WASHINGTON — Journalist Alice Allison Dunnigan triumphed over sexism and racism to become the first black woman accredited to cover the White House. The bronze life-size statue will remain in the Newseum, just steps away from the National Mall and the White House, until December. Members of Dunnigan’s family, friends, colleagues and admirers gasped with joy as the statue was revealed, with some crying. She then made history when she received White House press credentials in 1947 and became part of the White House travelling press corps covering President Harry Truman’s re-election campaign in 1948. In addition to the indignity of racism, Dunnigan was often paid less than her male colleagues in the black press and forced to justify herself in situations where male reporters were welcomed.

Source: National Post September 21, 2018 19:07 UTC