Who was the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize?

• A. Martin Luther King Jr.
• B. Ralph Bunche
• C. Barack Obama
• D. Booker T. Washington

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is understanding who first broke the barrier as an African American Nobel Peace Prize recipient, which highlights a landmark moment in recognizing diplomacy and international mediation. Ralph Bunche earned the honor in 1950 for his work as a United Nations mediator in the Middle East, particularly helping to negotiate armistice agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors after the 1948 war. His success showed how principled, neutral mediation can play a crucial role in reducing conflict on a global stage. In contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. won later, in 1964, for nonviolent civil rights leadership within the United States; Barack Obama won in 2009 for broader diplomatic efforts and leadership; Booker T. Washington was a prominent educator and reformer who did not receive the prize.