On May 9, 1977, Dr. Mabel Murphy Smythe was confirmed as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon, becoming one of the few African American women to hold such a prestigious diplomatic position at the time. A distinguished scholar and former university professor, Smythe had previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Her appointment reflected growing, though still limited, recognition of Black women in U.S. foreign policy. She later also served as Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, further cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in international diplomacy.
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