Credit: UN Photo / /Yutaka Nagata /  American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta are greeted by Ralph J. Bunche,  (right) United Nations Under-Secretary, at the United Nations, New York City, New York, Dec. 04, 1964.   One of Dr. King’s mentors was Ralph Bunche, a professor at Howard University and diplomat who served at the US State Department and United Nations.

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC TIMES

At the United Nations, the legacy of Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, one of the greatest peacemakers in contemporary history, is all but forgotten.  This despite the fact Bunche was the ultimate American peacemaker serving the UN for 25 years in pursuit of peace.  As an African American, Bunche’s accomplishments in the world of peace are mind boggling. In 1950,  Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and four Arab states. He was the first African American and person of color to receive the award, long before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   Sadly,  Bunche’s rich legacy is almost a distant memory as he has not  been given the honor he truly deserves, particularly at the UN where he served faithfully for a quarter of a century.  Walking  into  UN world headquarters in New York City, one is immediately struck by the lack of any physical honors to Dr. Bunche either in the form of a statue, head bust, or even photographs on the walls.  Meanwhile, the UN’s secretary general, António Guterres, came under heavy criticism last week over guidance to staff suggesting they should not participate in protests triggered by the police killing of George Floyd. He then clarified that staff were “not banned” from joining anti-racism demonstrations, as long as it was in an “entirely private capacity”.

Dr. Bunche Last Honored At United Nations In 2003

It has been nearly nearly 20 years since the UN last honored Dr. Bunche back in October 2003 with an exhibition entitled: “The Life and United Nations Career of Ralph Johnson Bunche”.  Since then,  Dr. Bunche’s legacy at the UN has all but faded away.

Meanwhile,  U.S. Department Of State Honors Dr. Bunche In major Way During Black History Month 2020

The National Museum of American Diplomacy in Washington D.C. honored Bunche in a major way last February week during Black History Month.  The US Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute hosted the event as part of its latest program in their “Heroes of Diplomacy” series at the NMAD.  Ralph Bunche, III, the grandson of  Dr. Bunche,  traveled from his home in Belgium  to attend the program. 

Dr. Ralph Bunche’s  Diplomatic Work Helped Shape Some of the Most Significant Moments of 20th Century

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  Mary D. Kane, Director of the National Museum of American Diplomacy, gives welcoming remarks at Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy event honoring Dr. Ralph  J.  Bunche in Washington D.C. Feb.  27, 2020.

Ralph Bunche III reflected on his grandfather, noting Bunche’s influence on how the family saw the world.  He also noted the tension public servants may feel maintaining neutrality and wanting to effect change domestically.

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo /  Mr. Ralph Bunche III , grandson of Ralph J. Bunche, explains the significance of his grandfather’s legacy   at the National Museum of American Diplomacy on February 27, 2020.

“He was an accidental diplomat – he worked on issues that mattered to him and that led him to focus on decolonization, peacekeeping and mediation.”

 – Ralph Bunche III speaking about his grandfather and Heroes of US Diplomacy honoree Dr. Ralph J. Bunche 

Ralph Bunche III also explained that his grandfather’s legacy was “embedded in who we are as a family.”  He said it was Mr. Bunche’s grandmother who raised him and really was the driver of his life and how he viewed the world. “And the focus on that was education.  Education was the most important thing that he sees for the advancement of peoples generally. And it is a key point in our life.”  Ralph Bunche III told the audience that he grew up in England, as was evidenced by his British accent. He said education and studying was everything for his grandfather as well as for him growing up in England. He said Mr,  Bunche’s extraordinary studying habits came from his grandmother who pushed him hard to value education.  He also reflected on how accidental his grandfather was a diplomat. “He was only in the foreign service for a short time. He valued being an independent, international civil servant. But it was difficult to remain neutral in his role as a diplomat.” Ralph Bunche III then told the audience of mostly State Department employees that “each and everyone of you in this room are engaged in that struggle of wanting to engage more in the domestic affairs of the United States but not being able to because of your role (in foreign service)”   He added that they should not see it as a failure not to engage,  but as a success to deal with that internal tension of wanting to take positions on domestic issues but unable to. “It is a success to deal with that internal tension and to maintain your neutrality in your role is an incredibly difficult thing to do, and should  be celebrated.”

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo /  Mr. Ralph Bunche III , grandson of Ralph J. Bunche.