Pin, "Press Pin 1955"

1955

Wearing this press pass, journalist Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991) witnessed the proceedings of the historic Asian-African Conference, which took place in April 1955 in Bandung, Indonesia. The metal pin’s cream center box declares “Press,” while its blue border bears the conference’s name, date, and location. Payne’s stories in The Chicago Defender, the nation’s leading African American newspaper, explained the gathering’s importance. Representing half of the world’s population, delegates from twenty-nine countries collaborated on challenges facing Asia and Africa and on ways to work together for world peace. Notably, the United States and Soviet Union were not invited, nor was South Africa due to apartheid. Payne was among few Americans—and even fewer female reporters—to attend. The Capital Press Club honored Payne with its Journalist of the Year Award for reporting on the Bandung Conference, a prize she would win again more than a decade later for reporting on the Vietnam War.