Ralph Bunche

7 August 1904 – 9 December 1971

Ralph Bunche was an American political scientist and diplomat who played a leading role in the mid-20th-century decolonization and peacekeeping work of the United Nations. In 1950 he became the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for his mediation of an armistice in the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.

Comparing
Compare

Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Ralph Bunche.

Life events

Born in Detroit, Michigan
7 August 1904

Born in Detroit and later raised in Los Angeles by his grandmother.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Chaired the political science department at Howard University
1928

Founded and led the political science department at Howard University.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Earned a doctorate from Harvard University
1934

Received a PhD in political science, the first Black American to do so at Harvard in the field.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Helped draft the United Nations Charter
1945

Contributed to the founding framework of the United Nations, especially on trusteeship.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Mediated the 1949 Arab-Israeli Armistice Agreements
1949

Negotiated the armistice ending the 1948 Arab-Israeli War as acting UN mediator.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
1950

Became the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Served as UN Under-Secretary-General
1955 – 1971

Directed UN peacekeeping operations, helping shape modern peacekeeping.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
1963

Received the United States' highest civilian honor from President Kennedy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died in New York City
9 December 1971

Died in New York shortly after retiring from the United Nations.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓