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                            "The Vision of Race Unity:
                         America's Most Challenging Issue"
           A Statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is
                             of the United States

Racism  is THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUE confronting America. A  nation  whose
ancestry  includes every people on earth, whose motto is E  pluribus  unum,
whose  ideals  of freedom under law have inspired millions  throughout  the
world,  cannot  continue to harbor prejudice against any racial  or  ethnic
group  without betraying itself. Racism is an affront to human  dignity,  a
cause of hatred and division, a disease that devastates society.

Notwithstanding  the efforts already expended for its  elimination,  racism
continues  to  work its evil upon this nation. Progress  toward  tolerance,
mutual respect, and unity has been painfully slow and marked with  repeated
setbacks. The recent resurgence of divisive racial attitudes, the increased
number of racial incidents, and the deepening despair of minorities and the
poor  make the need for solutions ever more pressing and urgent. To  ignore
the  problem  is to expose the country to physical,  moral,  and  spiritual
danger.

Aware  of  the  magnitude and the urgency of the issue,  we,  the  National
Spiritual  Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, speaking  for  the
entire  U.S.  Baha'i community, appeal to all people of goodwill  to  arise
without  further  delay to resolve the fundamental social problem  of  this
country. We do so because of our feeling of shared responsibility,  because
of  the  global  experience of the Baha'i  community  in  effecting  racial
harmony within itself, and because of the vision that the sacred scriptures
of our Faith convey of the destiny of America.

                                     I

The  oneness  of  humanity  is  the  pivot  round  which  resolve  all  the
teachings  of the Baha'i Faith. It is at once a statement of principle  and
an  assertion of the ultimate goal of human experience on the planet.  More
than  a century ago Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the  Baha'i  Faith,
wrote: "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable
unless  and until its unity is firmly established." It is a principle  that
issues naturally from the genesis and purpose of human existence. The  Word
of God as presented in the Baha'i writings offers compelling insights as in
the following examples:
[lightgreen]
        Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity
    of  My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I  created
    thee,  have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to  thee
    My beauty.

        Know  Ye not why We created you all from the  same  dust?
    That  no one should exalt himself over the other.  Ponder  at
    all  times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We  have
    created  you all from one same substance it is  incumbent  on
    you  to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet,  eat
    with  the  same mouth and dwell in the same land,  that  from
    your  inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the  signs  of
    oneness  and the essence of detachment may be made  manifest.
    Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this
    counsel  that  ye may obtain the fruit of holiness  from  the
    tree of wondrous glory.

        All  men  have been created to carry  forward  an   ever-
    advancing  civilization. The Almighty beareth Me witness:  To
    act  like the beasts of the field is unworthy of  man.  Those
    virtues  that  befit  his  dignity  are  forbearance,  mercy,
    compassion  and loving-kindness towards all the  peoples  and
    kindreds of the earth.
[white]
Having  gone  through  the stages of  infancy  and  turbulent  adolescence,
humanity  is  now  approaching maturity, a stage  that  will  witness  "the
reconstruction and demilitarization  of the whole civilized world--a  world
organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life. " In no other
country is the promise of organic unity more immediately demonstrable  than
in  the  United States because this country is a microcosm of  the  diverse
populations of the earth. Yet this promise remains largely unrealized  even
here  because of the endemic racism that, like a cancer, is  corroding  the
vitals of the nation.

For  too  much  of its history and in so many places  the  human  race  has
squandered  its  energy  and  resources in  futile  efforts  to  prove  the
unprovable: that one portion of itself, because of separation by geography,
a  difference  in skin color, or the diversity of cultural  expression,  is
intrinsically distinct from another portion. The ignorance and prejudice on
which  such efforts are founded have led  to endless conflicts in the  name
of the sanctity of tribe, race, class, nation, religion. Paradoxical as  it
may seem, in the consistency of these negative efforts across the  spectrum
of  the race, humanity has proved the exact opposite: it has  affirmed  its
oneness.  The proof is in the fact that, given the same circumstances,  all
people,  regardless of ethnic or cultural variety, behave  essentially  the
same  way.  In  the futility of its efforts to classify  and  separate  its
divers  elements, humanity has become disoriented and confused. Unaided  by
the  divine  influence  of religion, people are incapable  of  achieving  a
proper  orientation  to their innermost reality and purpose  and  are  thus
unable to achieve a coherent vision of their destiny. It is in this respect
that  the  Baha'is  find  relevance,  direction,  and  fulfillment  in  the
teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of their Faith.

The  oneness  of  humanity is a spiritual  truth  abundantly  confirmed  by
science.  Recognition  of  this  truth  compels  the  abandonment  of   all
prejudices  of race, color, creed, nation, and class--of "everything  which
enables people to consider themselves superior to others." The principle of
the oneness of mankind "is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or  an
expression  of vague and pious hope.... It does not constitute  merely  the
enunciation  of an ideal.... It implies an organic change in the  structure
of   present-day  society,  a  change  such  as  the  world  has  not   yet
experienced."

                                    II

The application of the spiritual principle of the oneness of mankind to the
life of the nation would necessitate and make possible vast changes in  the
economic  status  of  the non-white segments of  the  population.  Although
poverty  afflicts  members  of all races, its victims tend  to  be  largely
people  of color. Prejudice and discrimination have created a disparity  in
standards of living, providing some with excessive economic advantage while
denying  others  the  bare necessities for leading  healthy  and  dignified
lives.  Poor housing, deficient diet, inadequate health care,  insufficient
education  are  consequences  of poverty that  afflict  African  Americans,
American Indians, and Hispanic Americans more than they afflict the rest of
the population. The cost to society at large is heavy.

Evidence  of  the  negative effect of racial and  ethnic  conflict  on  the
economy  has prompted a number of businesses and corporations to  institute
educational  programs  that teach conflict resolution and are  designed  to
eliminate  racial  and  ethnic  tensions from the  work  place.  These  are
important  steps and should be encouraged. If, however, they  are  intended
primarily  to save the economy, no enduring solution will be found  to  the
disastrous consequences of racism. For it cannot suffice to offer  academic
education  and  jobs  to people while at the same time  shutting  them  out
because  of  racial  prejudice  from normal  social  intercourse  based  on
brotherly  love and mutual respect. The fundamental solution--the one  that
will  reduce  violence,  regenerate and focus the  intellectual  and  moral
energy  of  minorities,  and make them partners in the  construction  of  a
progressive  society--rests  ultimately on the common  recognition  of  the
oneness of humankind.

It  is entirely human to fail if that which is most important  to  people's
self-perception  is  denied them--namely, the dignity they  derive  from  a
genuine regard by others for their statute as human beings. No educational,
economic,  or  political plan can take the place of  this  essential  human
need;  it is not a need that businesses and schools, or  even  governments,
can  provide  in  isolation from the supportive attitude of  society  as  a
whole. Such an attitude needs to be grounded in a spiritual and moral truth
that all acknowledge and accept as their own and that, like the oxygen that
serves all equally, breathes life into their common effort to live in unity
and peace. Absence of the genuine regard for others fostered by such  truth
causes  hopelessness  in  those discriminated against; and in  a  state  of
hopeless, people lose the coherent moral powers to realize their potential.
This  vitalizing truth, we are convinced, is summarized in the phrase:  the
oneness of humankind.

So essential is the principle of the oneness of humanity to the efficacy of
educational  programs that it cannot be overemphasized. Without  its  broad
influence   such  programs  will  not  contribute  significantly   to   the
development  of  society.  The very fact  that  businesses  are  themselves
implementing  educational programs is indicative of the glaring  deficiency
of  the  entire  educational system. As we have already  said,  beyond  the
mechanisms  of  education  lies  the essential  prerequisite  of  a  proper
attitude  on  the  part  of  those  dispensing  curricula  and,  even  more
important,  on the part of society as a whole. On this basis, education  is
not only the shortest route out of poverty; it is the shortest route out of
prejudice as well. A national program of education, emphasizing the  values
of tolerance, brotherhood, appreciation for cultures other than one's  own,
and  respect  for  differences would be a most important  step  toward  the
elimination of racism and, as a consequence, the bolstering of the economy.

                                    III

The  persistent  neglect  by the governing bodies and  the  masses  of  the
American  people  of the ravages of racism jeopardizes  both  the  internal
order and the national security of the country.

From the day it was born the United States embraced a set of  contradictory
values.  The  founding  fathers proclaimed their devotion  to  the  highest
principles   of  equality  and  justice  yet  enshrined  slavery   in   the
Constitution.  Slavery poisoned the mind and heart of the nation and  would
not be abolished without a bloody civil war that nearly destroyed the young
republic. The evil consequences of slavery are still visible in this  land.
They continue to affect the behavior of both Black and the White  Americans
and prevent the healing of old wounds.

Healing  the  wounds  and building a society in  which  people  of  diverse
backgrounds  live  as  members of one family is  the  most  pressing  issue
confronting America today. Her peace, her prosperity, and even her standing
in  the international community depend to a great extent on the  resolution
of this issue.

That  the virulence of the race issue in America attracts the attention  of
the  entire  world should spur this country to an unprecedented  effort  to
eliminate  every  vestige of prejudice and discrimination from  her  midst.
America's  example  could not fail to have a profound  influence  on  world
society, nor could it fail to assist the establishment of universal  peace.
"For the accomplishment of unity between the colored and white," the Baha'i
writings proclaim, "will be a cause of the world's peace."

                                IV
[white]
The  responsibility  for the achievement of racial peace and unity  in  the
United States rests upon both Black and White Americans. To build a society
in  which the rights of all its members are respected and guaranteed,  both
races  must  be  animated  with the spirit of optimism  and  faith  in  the
eventual realization of their highest aspirations. Neither White nor  Black
Americans  should  assume that the responsibility for  the  elimination  of
prejudice  and of its effects belongs exclusively to the other.  Both  must
recognize  that  unity is essential for their common  survival.  Both  must
recognize that there is only one human species. Both must recognize that  a
harmoniously  functioning society that permits the full expression  of  the
potential  of all persons can resolve the social and economic problems  now
confounding a society wracked with disunity.

It is evident that both the Black and White Americans in large numbers  are
feeling deeply disappointed and frustrated by what each group perceives  to
be a failure of the efforts in recent decades at effecting progress in  the
relations  between the races. To rationalize this failure, both  have  been
reacting by retreating to the more familiar ground of racial separation. As
the  problems with crime and drug addiction mount, the tendency is  to  use
the seeming intractability of these problems as a measure of the failure of
years  of  struggle  on  the  part of both  to  overcome  the  barriers  of
centuries.  Formidable as is the challenge yet to be met, can it fairly  be
said  that  no significant progress has taken place since the days  of  the
sit-ins at lunch counters across the South?

Similarly, the victims of a protracted and entrenched racial discrimination
seek  relief in the notion that Black Americans, White Americans,  American
Indians,  Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans are so  distinctly  different
from  one  another that all of them must stake out their own  cultural  and
social  territories and stay within them. Would this be sensible? Would  it
not be a retreat from the reality of our common humanity? Would it not be a
formula  for the total breakdown of civilization? Those who raise the  call
for separation preach a grim doctrine indeed. If the nation is seriously to
submit  to  such a view, where exactly will either the Black or  the  White
Americans divide their cultural heritage, one from the other?

Racism runs deep. It infects the hearts of both White and Black  Americans.
Since  without  conscious,  deliberate, and sustained effort,  no  one  can
remain unaffected by its corrosive influence, both groups must realize that
such a problem can neither easily nor immediately be resolved. "Let neither
think that anything short of genuine love, extreme patience, true humility,
consummate   tact,  sound  initiative,  mature  wisdom,   and   deliberate,
persistent,  and  prayerful effort can succeed in blotting  out  the  stain
which this patent evil has left on the fair name of their common  country."

Both  groups  must understand that no real change will come  about  without
close  association,  fellowship,  and  friendship  among  diverse   people.
Diversity of color, nationality, and culture enhances the human  experience
and  should  never  be  made a  barrier  to  harmonious  relationships,  to
friendship, or to marriage. "O well-beloved ones!" Baha'u'llah wrote.  "The
tabernacle  of  unity  has  been  raised; regard  ye  not  one  another  as
strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch."

Our  appeal is addressed primarily to the individual American  because  the
transformation  of a whole nation ultimately depends on the initiative  and
change  of  character of the individuals who compose it. No great  idea  or
plan of action by the government to other interested organizations can hope
to  succeed if the individual neglects to respond in his or her own way  as
personal circumstances and opportunities permit. And so we respectfully and
urgently  call upon our fellow Americans of whatever background to look  at
the  racial  situation with new eyes and with a new determination  to  lend
effective  support to the resolution of a problem that hinders the  advance
of this great republic toward the full realization of its glorious destiny.

We  mention the experience of the Baha'i community not from any feeling  of
pride  and ultimate victory, because that which we have accomplished  still
falls  short of that to which we aspire; nonetheless, the results  to  date
are  most encouraging, and it is as a means of encouragement that  we  call
attention to them.

From  its  inception  in 1863 the Baha'i community  was  dedicated  to  the
principle of the unity of humankind. Baha'is rely upon faith in God,  daily
prayer, meditation, and study of sacred texts to effect the  transformation
of character necessary for personal growth and maturity; however, their aim
is  to  create  a  world civilization that will  in  turn  react  upon  the
character  of  the individual. Thus the concept of  personal  salvation  is
linked to the salvation, security, and happiness of all the inhabitants  of
the earth and stems from the Baha'i belief that "the world of humanity is a
composite  body"  and that "when one part of the organism suffers  all  the
rest  of the body will feel its consequence." Guided and inspired  by  such
principles,  the  Baha'i community has accumulated more than a  century  of
experience  in  creating  models of unity  that  transcend  race,  culture,
nationality,  class,  and the differences of sex  and  religion,  providing
empirical evidence that humanity in all its diversity can live as a unified
global  society.  Baha'is see unity as the law of life;  consequently,  all
prejudices  are  perceived  as diseases that  threaten  life.  Rather  than
considering that the unity of humankind can be established only after other
problems  afflicting  it  have  been  solved,  Baha'is  believe  that  both
spiritual  and  material  development are dependent upon  love  and  unity.
Therefore,  the Baha'is offer the teachings of their Faith and the  example
of  their  community  for  examination, convinced that  these  can  make  a
contribution toward the eradication of racism endemic in American  society.
We do so with firm faith in the assistance of our Creator, Who, out of  His
infinite love, brought forth all humanity from the same stock and  intended
that  all belong to the same household. We believe, moreover, that the  day
of  the  unification  of  the entire human race  has  come  and  that  "the
potentialities inherent in the station of man, the innate excellence of his
reality, must all be manifested in this promised Day of God."

ADDENDUM

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States is  the
national  administrative  body for the Baha'is of the  United  States.  The
Assembly  has  nine members and is elected annually by delegates  from  the
forty-eight contiguous states. It directs, coordinates, and stimulates  the
activities of local Baha'i administrative bodies and of the 110,000 Baha'is
in the United States.

The  Baha'i  Faith  is  an independent world  religion  with  adherents  in
virtually  every  country. The worldwide Baha'i community,  numbering  more
than five million, includes almost all nationalities and classes. More than
2,100  ethnic  groups and tribes are represented. There  are  155  National
Spiritual Assemblies.

Baha'u'llah  was  the  Prophet-Founder of the  Baha'i  Faith.  The  central
principles of His religion are the oneness of God, the oneness of religion,
and the oneness of humanity. His religion "proclaims the necessity and  the
inevitability of the unification of mankind .... it, moreover, enjoins upon
its  followers  the  primary  duty of an  unfettered  search  after  truth,
condemns all manner of prejudice and superstition, declares the purpose  of
religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims its  essential
harmony  with  science, and recognizes it as the foremost  agency  for  the
pacification  and the orderly progress of human society.  It  unequivocally
maintains  the principle of equal rights, opportunities and privileges  for
men  and  women, insists on compulsory education,  eliminates  extremes  of
poverty  and  wealth, abolishes the institution  of  priesthood,  prohibits
slavery,  asceticism,  mendicancy  and  monasticism,  prescribes  monogamy,
discourages divorce, emphasizes the necessity of strict obedience to  one's
government, exalts any work performed in the spirit of service to the level
of  worship,  urges  either the creation or the adoption  of  an  auxiliary
international  language, and delineates the outlines of those  institutions
that must establish and perpetuate the general peace of mankind."

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                    Attached Questions and Answers
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BAHA'I OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 - (708) 869-9039


        "THE VISION OF RACE UNITY AMERICA'S MOST CHALLENGING ISSUE"

                 WHO ISSUED THIS STATEMENT ABOUT RACE UNITY?

     The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States is
the  national administrative body for the Baha'is of the U.S. The  Assembly
has  nine  members  and  is  elected annually  by  delegates  from  the  48
contiguous states. It directs, coordinates and stimulates the activities of
local Baha'i administrative bodies and of the 110,000 Baha'is in the U.S.

                        WHY WAS THE STATEMENT ISSUED?

     Baha'is  believe  that  racism is the most  challenging  issue  facing
America.  Despite all past efforts to improve relations between the  races,
racism continues. The peace and security of the U.S. depend upon  America's
commitment to solve its racial problems.

     Baha'is believe that the teachings of Baha'u'llah and the  experiences
of their community offer a means to eliminate racism.

                HOW CAN AMERICA SOLVE ITS RACIAL PROBLEMS?

     First,  the people of the U.S. must recognize the spiritual and  moral
truth  of  the  oneness of humankind. Acceptance of  this  principle  would
motivate people to abandon prejudice and to reorganize society.

     The primary responsibility for achieving racial peace and unity in the
United  States  rests  upon  Black and  White  Americans.  The  process  of
resolving  the deep-seated division between Black and White Americans  will
help  end  racism against American Indians, Hispanic  Americans  and  Asian
Americans.

     The problem will not be solved easily or quickly. No real change  will
occur without close association, fellowship and friendship among people  of
all colors, cultures and backgrounds.

     People of all colors, nationalities and cultures must be encouraged to
develop  friendships, to socialize together, to enjoy their diversity,  and
to intermarry.

             HOW DOES THE BAHA'I COMMUNITY FOSTER RACE UNITY?

     The unity of humankind is the cardinal principle of the Baha'i  Faith.
To  Baha'is, the concept of personal salvation is linked to the  salvation,
security, and happiness of all people.

     The Baha'i community has more than a century of experience in creating
models  of unity that transcend race, culture, nationality, class, and  the
differences of sex and religion.

     The  Baha'i community promotes minority involvement in all aspects  of
its  community  life, administrative affairs and  spiritual  education.  It
promotes interracial marriage; uses decision-making practices which  foster
agreement  without  confrontation;  and  works  with  organizations   which
advocate  racial harmony. In 1957, the National Spiritual Assembly  of  the
Baha'is of the United States established the second Sunday in June as  Race
Unity Day to nurture the vision of race unity.
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