Ralph J. Bunche, American political scientist, scholar and diplomat was the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1950) for his role in the 1940’s mediation in Israel1. In addition to his strong ties to education, teaching and serving as chair of the Political Science Department at his alma mater, Harvard University, he was active in the civil rights movement and influential to MLK Jr.’s organization of the 1965 march in Montgomery, Alabama2. He continued to work to improve race relations through his service on the board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). His other accolades include being awarded the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest honor, in 1949 and the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, awarded to him by John F. Kennedy, in 19633.
To learn more about Ralph J. Bunch, go to https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2010-featured-story-archive/dr.-ralph-j.-bunche.html, http://www.pbs.org/ralphbunche/ and https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1950/bunche-bio.html
1. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ralph-bunche-61.php
2. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1950/bunche-bio.html
3. https://aaregistry.org/story/dr-ralph-j-bunche-groundbreaking-diplomat/