Ralph Johnson Bunche was born on August 7, 1904, in Detroit, Michigan. In his youth, Bunche and his family moved around a bit, spending time in Toledo, Ohio; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Los Angeles, California. He was a bright student, a member of the debate team, and the valedictorian of his high school class. Bunche went on to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, where he again graduated as valedictorian. From there, he went on to Harvard, where he earned his doctorate in political science. Bunche was the first African American to earn a PhD in political science at an American college. While he was still earning his doctorate, Bunche began teaching political science at Howard University. He then published his first book, World View of Race, in 1936.