Oct. 9, 2009

Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” 

The Nobel officials praised Obama’s “dialogue and cooperation across national, ethnic, religious and political dividing lines. As President, Obama called for a new start to relations between the Muslim world and the West based on common interests and mutual understanding and respect. In accordance with a promise he made during his election campaign, he set in motion a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. occupying forces from Iraq.” 

Nobel officials also praised his support for a “world free from nuclear weapons.” 

He was the third African American to win the award. The previous winners were Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Bunche.

The post On this day in 2009 appeared first on Mississippi Today.