Born into a life of poverty and racism, there was nothing more Ralph Bunche wanted than to make the world a better place. He worked tirelessly.
This one superpower took him far.
Empathy. Bunche was a peacemaker who worked toward his dream with a bit of optimism and a lot of grit. He could put himself in another’s shoes in a truly remarkable way, ultimately earning him the Nobel Peace Prize.
But he wasn’t just “keeping the peace” for white supremacy’s sake. Bunche knew, that peace is not just about physicality. True peace comes from access to food, shelter, health, and education.
That is the liberation our people have always been fighting for.
Even as Bunche continued his peacekeeping around the world, he never forgot about his people back at home. Often during his speeches, he reminded audiences that despite his success, he couldn’t be free until they all were too.
We should keep this same energy.
Despite the many paths we take toward liberation and the accolades some will receive along the way, if our fight isn’t to free Black people, there is no fight. Our freedom depends on one another, and we must never forget that.