Racial unity: making human equality visible

Although the pupil of the eye is black, it is the source of light. Thou shalt likewise be. The disposition should be bright, not the appearance.

God has made all mankind of one family; no race is superior to another.

O ye discerning ones! Verily, the words which have descended from the heaven of the Will of God are the source of unity and harmony for the world. Close your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the light of oneness.

If you meet those of different race and color from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness.

Look upon the people of your own race and those of other races as members of one organism; sons of the same Father; let it be known by your behaviour that you are indeed the people of God.

In the Kingdom of God no distinction is made as to the colour of the skin, whether it be black or white; nay, rather the heart and soul are considered. If the spirit is pure, the face is illumined, although it be black. If the heart is stained, the face is dull and despondent, although it may be of the utmost beauty. The pupils of the eyes are black, yet they are the fountains of light.

We must conclude that color is not the standard and estimate of judgment and that it is of no importance, for color is accidental in nature. The spirit and intelligence of man is essential, and that is the manifestation of divine virtues, the merciful bestowals of God, the eternal life and baptism through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, be it known that color or race is of no importance.

God maketh no distinction between the white and the black. If the hearts are pure both are acceptable unto Him. God is no respecter of persons on account of either color or race. All colors are acceptable unto Him, be they white, black, or yellow.

...In the estimation of God all men are equal. There is no distinction or preference for any soul, in the realm of His justice and equity

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Whether logical proofs or traditional proofs, before God there is no distinction of white or coloured. Whosoever has a pure heart, his deeds are better and more acceptable before the threshold of the Almighty, though he may be red or yellow. It is evident the coloured and the white people belong to the same human family. In reality they are of the same human household in which colours, as in all departments of life, are used for adornment.

Between these two races certain points of agreement and points of distinction exist which warrant just and mutual consideration. The points of contact are many; for in the material or physical plane of being, both are constituted alike and exist under the same law of growth and bodily development. Furthermore, both live and move in the plane of the senses and are endowed with human intelligence.

… Therefore, Baha'u'llah hath said that the various races of humankind lend a composite harmony and beauty of color to the whole.

In the clustered jewels of the races may the blacks be as sapphires and rubies and the whites as diamonds and pearls.

As I stand here tonight and look upon this assembly, I am reminded curiously of a beautiful bouquet of violets gathered together in varying colors, dark and light. This is an evidence and indication that the United States of America is a just and free government, for I see black and white seated together in perfect harmony and agreement.

The sixth candle is unity of races, making of all that dwell on earth peoples and kindreds of one race.

All humanity are the children of God; they belong to the same family, to the same original race. There can be no multiplicity of races, since all are the descendants of Adam. This signifies that racial assumption and distinction are nothing but superstition.

Man is intelligent and thoughtful, endowed with powers of mind. Why, then, should he be influenced by distinction of color or race, since all belong to one human family? There is no sheep which shuns another as if saying, "I am white, and you are black." They graze together in complete unity, live together in fellowship and happiness. How then can man be limited and influenced by racial colors? The important thing is to realize that all are human, all are one progeny of Adam. Inasmuch as they are all one family, why should they be separated?

Man is endowed with superior reasoning power and the faculty of perception; he is the manifestation of divine bestowals. Shall racial ideas prevail and obscure the creative purpose of unity in his kingdom?

You are loosed from ancient superstitions which have kept men ignorant, destroying the foundations of true humanity. The gift of God of this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and the fundamental oneness of religion.

You are all, of every race and creed, members of one family.

There should be no differentiation between the blacks and the whites. All are the creatures of God. All are created by one God. There is no black and white in the Kingdom of God. The purest heart is the best whether white or black.

Though outwardly you are in distant lands, in reality you are present in spirit and heart in the Blessed Spot, gathered beneath the banner of guidance and encompassed by endless favors. Praise be to God that the gates of the Kingdom have opened, the divine call has been raised, and no distinction remains between black and white - all are near to the Divine Threshold and all are beloved in the sight of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

O All-Knowing God! While that innocent soul was black in colour, he was, like unto the black pupil of the eye, a source of radiant light.

When he arrived at Stuttgart, although being of black color, yet he shone as a bright light in the meeting of the Friends.

To Miss Alma Knobloch,

Send her my love and greetings and say: Blessed are you, to whom the White and Black are equal. Wisdom is attained through the light of the heart and not through the skin, and blackness is the darkness of the heart and not the darkness of the face. One sees the reflection of a person in the black, in the pupil of the eye. How many there are whose face is black and whose character is white and enlightened.

Intense is the hatred, in America, between black and white, but my hope is that the power of the Kingdom will bind these two in friendship, and serve them as a healing balm.

Let them look not upon a man's colour but upon his heart. If the heart be filled with light, that man is nigh unto the threshold of his Lord; but if not, that man is careless of his Lord, be he white or be he black.

One of the great reasons of separation is color. Look how this prejudice has power in America, for instance. See how they hate one another! Think over this. Animals do not quarrel because of their color! Surely man should not, who is so much higher in creation. What ignorance exists. White doves do not quarrel with other doves that are blue, because of their color but white men fight with dark colored men. This racial prejudice is the worst of all.

One of the great reasons of separation is colour. Look how this prejudice has power in America, for instance. See how they hate one another! Animals do not quarrel because of their colour! Surely man who is so much higher in creation, should not be lower than the animals. Think over this. What ignorance exists! White doves do not quarrel with blue doves because of their colour, but white men fight with dark-coloured men. This racial prejudice is the worst of all.

Or the unifying force may be race, people being of the same race. Race is a unifying force but has no real authority. Among themselves there are severe conflicts, but when faced with outsiders, they defend themselves. Yet it has no authority and is superficial; it does not blend people together. It does not unite individuals with one another.

"Another excuse for war is that of race. This is black, that is yellow, you are white, he is red and then they fall on each other's lives instead of each other's neck. What utter stupidity! What sheer ignorance! These are all flimsy excuses and they stand neither the test of reason or religion. They are pure fictions of disordered minds and interested parties. … In the estimation of God there are not many races but one race and that is humanity.

Dr. Allen asked: "How will the unity of mankind be established?"

Abdul Baha's answer was: When you remove the causes thereof. These causes are racial, patriotic and religious bias or prejudice. This bias will be removed and when it is removed, people will live in friendliness, kindness and love which will bring forth unity.

He said, Tell them a Baha'i is a person who is free from all prejudices—racial prejudices, religious prejudices, political prejudices, social prejudices, economic prejudices.

If matters continue in this way, this enmity will increase day by day and ultimately cause great harm and lead to bloodshed.

… My hope is that this whiteness and blackness of humans will become like the whiteness and blackness of doves and sheep and other birds and animals, for difference of color causes no separation among birds and animals. You observe a flock of doves - some white, some black, some yellow, and some red - yet they fly together in utmost love and harmony. Humans too must be like this. Let there be no separation due to color, for all are human.

I hope that ye may cause that downtrodden race to become glorious, and to be joined with the white race, to serve the world of man with the utmost sincerity, faithfulness, love, and purity.

This opposition, enmity, and prejudice among the white race and the coloured cannot be effaced except through faith, assurance, and the teachings of the Blessed Beauty...

This question of the union of the white and the black is very important, for if it is not realized, erelong great difficulties will arise, and harmful results will follow ... enmity will be increased day by day, and the final result will be hardship and may end in bloodshed.

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If the races do not come to an agreement, there can be no question or doubt of bloodshed. When I was in America, I told the white and colored people that it was incumbent upon them to be united or else there would be the shedding of blood. I did not say more than this so that they might not be saddened. But, indeed, there is a greater danger than only the shedding of blood. It is the destruction of America. Because aside from the racial prejudice there is another agitating factor. It is that of America's enemies. These enemies are agitating both sides, that is, they are stirring up the white race against the colored race and the colored race against the white race.

The race problem in America is very intense. Its non-solution will end in danger and war. The colored people have advanced much intellectually in America. They have many schools, colleges Universities and churches. They invited me to the Howard University. There were many hundreds of colored students, but a few white people could be seen here and there. In the second meeting there were more white, in the third meeting they were associating with each other - white and colored - this made me very happy.

In this country, the United States of America, patriotism is common to both races; all have equal rights to citizenship, speak one language, receive the blessings of the same civilization, and follow the precepts of the same religion. In fact numerous points of partnership and agreement exist between the two races, whereas the one point of distinction is that of color. Shall this, the least of all distinctions, be allowed to separate you as races and individuals?

I pray that you attain to such a degree of good character and behavior that the names of black and white shall vanish. All shall be called human, just as the name for a flight of doves is dove.

… I hope that you attain to such a high degree--and this is impossible except through love. You must try to create love between yourselves; and this love does not come about unless you are grateful to the whites, and the whites are loving toward you, and endeavor to promote your advancement and enhance your honor.

In Washington, too, we called a meeting of the blacks and whites. The attendance was very large, the blacks predominating. At our second gathering this was reversed, but at the third meeting we were unable to say which color predominated. These meetings were a great practical lesson upon the unity of colors and races in the Baha'i teaching.

We said in part: The black man must ever be grateful to the white man, for he has manifested great courage and self-sacrifice in behalf of the black race. Four years he fought their cause, enduring severe hardships, sacrificing life, family, treasure, all for his black brother until the great war ended in the proclamation of freedom. By this effort and accomplishment the black race throughout the world was influenced and benefited.

For the black and white in America to associate together in a social way is good. The Government has objections on political grounds for granting equality ot the blacks, but you can promote friendly intercourse without interfering with politics.

… The whites in America fought four years to liberate the slaves. This effect has stirred the people in Europe and the East to do the same thing. Even in Africa the blacks have been partly emancipated. The blacks should be grateful for these efforts of the whites.

Surely, colours are not the image and likeness of God. The image and likeness of God signify the virtues of the human world, the bestowals of God, the Divine Laws, the Love of God, the Knowledge of God, and the acquisition, through the Breaths of the Holy Spirit, and in this the colour, the white, the yellow, and all are co-sharers, or partners. He who is more imbued with these attributes, in whom these Favours are more manifest, is the image and likeness of God, be he black or white - let him be green. (Laughter) It makes no difference. … The coloured must be admonished to be appreciative of the whites, must be thankful to them, for the white people have exerted themselves much. They were the cause of their freedom. They went into war for it and freed them, and this has affected other continents of the world. This was the cause of freeing all the coloured people of Africa, and the coloured people must be very grateful, thankful, and the white people must be very kind and lenient, so that unity may be realized.

Because of the climatic differences of the zones, through the passing of ages colours have become different. In the torrid zone, on account of the intensity of the effect of the sun throughout the ages the black race appeared. In the frigid zone, on account of the severity of the cold and the ineffectiveness of the heat of the sun throughout the ages the white race appeared. In the temperate zone, the yellow, brown and red races came into existence. But in reality mankind is one race.

Regarding the Ethiopian people - they are a people descended from both Shem and Ham. The two lineages intermingled and mixed until the Ethiopian people emerged. Thus they are not purely from Ham's lineage nor purely from Shem's lineage, but are mixed from both.

In any case, there are five races on earth: the white race, the black race, the brown race, the yellow race, and the red race. Like doves - they too have different varieties. But in the world of doves, difference of color has no significance. Rather white and black and yellow and purple and red and blue doves all associate in perfect fellowship and love. And yet they are animals. How can humans, who possess reason and consciousness, be bound by these colors? This is heedlessness, this is ignorance, and this is contrary to true humanity.

"When I was in America and Europe" he said "I went through some of the Zoological gardens. There I saw great polar bears, savage-looking, black and white. The white bear did not say to the black bear, 'thou art of another race. I dislike thy association. Get thee behind me.' Nor the black ever grudged the whiteness of its fellow. They lived in one cage without molesting each other. Now can we confess with shame that men, notwithstanding his godlike intelligence is even inferior to these ferocious bears?"

What does it matter if the skin of a man is black, white, yellow, pink, or green? In this respect the animals show more intelligence than man. Black sheep and white sheep, white doves and blue do not quarrel because of difference of colour.

Between 1860 and 1865 you did a wonderful thing; you knocked the shackles from chattel slavery; but today you must do a much more wonderful thing: you must destroy industrial slavery.

Not only in India are there castes and caste feeling. The principle of exclusiveness poisons even today the Western civilized states. The Christian Church with its hierarchy of clerics has reversed Christ's and Paul's teaching of unity. His Holiness Christ has set the slave beside the master, and what has the Church of the 19th century said to the slavery of the Negroes of America? O Baha'u'llah, Thy gentle Voice of Truth will some day penetrate as far as the churches.

My hope is that through the endeavors of the friends, the standard of the Lord of Hosts may be raised among the black race and the lights of guidance may be so diffused that the black race may become equal to the white race.

How good is the intention! And what an excellent aim this great aim is! Indeed the hearts of the Africans are as a blank scroll of paper upon which thou canst write any phrase; but thou must have patience and a heart as firm as a mountain, owing to the innumerable hardships that may intervene, which could be endured only by one who surrenders to grievous calamities.

Convey my greetings to your respected mother and say: Strive with heart and soul that the black people may enter God's Kingdom, their hearts become illumined, they acquire heavenly character and attain eternal glory.

Mr. Gregory must demonstrate a self-sacrificing spirit in teaching the Cause amongst the black race, diffuse the fragrances of God in every part of the South, and let his cry 'Ya-Baha-el-Abha!' reach to the apex of heaven in their meetings, gatherings, churches, colleges and schools.

"The best thing for it is to accept these teachings. In this way they will gain the confidence of the whites and differences will fade.

'Abdu'l-Baha asked: "Are the colored and white believers entirely united?" Referring to the friends, I answered that there was not entire unity, but that there were earnest souls of both races who desired closer unity and hoped that He would point out to them the means of attaining it.

After luncheon when Abdul Baha was given the picture of the Kenosha Assembly he said: This is the cause of great happiness, for the colored and white are gathered together. When I was in Washington some of the notables there said they wanted to see me but that if we had the colored people they could not come. But now I see in this photograph that colored and white are in the utmost love and unity.

If a man has spiritual characteristics, be he white or black, he is near to God. Some have protested to me, asking why I seek to cultivate love between the whites and the blacks. Yet what a great error they make.

Strive with heart and soul to create fellowship between black and white and to prove the Baha'i unity - that colors have absolutely no importance, rather it is hearts that matter.

During the time I was in America, I strove mightily that great affection and unity be established between white and black.

Therefore strive that intense love may be produced between black and white.

We rejoice at these great tidings and we hope that the fellowship between the white and black races will increase and that estrangement will vanish in this promised age, until they become intimate friends, steadfast in loyalty, and brethren reclining upon couches, face to face, attracted to the manifest light.

The formation of gatherings of blacks and whites is a cause for the manifestation of the oneness of humanity. It will completely erase and eliminate racial prejudice and give everyone to drink from the spring of the water of life.

Regarding the black friends, you wrote that black and white gathered in one meeting and completely eliminated distinctions of race and differences of color. When an assembly of these two races is arranged, it becomes a magnet for the Concourse on High and the confirmations of the Blessed Beauty encompass it.

In the world of being the meeting is blessed when the white and colored races meet together with infinite spiritual love and heavenly harmony.

When a gathering of these two races is brought about, that assemblage will become the magnet of the Concourse on high, and the confirmation of the Blessed Beauty will surround it.

Concerning the event of the gathering where four of the white and four of the colored people with the utmost love and harmony sang thy hymn with the utmost joy and fragrance, indeed this is one of the great signs of God, because it hath gathered hearts which were scattered and filled with hatred, souls which were opposing one another, disputing and repelling with enmity and made them as one soul sing the astonishing melodies of harmony in different tones.

The gathering of whites and blacks under the banner raised by the hand of the power of your Lord, the Mighty, the Loving, increased everyone's joy.

Praise be to God that white and colored, like unto the face and the hair of the Beloved of the Worlds, gathered together in utmost love and joy; and Mr. Alfred Lunt unloosened his tongue in eloquent speech.

In Washington we always had audiences of one to two thousand in large meetings. Day and night I had no rest. A close friendship was created between the black and white people. Many came to the Faith.

Convey to Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Dober the Most Glorious and Most Wondrous greetings, and show them the utmost kindness on my behalf, for they are blessed souls who have opened their home and show love and kindness to the black race.

It is my utmost desire to be present at such a gathering, for I am thoroughly confident that beneficial results shall surely follow these meetings, and that they will become the means of establishing friendship and love among the world's different races. Thus the basis of enmity may be destroyed and the tent of unity of the world of humanity be raised throughout all regions.

Praise be to God that the Race Convention was carried through in utmost perfection.

… Your Convention is like the mother Convention which shall give birth to many others. If your Convention be held in future in Washington itself, it would be preferable, because in that city there is great animosity between the white and the colored. Besides in that city ‘Abdu'l-Baha Himself laid the foundation of this unity and harmony in the assemblies, churches and universities of the colored and white; and thou certainly rememberest the speeches which were delivered.

Say to this convention that never since the beginning of time has a convention of more importance been held. This convention stands for the oneness of humanity. It will become the cause of the removal of hostilities between the races. It will become the cause of the enlightenment of America. It will, if wisely managed and continued, check the deadly struggle between these races, which otherwise will inevitably break out.

Endeavour that the black and the white may gather in one meeting place, and with the utmost love, fraternally associate with each other, so that quarrel and strife may vanish from among the white and the black. Thou must even endeavour that they intermarry. There is no greater means to bring about affection between the white and the black than the influence of the Word of God. Likewise marriage between these two races will wholly destroy and eradicate the root of enmity....

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'Abdu'l-Baha:

"Be very kind to Mrs. Kanno because she is the wife of a Japanese. She has been persecuted for marrying a Japanese. It is well to become the wife of a Japanese. That is a bond, uniting the East and the West."

Despite such prejudice, in Baha'i gatherings blacks and whites were like brothers and sisters. Even marriages between blacks and whites took place in the Baha'i Faith, such as the union of Mrs. Matthews, a white woman, with Mr. Gregory, a black man - an event that appeared extraordinary in people's eyes.

"The colored people must attend all the unity meetings. There must be no distinctions. All are equal. If you have any influence to get the races to intermarry, it will be very valuable. Such unions will beget very strong and beautiful children.

Asked if intermarriage between different races was right and advisable, He replied:

"Yes. As in the vegetable world the best results are obtained when one kind of fruit is grafted on another, so in the human family, the best and strongest children are obtained by intermarriage between different races."

A newspaper must in the first instance be the means of creating harmony among the people. This is the prime duty of the proprietors of newspapers, to eradicate misunderstandings between religions and races and nationalities and promote the oneness of mankind.

Every student should know, with perfect certainty, that he is the brother of the people of all religions and nations and that he should be without religious, racial, national, patriotic or political bias, so that he may find the thoughts of universal peace and the love humankind firmly established in his heart.

I hope you will become a herald of the Kingdom and cause both black and white races to close their eyes to colors and look upon the reality of humanity, which is complete unity - that is, the unity of humanity and universality of mankind and the manifestation of divine grace.

… As much as you can, rely upon God and submit to the divine will, so that you may shine like a candle in the human world and gleam like a star from the horizon of truth and become the cause of guidance for both groups - black and white.

Strive earnestly and put forth your greatest endeavor toward the accomplishment of this fellowship and the cementing of this bond of brotherhood between you.

… For the accomplishment of unity between the colored and white will be an assurance of the world's peace.

Consider the power of the Word of God that has brought opposites together. The unity of black and white was impossible and unattainable, but the breaths of the Holy Spirit brings them together.

Observe how numerous were the diverse nations, races, clans and tribes who, after the advent of Christ, gathered through the power of the love of God under the shadow of His Word. Consider how the differences and divisions of a thousand years were entirely abolished, how the delusion of the superiority of race and nation was dispelled, how the unity of souls and sentiments was attained, and how all became Christians in truth and in spirit.

The Jew and the Muslim will blend together like sugar and flowers, achieving complete fusion. They will be waves of one sea, forces of one army, birds of one garden, so that they may be accepted and praised at the Threshold of Oneness.

This is one of the wonders of this age, that an oriental and an occidental can meet each other on a common ground. Although there exists among them no racial, no patriotic, or political relations, yet they love each other as though they belonged to the same race.

Here am I a Persian, and you an American. … That is as it should be--the world one brotherhood, loving one another!

One morning Abdu'l-Baha, on entering the room looked about and said: "It is just like a miracle, our being here together. There is no racial, political or patriotic tie. We are drawn together by the words of Baha'u'llah, and in like manner will all the races of the earth be drawn together. Of this, rest assured!"

Gradually racial prejudices will be dispelled. There will come a day when the German will say to the Frenchman, 'I am a Frenchman'; and the Frenchman will say, 'I am a German'. If the governments should like to wage war the people will not agree to it…. If anyone is in any place he will say, 'This is my home'.

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Give Mrs. Botay my greetings and love and tell her she must greatly endeavor through the assistance of heaven to cast light among the colored people so that they may become as our brothers; no blacks, no whites; both as one. By this means you shall free Americans from all prejudice.

Because in the Kingdom of God all are the same, whether black or white.

My hope is that the friends may become the cause of establishing love and fellowship among all religions, and that all different races may embrace one another.