PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION JULY-AUGUST 2021 DIVERSITY & INCLUSION: PERSPECTIVES TIME FOR STATE U FOREIGN SERVICE July-August 2021 Volume 98, No. 6 Focus: Perspectives on Diversity & Inclusion 23 31 37 Diversity and Inclusion Asian Americans Three Myths in the U.S. Foreign Can No Longer Be Silent, That Sustain Structural Service: A Primer and Neither Should You Racism at State Here is a historical look at gender, Generations of citizenship and Countering bias and recognizing ethnic and racial diversity in the sacrifices for and contributions overt racism are important, but it’s Foreign Service and the long and to America notwithstanding, Asian time to go beyond this work uneven battle for progress. Americans face the need to prove and take a hard look at institutional By Harry W. Kopp their loyalty over and over. racism in the department. By Kim Bissonnette By Michael Honigstein 28 Achieving Parity 34 40 for Women in the The Power of Rooting Out Foreign Service Vulnerability Microaggressions A better understanding of the A Black former consular fellow, What does exclusion look like? barriers to women’s advancement— whose report of her ordeal at An FSO explores the concept of and good data—is needed to the hands of U.S. officials at the microaggressions—and suggests continue moving forward. border with Mexico shook up how shining a light on them can the State Department, shares By Kathryn Drenning help foster a culture of inclusion. her thoughts today. By Charles Morrill By Tianna Spears 44 How the Transition Center Expands Inclusion Described as a “hidden gem” Feature by this FSO, FSI’s Transition Center has a range of tools and services that are vital in helping build a more agile, 47 inclusive Department of State. State U—A Proposal for Professional Diplomatic By Maryum Saifee Education and Outreach to America This timely project proposal offers a single solution to achieving several top-priority goals. By Joel Ehrendreich THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2021 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Perspectives Departments 7 88 10 Letters President’s Views Reflections A Governing Board Term Going to the Hadhramaut 14 Talking Points Unlike Any Other By Kate Carr 73 In Memory By Eric Rubin 90 77 Books 9 Local Lens Letter from the Editor Rome, Italy Diversity Perspectives By Angelica Harrison By Shawn Dorman Marketplace 20 Speaking Out 81 Real Estate A U.S.-German Look at the 84 Lodging Essentials for Modern Diplomacy By Mirko Kruppa and 86 Classifieds Kenneth Kero-Mentz 87 Index to Advertisers AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 51 Foreign Service Day Remembrances and Activities 58 AFSA Governing Board Meeting, May 19, 2021 52 State VP Voice—Should the Foreign Service Act 59 Inside Diplomacy: A Look at the Arctic Region of 1980 Be Overhauled? with U.S. Coordinator James DeHart 53 USAID VP Voice—USAID and Diversity, Equity 59 Book Notes: and Inclusion Tecumseh and 55 AFSA Retention Survey: A Look at Why Some the Prophet Consider Leaving the Service 61 2019-2021 AFSA 57 AFSA Retention, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Governing Board Recommendations Term Report 58 Foreign Service Retiree Groups Back in Action 51 On the Cover—Art by Jing Jing Tsong. 6 JULY-AUGUST 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS A Governing Board Term Unlike Any Other BY ERIC RUBIN s the current AFSA Govern- well as every American family member AFSA also broadened its ties with the ing Board’s term comes to and Foreign Service National employee employee affinity and resource groups at an end, I think it is fair to say overseas, having had access to one of the State and USAID, as well as with impor- that despite very unusual approved vaccines. tant outside organizations such as the circumstances we accom- We did not just play defense, however. American Academy of Diplomacy, the Aplished a great deal, both in terms of We worked intensively with members of Council of American Ambassadors, the achieving positive change that benefits Congress and their staffs to make certain Association of Black American Ambas- our members and protecting the Foreign that our foreign affairs and foreign assis- sadors, the USAID Alumni Association, Service and our members from threats tance accounts were adequately funded, DACOR, the National Museum of Ameri- and hostile challenges. despite the previous administration’s can Diplomacy, and the Association Our biggest successes in the difficult attempts every year to gut them. for Diplomatic Studies and Training. In environment of the Trump administration After the November 2020 elections, we unity there is strength, and thanks to our were protective: We supported members reached out to build relationships with outreach efforts we are now coordinating who had to testify or give depositions in the new committee chairs in the House more closely with all these groups. the first impeachment process against and Senate, and with the congressional AFSA also maintained a high pub- President Trump; lobbied and negotiated leadership, to advocate for needed lic profile, with numerous interviews, to get the rules changed so we could raise changes to our foundational legislation television appearances and social media money to support their legal defense; and for urgent action on diversity, equal- outreach. This proved to be of enormous and then raised about $750,000 in direct ity of benefits and protection from harm. help in getting our message out during donations (thanks to the generosity of our We worked rapidly to establish close the pandemic. members and others) so that no AFSA ties to the new Biden administration after Our member services have not member was out of pocket a single penny the inauguration, promoting AFSA’s prior- flagged, and we have managed to ramp for legal expenses related to impeachment. ity goals and objectives and seeking to be up representation on matters large and We also publicly defended our members’ a partner in efforts to make progress on small. The Foreign Service Journal has courage in stating the truth under oath and diversity and inclusion, professional edu- kept up an impressive pace, with more defying instructions not to cooperate with cation and training, and reform of parts of relevant content from and for members, legal subpoenas from Congress. our Foreign Service career path. We began and more advertising to pay for it. Then came COVID-19. Much of the the campaign to press for a significant AFSA’s current governing board will final year of our board term was devoted expansion of the Foreign Service in all step down in mid-July, with gratitude to to pushing for information and transpar- agencies, a goal that may be within reach. our members for their ideas and support ency on vaccinations, health resources, Despite the shutdown of our offices and with a determination to hand over authorized and for nearly a year and a half, we main- our list of priorities to the next board ordered departure, tained member services and outreach at with clear evidence of progress on most and equity in the their pre-pandemic levels, and lever- of them. vaccine rollout aged the new technologies of telework There is a lot for the next board to process. We finished and virtual public platforms to ensure tackle. As always, please send your the term with every that we kept members engaged and advice, concerns and suggestions to us AFSA member, as informed. at [email protected]. n Ambassador Eric Rubin is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2021 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor-in-Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Senior Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Managing Editor CONTACTS Kathryn Owens: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Associate Editor (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance and Facilities Cameron Woodworth: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Publications Coordinator Manager, HR and Operations USAID AFSA Office: Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] Cory Nishi: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Controller Business Development Manager— FCS AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Advertising and Circulation (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Member Accounts Specialist Molly Long: [email protected] Ana Lopez: [email protected] GOVERNING BOARD IT and Infrastructure Coordinator Art Director President Aleksandar “Pav” Pavlovich: Caryn Suko Smith Hon. Eric S. Rubin: [email protected] [email protected] Editorial Board Secretary Alexis Ludwig, Chair Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS Hon. Robert M. Beecroft Treasurer Director of Communications Jane Carpenter-Rock Virginia L. Bennett: [email protected] Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] Daniel Crocker State Vice President Manager of Outreach and Internal Joel Ehrendreich Thomas Yazdgerdi: [email protected] Communications Harry Kopp USAID Vice President Bronwyn Llewellyn Allan Saunders: [email protected] Jason Singer: [email protected] Jess McTigue Online Communications Manager FCS Vice President Joe Tordella Jeff Lau: [email protected] Jay Carreiro: [email protected] Vivian Walker Awards and Scholarships Manager FAS Vice President Hon. Laurence Wohlers Theo Horn: [email protected] Vacant Retiree Vice President MEMBERSHIP AND OUTREACH THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS John K. Naland: [email protected] Director, Programs and Member Engagement PROFESSIONALS State Representatives Christine Miele: [email protected] The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), Joshua C. Archibald 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is Manager, Outreach and Maria Hart published monthly, with combined January-February Strategic Communications and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Kristin Michelle Roberts Nadja Ruzica: [email protected] Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization.