John Hume was born in 1937 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He grew up among violent religious conflicts. It was a war between religions, and at the same time a struggle for self-determination and independence. Hume worked as a teacher and did his best to help the disadvantaged Roman Catholic community. In 1970, he spearheaded the Social Democratic and Labour Party. This party was for the reunification of Northern Ireland and Ireland. Its goal was clear: to break free from the United Kingdom and the oppression of Protestants without use of violence.

Hume joined the Northern Ireland Parliament and became a minister. He represented his people in the European parliament. There he opened up to dialogue. He was widely criticised when Hume sought contact with the Irish Republican Army (IRA). In doing so, Hume did not renounce his principles of fighting without violence. The IRA was a republican army banned by London. Hume reached the famous Good Friday Agreement in 1998 after tough negotiations: a truce with the prospect of a future in peace. That same year, Hume was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Unionist Party leader David Trimble. In 2001, Hume left politics. He was called a moderate nationalist politician who could serve his people at the right time and place. Hume died in Londonderry in 2020.