1950 December 10

Ralph J. Bunche First African-American to Win Nobel Peace Prize

 

Ralph J. Bunche was the first African-American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He won the prize for his efforts in mediating a settlement in Palestine in the 1940s while working in various capacities for the United Nations.

Bunche was involved in the initial planning for the creation of the United Nations in 1944 and worked for the UN for 25 years.

Martin Luther King was the second African-American to win the Nobel Peace Prize (see October 14, 1964, for the announcement and December 11, 1964, for the awarding of the prize).

Read the biography of Bunche: Von Brian Urquhart, Ralph Bunche: An American Life (1993)

Read: Charles P. Henry (ed), Ralph Bunche: Selected Speeches and Writings (1995)

Watch a short video on Ralph Bunche: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy4RwGZI-Vs

Learn more about Ralph Bunche: http://www.nobelpeacelaureates.org/pdf/Ralph_Bunche.pdf

And more: http://www.blackpast.org/aah/bunche-ralph-j-ca-1903-1971

Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture here

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