Alice Allison Dunnigan
(1906-1983)
She was a pioneering African-American journalist and author who made significant contributions to the field of journalism and civil rights.
Bio: Alice Allison Dunnigan was born in Russellville, Kentucky, at a time when racial segregation and discrimination were pervasive in the United States. Despite facing numerous challenges, she pursued her passion for journalism and became a trailblazer in the field.
Dunnigan began her career as a teacher but soon transitioned into journalism. In 1942, she became a reporter for the Associated Negro Press (ANP), a news service that covered African American issues. Her work focused on civil rights, social justice, and politics, and she reported on key events and figures during the civil rights movement.
In 1947, Alice Allison Dunnigan became the first African American woman to be granted press credentials to cover the United States Congress, breaking down racial and gender barriers in journalism. She continued to report on national politics, eventually becoming the chief of the Washington bureau for the ANP.
In 1948, Dunnigan became a full-fledged White House correspondent. When she was invited to join the press corps accompanying President Harry S. Truman’s re-election campaign, Barnett declined to pay her way—so Dunnigan took out a loan and went anyway. As one of just three Black reporters and the only Black woman covering Truman’s whistle-stop tour out West, she experienced highs and lows.
n Cheyenne, Wyoming, when Dunnigan tried to walk with other journalists behind Truman’s motorcade, a military officer, assuming she was an interloper, pushed her back toward the spectators. Another journalist had to intervene on her behalf. Afterward, Truman found her typing in her compartment on the presidential Ferdinand Magellan train and said, “I heard you had a little trouble. Well, if anything else happens, please let me know.”
Dunnigan later landed a scoop in Missoula, Montana, when Truman got off the train at night in his dressing gown to address a crowd of students. Her headline read: “Pajama Clad President Defends Civil Rights at Midnight.”
In the 1950s, her relationship with President Dwight D. Eisenhower was marked by tension. The two-term Republican president was not fond of her persistent inquiries regarding discriminatory hiring practices against Black Americans, segregation at military base schools, and other civil rights matters. Max Rabb, an advisor to Eisenhower, suggested that she clear her questions with him in advance to receive more satisfactory answers. She complied once but never again. Consequently, despite her historic status as the first Black member of the Women’s National Press Club in 1955, President Eisenhower consistently ignored Dunnigan at press conferences.
However, in 1961, when President John F. Kennedy assumed office, he made a significant departure from this pattern. During his first press conference, he called on Dunnigan just eight minutes in. She raised the issue of protection for Black tenant farmers who had been unjustly evicted from their Tennessee homes for voting in the previous election. JFK responded by stating, “I can state that this administration will pursue the problem of providing that protection, with all vigor.” This event was featured in Jet magazine with the headline: “Kennedy In, Negro Reporter Gets First Answer in Two Years.”
Later that year, in 1961, Dunnigan embarked on a new phase of her career. President Kennedy appointed her to his Committee on Equal Opportunity, tasked with addressing disparities in federal government job opportunities. Serving as an educational consultant, Dunnigan toured the United States, delivering speeches and advocating for equal opportunities.
In 1967, she transitioned to the Council on Youth Opportunity, where she spent four years as an editor, writing articles in support of young Black individuals.
Dunnigan was also a published author, recounting her experiences as a pioneering African-American woman in journalism. Her memoir, “A Black Woman’s Experience: From Schoolhouse to White House,” stands as a significant record of her life and contributions. Tragically, after the publication of her memoir, she passed away at the age of 77 in 1983.
Honors and Legacy:
- Pioneer in Journalism: Alice Allison Dunnigan is celebrated as a trailblazer in American journalism. Her determination and tenacity opened doors for future generations of African American journalists and women in the field.
- Breaking Racial Barriers: Her achievement as the first African American woman to receive press credentials to cover Congress was a significant milestone in the struggle against racial segregation in the press corps.
- Civil Rights Advocacy: Dunnigan’s journalism focused on civil rights issues, and her reporting contributed to greater awareness and understanding of the civil rights movement in the United States.
- Author and Educator: In addition to her journalism career, she authored books and articles that shed light on her experiences and the challenges she faced as a pioneering African American woman. Her work serves as an important historical record.
- Inspiration: Alice Allison Dunnigan’s legacy continues to inspire journalists and advocates for civil rights. Her life and achievements remind us of the importance of breaking down barriers and promoting diversity in journalism and society.
- In 2018, a 500-pound bronze statue of Dunnigan was unveiled at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Today, it stands outside the Struggles for Equality and Emancipation in Kentucky (SEEK) Museum in her native Russellville.
- In 2013, she was posthumously inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.
In summary, Alice Allison Dunnigan’s bio, honors, and legacy are a testament to her groundbreaking work as a journalist, her advocacy for civil rights, and her enduring impact on the field of journalism. She remains an inspiration for those who continue to strive for equality, diversity, and social justice.