Ralph Bunche became the first African-American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway, Oslo, on Dec. 10, 1950. Bunche was honored for his efforts toward peace mediation during the first Arab-Israeli war.

Bunche is a native of Detroit, and began working in the U.S. diplomacy field at the State Department and Office of Strategic Services in the '40s. A few years later, Bunche was hired to work for United Nations, where served as an aid on the U.N. Palestine Commission to control and put a stop to the tension in Israel.
In early 1949, Bunche stepped into the lead position when the chief of the U.N.’s mediation division passed away. After winning the Peace Prize in 1950, he continued his work with the United Nations.

Bunche died in 1971.
Click here to win a trip to the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in Phoenix, AZ, plus 4 tickets to the Big Game.  

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. 

(Photo: Derek Berwin/Fox Photos/Getty Images)