Ralph Johnson Bunche was born in Detroit, black.
His family moved to L.A., while racial attacks
Were common. His talents developed despite his origin.
Then he graduated from UCLA, valedictorian.
He taught politics and took a Ph.D. in colonialism.
At first, he thought racism would end through cooperation,
Realizing later that blacks must fight for the Constitution.
He went to work at the U.N. and from this station,
He rose to the top in complex projects he negotiated.
He was assigned to bring Arabs to the table to meet Jews, not elated.
He rejected extremist Jews’ territorial abuses,
And helped Egypt and Israel broker a lasting truce.
He lived to walk with Martin Luther King and rejected
Hatred as a ‘Black Power’ movement imperative.
June Edvenson 