Ralph Bunche

Children's Literature

Ralph Bunche is not nearly the household name that many African Americans are, but he is a worthy example of great achievement in the face of adversity. "Being poor had not stopped Ralph. Losing his parents had not stopped him. The color of his skin had not stopped him. What a wonderful world!" The last sentence, repeated several times in the book, is simplistic even for the youngest readers, in light of the realities that confronted Bunche and others of his generation. Details about the circumstances of his parents' premature death and a few more comments about the experience of being the only African-American in his 1922 high school graduating class would have been helpful. Most of the text is probably below the reading level of students who would be interested in the complex ideals of the United Nations and Arab-Israeli peace that Bunch championed. However, the book could work well with older students at a low reading level. There are many good black-and-white photos, including several of Bunche's children and his trip to his ancestral homeland in Kenya. Bunche's story demonstrates the ability of one man to make a difference on the world stage even while he confronts discrimination in his home country. The "Great African-American" series identifies itself as a series "about African Americans who have done great things for our country and for the world"—Marian Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Mary McLeod Bethune, George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Martin Luther King, Jr, Jesse Owens, Satchel Paige, Paul Robeson, Mary Church Terrell, Sojourner Truth, Madam C. J. Walker, Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Carter G. Woodson. Each titleincludes a short index, glossary and list of resources. 2002, Enslow,
— Karen Leggett