BHS Day 7: Ralph Bunche

Hi! Every Thursday this month I'll close out the week with the Activism and Political Spotlight, where I highlight an activist or a politician who made strides to better the world we live in. With the Community Spotlight tomorrow, I thought an activist or political spotlight helps to bring things full circle as we move into the next week. It's also the last Spotlight I do for the month, which is basically my feeble attempt at encouraging us not to give up moving forward. Anywho, let's get to today's entrant! 

Source

Name: Ralph Bunche, 1904-1971

Profession: Political scientist, US diplomat and academic

Why is the Spotlight on him today? For his work in improving relations between America and other nations through his door-opening position in the federal government

Notables: --Was the first African-American to obtain a doctorate in political science from a university in the nation
--Was one of the main leaders of the Institute of Pacific Relations
--Helped plan and create the foundation for the international organization we now as the United Nations --Was the valedictorian of both his high school and college, where he graduated summa cum laude --Was the first African-American to be honored with a Nobel Peace Prize after his work negotiating armistices between the Arabs and Jews in Palestine as the acting UN mediator
--Was awarded NAACP's Spingarn Prize --Was a member of the US Office of Strategic Services, which was the parent organization of what became the CIA --Was a longtime member of the staff at Howard University, first as a teacher, then as the chair of the Department of Political Science at the University
--Was the co-director of the Institute of Race Relations at Swarthmore College
--Served as a member of the board for the Institute for International Education
--Was the recipient of over 30 honorary doctorates throughout his career --Was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President John F. Kennedy
--Was a member of then-President Roosevelt's Black Cabinet and later rejected an offer by then-President Truman to serve as his Assistant Secretary of State
--Was a supporter of the actions of the NAACP and Urban League as they fought against persisting racism
--Served on the board of Harvard University's Board of Overseers
--Worked alongside then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was drafted and adopted by the US General Assembly at the organization's third session
--Served on the board of the NAACP for over 2 decades, which did not stop him from receiving criticism throughout his career for not being as vocal
--Joined the UN Secretariat as the director of the Trusteeship Department
--Has four previous residences officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places 
--Was part of both major Alabama-based marches in Selma and Montgomery 
Further reading links: 1 | 2 | 3


Quote of the Day: 
"We must fight as a race for everything that makes for a better country and a better world. We are dreaming idiots and trusting fools to do anything less."
--Ralph Bunche