Ralph Bunche

“Peace, to have meaning for many who have known only suffering in both peace and war, must be translated into bread or rice, shelter, health, and education, as well as freedom and human dignity – a steadily better life.”~ Ralph Bunche, Nobel Lecture 1950

Ralph Bunche achieved the 1949 Armistice Agreements by shooting pool with Israeli Commander Moshe Dayan. In this Arab-Israeli Conflict, as well as in the Congo, Kashmir, and other regions on the verge of war, Bunche brought his optimism that people could live peacefully when everyone lived with dignity and respect for each other.

His work in establishing the United Nations and Universal Declaration of Human Rights was critical for countries of Africa and Asia as they dismantled the colonial system and declared independence.

Bunche ultimately recognized that the eradication of poverty and oppression was a global struggle. His life has inspired generations of Black leaders to expand their perspective and commit to fulfilling the basic needs and rights of all human beings.