First Black US ambassador is sent to South Africa

Date: 30 Sep 1986
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

First Black US ambassador is sent to South Africa

Former Director of the Office of West African Affairs and Ambassador to Liberia, Edward Perkins, was appointed as the first black American ambassador to South Africa by American President Ronald Reagan. He was instrumental in efforts to end Apartheid and get Nelson Mandela out of prison. He served in this post until 1989, when he left to become the director of the US Foreign Service, a position he occupied for three years.

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How we know this

01Bute, E.L. & Harmer, H.J.P. (1997). The Black Handbook, London: Cassell.
02Edward J. Perkins. 2006 Honoree [Online] available at: dom.com [Accessed 30 September 2009]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). First Black US ambassador is sent to South Africa. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012665

South African History Online (2011) 'First Black US ambassador is sent to South Africa', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012665 (Accessed: 11 September 2026).

South African History Online, First Black US ambassador is sent to South Africa [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012665, (accessed 11 September 2026).

"First Black US ambassador is sent to South Africa." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012665. Accessed 11 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "First Black US ambassador is sent to South Africa." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012665.