Pin, “Give a Dam”

20th century

Shaped like Africa, this metal pin likely promoted donations to a dam building project on the continent. The lapel pin’s double meaning also urges people to care. The pin belonged to journalist Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991), who cared greatly about Africa. In the late 1980s, for example, she served on the board of Africare, a nongovernmental organization partnering with African people on development and policy issues. The longtime Washington, DC resident and human rights activist became known as First Lady of the Black Press for her pioneering career reporting on national and international news.