RACE UNITY IN ACTION
Committed to Racial Equality and Race Amity
"Developing a deep-seated consciousness of the oneness of humanity is the only hope
for remedying the vast problems of a fractured world."
"Developing a deep-seated consciousness of the oneness of humanity is the only hope
for remedying the vast problems of a fractured world."
This web page is a work in progress. Check back often for new resources.
The Baha'i Faith Chattanooga community wanted to bring together some of the content found on the Baha’i Blog (https://www.facebook.com/bahaiblog/) related to racism. Materials that the team at Baha’i Blog has created and resources put together by others are featured here. These resources include articles, interviews, books, talks and presentations that approach racism from a variety of perspectives. The collection here will grow over time as a demonstration of our Faith community's dedication to eliminating racial prejudice and inequality. What you see here is for the viewer's convenience. Much of what is shown here is freely available on the Web.
What follows is a small, but growing, collection of resources that demonstrate the Baha'i Faith's commitment to racial equality and amity. This has been true since the early years of the 20th century when the son of the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, 'Abdu'l-Baha, spent 238 days traveling North America and demonstrated an unending commitment to eliminating racial injustice in this country as well as the world-at-large. To read about 'Abdu'l-Baha's journey West, click here.
What follows is a small, but growing, collection of resources that demonstrate the Baha'i Faith's commitment to racial equality and amity. This has been true since the early years of the 20th century when the son of the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, 'Abdu'l-Baha, spent 238 days traveling North America and demonstrated an unending commitment to eliminating racial injustice in this country as well as the world-at-large. To read about 'Abdu'l-Baha's journey West, click here.
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Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson – Episode 10: Joy DeGruy Rainn interviews Dr. Joy DeGruy, an internationally renowned researcher, educator, author and presenter living in the United States. They talk about her work creating and developing the concept of ‘Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome’ and how we can affect change in society, especially when it comes to dismantling racism. “Race Unity: Advancing the Conversation” (Part 1 of 2) by Tod Ewing & Ken Bowers In these two presentations given at the Grand Canyon Baha’i Conference, Tod Ewing, noted Baha'i speaker on Racism, and Ken Bowers, Secretary of the National Baha'i Assembly, examine how we can contribute to race amity and engage with the elimination of prejudice within the current framework for action, public discourse, and social action. They discuss how we can address racism and prejudice within ourselves, within our Baha’i communities, and within the greater community. A link to Part II is on the blog page. Race Amity is the Key to the Future of This Country The American Baha’i Community recently released this video that discusses the importance of fostering inter-racial friendship, actively engaging in a healing dialogue, and it highlights the work of the ‘National Centre for Race Amity’. Here is the NCRA's web site: https://raceamity.org/ The Age We Live In – A Talk by Dr. Robert C. Henderson Member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, Dr. Robert Henderson reflects on the powerful forces which have been released by the Revelation of Baha’u’llah, forces that are coursing through nations — reshaping global order, creating opportunities for growth, and confronting us with destabilizing challenges. He looks at the United States, where the fraying social fabric is evident in the differentiation of human value by race and class and in the sharp decline of conditions needed for marginalized populations to lead safe, healthy, and dignified lives. Biography of Louis George Gregory (An early Black Baha'i) 1874-1951 Here is an excerpt. African American lawyer who became a leading Bahá’í speaker, writer, administrator, and proponent of race unity and equality; first person of his race to be elected to the national governing body of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, and first to be appointed a Hand of the Cause of God (similar to being designated an apostle). (from the Greek, apostolos; messenger) Gregory became a Bahá’í in June 1909. "It comes to me," he wrote to Baha'i friends ... "that I have never taken occasion to thank you specifically for all your kindness and patience, which finally culminated in my acceptance of the great truths of the Bahai Revelation. It has given me an entirely new conception of Christianity and of all religion, and with it my whole nature seems changed for the better. . . . It is a sane and practical religion, which meets all the varying needs of life, and I hope I shall ever regard it as a priceless possession." Gregory believed that, in embracing the new faith, he neither set aside his commitment to racial equality and social justice nor distanced himself from those working for change. Instead, he refocused his undiminished concern for the welfare of his people by placing it within a universal context: the establishment of a world order encompassing all peoples, founded on faith in a Supreme Being and an ennobling vision of human destiny. Click here for the full biography. |
Louis Gregory and Louise Matthews (Washington, DC, 1912)
The first Baha'i inter-racial married couple. |
For the full website with all resources go here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2020/06/31-resources-featured-on-bahai-blog-related-to-racism/