Ralph Johnson Bunche Ph.D
(August 7, 1904 – December 9, 1971)
Ralph was a prominent American political scientist, diplomat, and a key figure in the mid-20th-century decolonization process and the US civil rights movement. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for his mediation efforts in Israel during the late 1940s. Bunche holds the distinction of being the first African American and the first person of African descent to be awarded a Nobel Prize. His contributions extended to the formation and early administration of the United Nations (UN), where he played a pivotal role in decolonization and various UN peacekeeping operations.
Early Life and Education:
- Ralph Johnson Bunche was born in Detroit on August 7, 1904.
- He grew up in challenging circumstances and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his family in 1915.
- Raised by his maternal grandmother, Lucy Taylor Johnson, Bunche was instilled with a strong sense of pride in his racial identity.
- He excelled academically and graduated as the valedictorian of his class at Jefferson High School.
- Bunche pursued higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1927.
- With the help of scholarships and a graduate scholarship at Harvard University, he earned a doctorate in political science.
Academic Career:
- Bunche earned a master’s degree in political science in 1928 and a doctorate in 1934 while already teaching at Howard University.
- He became the first African American to earn a PhD in political science from a US university.
- His 1934 dissertation, “French Administration in Togoland and Dahomey,” won the Toppan Prize at Harvard University.
- Bunche’s academic pursuits included research on colonialism’s impact on global economic systems and international relations.
World War II Years:
- In 1941–43, Bunche worked in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and then joined the State Department in 1943.
- He played a significant role in the United Nations’ formation and the drafting of its charter during the San Francisco Conference of 1945.
United Nations:
- Bunche contributed to the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
- He was involved in mediating conflicts and crises in regions such as the Sinai (1956), the Congo (1960), Yemen (1963), Cyprus (1964), and Bahrain (1970).
- Bunche was promoted to Under-Secretary-General for special political affairs in 1957 and played a crucial role in peacekeeping efforts.
- He supervised the cease-fire following the India-Pakistan war in 1965.
- Bunche retired from the UN in June 1971 and passed away six months later.
Civil Rights Movement:
- Prior to his UN career, Bunche actively supported the US Civil Rights Movement and participated in significant events such as the 1963 March on Washington.
- Despite constraints as an international civil servant, he remained a vocal advocate for civil rights.
Marriage and Family:
- In 1930, Bunche married Ruth Harris, with whom he had three children.
Death:
- Ralph Johnson Bunche passed away on December 9, 1971, due to complications from heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Honors and Awards:
- Bunche received numerous awards and honors during his lifetime, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950.
- He was posthumously recognized with the William J. Donovan Award from the OSS Society in 2004.
Memorials:
- Various buildings, libraries, and parks have been named in his honor, including Bunche Hall at UCLA and Ralph Bunche Park in New York City.
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