Dunnigan became the first Black woman credentialed to join the White House press corps while working for the Associated Negro Press in 1948, and Payne joined her a few years later for The Chicago Defender.
Kumar noted that the Dunnigan-Payne podium joins others of importance, including Toast, used for glasses raised in unison at state dinners, and Blue Goose, used for formal presidential speeches.
April Ryan, theGrio’s senior White House correspondent, the Washington bureau chief and the longest-serving Black woman in the White House press corps, hailed the decision to celebrate Dunnigan and Ryan as particularly poignant, saying honoring them made her feel “seen.”
During their years of service in Black media, White House officials chastised both women, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower ignored the two, flustered over their queries concerning civil rights.
Similarly, The Times noted, former President Donald Trump and conservative media have targeted Ryan for making direct inquiries voicing Black Americans’ concerns.
“There are still crescendo moments in Black America, and we are the only ones who are asking those questions,” said Ryan, “or writing those stories, and asking Black questions that no one else dares, or wants, or thinks are important enough to ask.”
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