By Marc W. Polite
Greetings, my readers. A few days ago, I decided to visit the United Nations. This month, they are hosting a Black History Tour. Complementary to the other in-person themed tours available to the public, this tour is being highlighted this month.
The tour lasted an hour, and those who participated had the opportunity to see a few exhibits, in addition to spaces in the UN where important decisions are made.
The guide started off with the origin of the UN, and acknowledged Black history through the lenses of an international outlook. We then saw a few of the spaces, including the UN Security Council meeting chamber, and the general assembly.
One key highlight of the tour was the accomplishments of Ralph Bunche. As some of you may know, Ralph Bunche was a leading diplomat in the 1940’s, and he worked for the United Nations. Among some of the highlights of his life work as a diplomat was the creation of the United Nations charter. He was also the first Black American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. For those want to learn more about Ralph Bunche, I recommend the book Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey by Brian Urqhart.
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey by Brian Urquhart, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
The last segment of the tour ended with the Ark of Return. The ark of return is a memorial to the victims of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Instituted in 2015, the exhibit is a reminder of the horrors of slavery. Once the tour ended, I ventured around, looking at other exhibits. I followed up on a bit of news that the guide shared with the attendees.The UN has recently established a panel of experts to assess the risks and impacts of artificial intelligence. This goes to show how much of a factor the implementation of AI is already, and will be in the near future. This is an important development to watch, in this writer’s opinion.
UN approves scientific AI panel over US objections | AP News
To find out more about the available in-person guided tours, visit the link below.
– In-Person Guided Tours | United Nations
The Black History Tour at the UN runs until February 26th.