Ralph Johnson Bunche was an American political scientist, academic, and diplomat who on this day, December 10, in 1950, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts on behalf of the United Nations to broker peace between Israel and Egypt in 1949. He was the first African American to be so honored.

He was involved in the formation and administration of the United Nations and played a major role in numerous peacekeeping operations sponsored by the UN. In 1963, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President John F. Kennedy. Read more (Wikipedia).