Documenting Andrew Young

Documenting Andrew Young’s Foreign Policy Legacy

Film Update – May 2025

I’m pleased to share an update on the development of my new documentary film centered on the foreign policy legacy of Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter.

In December, I interviewed Ambassador Young in Atlanta. That conversation serves as the foundation for a broader cinematic reflection on his role in shaping U.S. diplomacy during the Carter administration—particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and Central America.

Several excerpts from that interview are now available on my YouTube Channel and offer an early glimpse into the tone and direction of the film.

To deepen the film’s exploration of U.S. involvement in Africa, I’ve invited historian Nancy Mitchell to contribute her insight to the project. We’ll be filming together this summer in North Carolina. Dr. Mitchell is the author of Jimmy Carter in Africa: Race and the Cold War—the most comprehensive and insightful analysis of the Carter administration’s policy on the continent. Her scholarship is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the geopolitical, moral, and racial dimensions of U.S. foreign policy in the late 1970s.

Book Spotlight: Jimmy Carter in Africa: Race and the Cold War by Nancy Mitchell

Nancy Mitchell’s Jimmy Carter in Africa: Race and the Cold War offers a comprehensive examination of President Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy in Africa during the late 1970s. The book delves into how Carter’s administration navigated the complex interplay between Cold War geopolitics and the pressing issues of racial justice, both domestically and internationally.

Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews—including candid discussions with Carter himself—Mitchell challenges the conventional portrayal of Carter as an indecisive leader. Instead, she presents a nuanced analysis of his administration’s strategic decisions in key African regions, notably Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and the Horn of Africa.

In Rhodesia, Carter prioritized the transition from white minority rule to Black majority governance, viewing it as a pivotal moment for U.S. foreign policy and a reflection of America’s commitment to racial equality. This focus underscored his belief in aligning domestic civil rights advancements with international diplomacy.

Conversely, the Horn of Africa presented a more volatile challenge. The region became a Cold War hotspot, with the Soviet Union and Cuba supporting Ethiopia during the Ogaden War against Somalia. Carter’s administration grappled with these dynamics, striving to balance the containment of Soviet influence with the promotion of human rights.

Mitchell’s work also highlights the influential role of Andrew Young, whose advocacy for African self-determination and human rights significantly shaped American policy. His efforts exemplify the administration’s broader attempt to reconcile moral imperatives with strategic interests.

Ultimately, Jimmy Carter in Africa reveals how Carter’s foreign policy was deeply intertwined with the era’s racial and ideological tensions. The book offers a critical reassessment of his presidency, emphasizing the complexities and challenges of implementing a foreign policy that sought to harmonize ethical considerations with geopolitical realities.