Ralph+Bunche

by Joharah, Grade 5

Born, August, 7th 1904, Ralph Bunche was a loving and caring man, who was surrounded by people like that his whole life. Starting at a very young age, Ralph would help around the house and care for others. He was also taught to believe in himself. Ralph was raised in two different places: Detroit, Michigan and Albuquerque, New Mexico. His family moved to New Mexico when Ralph was still a little boy, because of his mother’s health. Ralph liked it in Albuquerque, but later some problems took place.

Ralph was dealing with racial issues in Albuquerque. He was not used to this kind of feeling. In Detroit, Ralph passed as a white person and never had a problem with racism. Ralph grew up with good friends and family, and he was always told, “You are as good as anyone.” One of Ralph’s first experiences with racism was when he thought he would make it onto the honor roll at school. For the first time, Ralph was discriminated against for being a Negro. Despite the racism, Ralph loved school and learning itself.

In Albuquerque, one of Ralph’s favorite teachers was Miss Emma Belle Sweet. When Ralph met Miss Sweet for the first time, she was only thirty-six. Miss Sweet loved to teach and loved teaching Ralph even more. In 1916 tragedy struck when both of Ralph’s parents died. That same year, Ralph’s Nana, Ralph and the rest of the family, moved to Los Angeles, California. In California, Ralph entered College.

Ralph entered the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, Ralph played sports like basketball, baseball, and football. When Ralph finished at UCLA, he went on to Harvard University. Ralph was accepted into Harvard University, but was not able to pay for things like rent, food or books. A women’s club in Los Angeles raised one thousand dollars for Ralph to attend Harvard. In the Fall of 1927, Ralph went to Harvard University. Nana often wrote Ralph letters to check on him. Sadly, Ralph’s aunt called him one day and Ralph found out that Nana had died.

In 1928, Ralph finished at Harvard University and started teaching at Howard University in Washington, D.C. At Howard University, Ralph met Ruth Harris. Ruth Harris was a beautiful school teacher whom Ralph had fallen in love with. In 1930, they married and had three beautiful children together, Joan, Jane and Ralph Jr. From 1932-1934, Ralph studied in Africa and was the first African-American to receive a Ph. D from Harvard University.

Just after Ralph stopped teaching at Howard University, World War II started, in 1939. In 1941, Ralph was asked to work for the US Government. The State Department needed information about Africa during the war. Ralph was able to provide vital information for the State Department because of his hard work and studies in Africa.

During World War II, millions of innocent people died, then Ralph realized how many more millions would be in danger if peace was not settled. So, in July 1944, Ralph joined a group of diplomats, the League of Nations. The League of Nations was established after World War I, to promote world peace. One of the League of Nations’ plans was to help Africa and other colonies to eventually rule themselves.

The League of Nations was replaced by The United Nations in 1944-1946. Many nations joined for peace and Bunche helped write the founding Charter of The United Nations at a big conference at the San Francisco Opera House. The San Francisco U.N meeting made Ralph a world famous diplomat. It was decided that New York City was the home of The United Nations. Ralph was then asked to work for The United Nations and the Bunche family moved to New York City. Ralph represented the United States during his years with the U.N. Ralph’s days were always filled with work like writing papers or going to meetings.

In the mid and late 1940s, there was a war between Arabs and Jews. Many Jews died and suffered from World War II and many Arabs didn’t welcome them to their country. The U.N put aside a piece of land for the Jews called Israel. People who lived around Israel objected it to becoming a country. Five Arab countries attacked the Israelis in the Holy Land, in 1948. The Arab-Israeli War was the first real test for the U.N, asking the question, “Can we really stop wars?”. The U.N sent its best team with Count Folke Bernadotte leading the team and Ralph Bunche helping the team to go make peace with the Arabs and Israelis.

Count Folke Bernadotte asked the Arabs and the Israelis to meet on a Greek island, but they did not come. The Count did not give up. Although it took a month, the armies stopped fighting. In September 1948, Count Bernadotte was killed and Ralph Bunche then took his place as the leader of the U.N.’s best team for peace. Then the Arab-Israeli War started back up. After months of meetings, talking and working things out, the war stopped and a peace treaty was signed. At the last meeting, a piece of pottery was given to each Israeli and Arab involved in these negotiations.

In 1950, Ralph Bunche was given the Nobel Peace Prize and the Gold Key Award. Ralph Bunche was the first African-American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Ralph Bunche gave his Gold Key Award to his favorite teacher, Ms. Emma Belle Sweet.

Throughout the 1960s Ralph Bunche suffered from serious health conditions such as diabetes, depression, work stress and eye-sight failure. These conditions caught up with Mr. Bunche eventually and led to his death on December 9th, 1971.

When we remember Ralph Bunche, yes, he was a peace-loving and heart-warming man, but was also determined to one day accomplish world peace. World peace may not have been accomplished yet, but it is not impossible. Ralph Bunche believed that the world could change if you put enough effort into it. Ralph Bunche loved his career, loved his family and cared for the world and everyone’s future. Although this man was very successful, that does not mean you have to be famous to change the world.

Books Used In This Report

RALPH BUNCHE: Most Reluctant Hero. Hawthorne Books 1974 Author: Jim Haskins

Ralph J. Bunche: Peacemaker. Revised Edition. Enslow Publishers 2002 Author: Patricia and Fredrick McKissack

Ralph Bunche: Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Enslow Publishers 1999. Author: Anne Schraff