colleagues, beginning with John Bersia and Jessica Squires, who gave me continuous support throughout this process. A special shout out to Rick Bronson, associate instructor at UCF’s Nicholson School of Communications, for his guidance early on. I am grateful that UCF gave me the flexibility needed to devote significant time to this effort. My heartfelt gratitude to Abeer Abdalla, one of the first UCF students who constantly reminded me of the need to write this book and read early portions. A very special merci beaucoup to Richard Haddock, one of our interns, who reviewed forty-two years of my personal files and placed them in chronological order. Nataya Pihtayanukul earns my thanks as well for her initial editing of my oral history, which served as the basis for this work.
It has been my goal throughout the writing of this book to entice readers to enjoy the journey of “the Little Elam girl from Roxbury” that I have had the joy to live and now to share.