The Contemporary Relevance of the Ralph Bunche Legacy

Ralph Bunche Centenary Commemoration
Planning Workshop, New York City  
The CUNY Graduate Center , 4 October 2002

1. The workshop was opened by welcoming the participants, each of whom introduced herself/himself.

2. The moderator explained the purpose of the workshop:

· Translate the relevance of Bunche’s legacy for today.

· Ensure consideration of views by a wide spectrum of participants to permit the Internal Management Group to move ahead expeditiously with finalizing the strategic and marketing plan for the Centenary.

· Brainstorm about developing a public relations strategy, mobilizing necessary resources, reach out to the schools from K-12, to colleges and universities, and stimulate research and conconferences.

3. The workshop continued with a showing of The Man and the Myth, one of the series of 14 modules on the life and legacy of Ralph Bunche, produced by William Greaves Productions, which soon will be available to teachers, scholars and special groups. The modules are designed not only for high school social studies but also for college-level courses in U.S. and world history, political science, international relations, peace and conflict management, and African-American studies.

4. Agenda Item #1, Plenary: How is Bunche Remembered, If at all, Today?

· Participants pointed out that what has prevented the Bunche legacy from being more widespread among the public at large are mainly two factors: his being black and a UN figure.

· It was agreed that transmission of the Bunche legacy should not be limited to the year-long commemoration, whose goal is to underscore the relevance of Bunche legacy not only for today but for the future.

· In translating the Bunche legacy, local and national committees should stress messages that do not fit easily into sound bites, namely:

4.1 Ralph Bunche is a complex and multifaceted figure.

 Bunche as a role model not only for black but for all Americans, being an American but also  an international figure. The Centenary should be able to portray these different  aspects of Bunche, acknowledging how his figure transcends race and nationality with his concern about humanity as a whole, but at the same time reflects a special identity. The celebration should therefore celebrate his accomplishment as a professional and as an intellectual, his work at the UN but also his early work, his activist role, his attack on imperialism and stereotypes.

4.2 Ralph Bunche has historical relevance for several topics with contemporary salience:

In this regard Bunche’s contributions in the peace in the Middle East and in peacekeeping operations should be emphasized. Today few people are aware of the role of Ralph Bunche and the UN. Not only was Bunche instrumental in achieving the first agreement between Israel and its neighboring states, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he wrote the rules of peacekeeping operations which are still a working legacy. This however reflects Bunche’s spirit as well. Bunche was self-effacing, he never took credit for what he accomplished. He aimed at results and not at personal recognition. 

4.3 Ralph Bunche’s intellectual relevance, especially his contribution to decolonization, his monograph A World View of Race and his collaboration with Gunnar Myrdal in the preparation of An America Dilemma.

4.4 His focus on the position of the black population in the US and on colonialism is reflected in his faith on the importance of negotiations and mediations in the political and everyday life.          

4.5 Controversial and provocative debates regarding Bunche should not be avoided: i.e. the way many black Americans viewed Bunche with suspicion, as an “Uncle Tom”, especially after the war in Congo .

4.6 Children need to be introduced to Bunche in their schools through books, after-school  education programs, media, and videos. New materials need to be introduced in the actual curriculum, teachers need to be interested, and particular areas and age should be picked to reach kids directly.

5 Agenda item #2, Breakout Brainstorming sessions.

Two groups were formed:

· Breakout Group A was chaired by Scott Waugh with William H. Smith and Joshua DuBois as rapporteurs. It focused of public relations strategies, including the media and the press, and on mobilizing resources.

· Breakout Group B was chaired by Lawrence S. Finkelstein with Sally A. Swartz and Neta Crawford as rapporteurs. It focused on reaching out to the schools from K-12 to colleges and universities, on stimulating research by young scholars, and on sponsoring conferences.

The key recommendations that emerged from both breakout groups can be found in the attached tables. 
View the Public Relations  Report Chart (MS Word)
View Schools Report Chart (MS Word)

7 The moderator stressed the necessity for fundraising by each legacy city. Funds presently  available for the RBCCC that are coordinated by the RBIIS are sufficient to guarantee many of the  central activities but are quite inadequate for many of the suggestions (for example, The Crisis reprint,  the press kit that is expected to cost $ 15-20,000, etc.).