Delilah W. Pierce Among The First Organized Group Of American Blacks To Travel To Ethiopia In 1962

[Updated 2/2024)

On June 23 of 1962 Delilah W. Pierce and a group of business owners, educators, and clergy left for an organized trip outside of America. This trip took them to Holland, France, Italy, and Greece. After their Europe tour the group traveled to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Jerusalem, and a multi-country tour of Africa. Delilah’s sister Mediel Hoskins, a housewife and married to New York City chef Jack Hoskins, also made the trip.

During this time Delilah had also earned the Agnes Meyer Fellowship to travel and study Africa, Europe and the Middle East. She was also working with her sister, Mediel Hoskins (Sister), on some level tracking an individual through the Middle East. The Collection held the clear surveillance footage back out of safety for everyone involved. The proof of how Delilah’s travels impacted her art work can be seen in a few pieces from the Delilah W. Pierce Collection, for example Sudanese Women. The Collection had the proof the entire time. Stephen R. McDow II and his wife, Rebecca J. McDow visited the National Archives. Stephen R. McDow II:

"We were both struck by what wasn't in the archive in 1962. Every other year included wires about tourist groups flying "In Country". This year didn't have anything but a few Kennedy brochures and Arts In The Embassy promotion books. Turns out, my family had the evidence the entire time. Even though its Declassified, the footage after Ethiopia will not be presented until we are sure all parties are neutral and not hostile."

Delilah’s trip was interesting for many reasons. First, Blacks, women, and labor were fighting for equality and worker rights in America. Second, Ethiopia had just begun a civil war with Eritrea. Eritrea had become a part of Ethiopia after World War II when both were liberated from Italian occupation. The Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), who never accepted the merging of the two, starting gaining support from Christians. Christians in Eritrea were upper class and highly educated. Ethiopia then revoked Eritrea’s autonomy sparking the Ethiopian Civil War (Also known as the Eritrean War of Independence) in 1961.

Delilah W. Pierce and her travel cohorts wanted to meet with Emperor Haile Selassie who was known internationally as a fierce advocate for Africa’s independence from western rule. Yet, he was not a supporter of Eritrea’s fight for independence from Ethiopia and used force to maintain Ethiopia’s control.  When the unofficial delegation went to his palace to meet with him, they learned that Emperor Selassie went on safari in northern Ethiopia.

The group left Ethiopia for Nigeria (Also see Crisis in Western Nigeria – May 1962), Ghana, and Liberia – All were steeped in social and political change, and civil unrest.

The story ran in both The Washington Afro American and The Afro American.

Also see: https://www.delilahwpiercecollection.com/historic-gallery-photo-s

Delilah W. Pierce Travel Delegation, 1962

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