In Observance of RACE UNITY DAY

Six years earlier, The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States established "Race Amity Day". Two years after this historic speech the name of the day was changed to "Race Unity Day" The purpose of this day is to promote racial harmony, unity and understanding..

Baha'is believe that racial prejudice is the most challenging issue facing this country, and perhaps the world. The oneness of mankind and the elimination of all forms of prejudice is a central point of the teachings of the Baha'i Faith.

In his speech, Dr. King stated:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.

The international governing body of the Baha'is, The Universal House of Justice, stated in 1985:

"Racism, one of the most baneful and persistent evils, is a major barrier to peace. Its practice perpetrates too outrageous a violation of the dignity of human beings to be countenanced under any pretext. Racism retards the unfoldment of the boundless potentialities of its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and blights human progress. Recognition of the oneness of mankind, implemented by appropriate legal measures, must be universally upheld if this problem is to be overcome." "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood....

I became a Baha'i on June 3, 1976 in Georgia. I lived there for over 5 years after that and I have seen this part of the dream begin to come true.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

"I have a dream today!"

It is my belief that this is the real test of the unity of mankind.

Abdu'l-Bahá, son of the founder of the Baha'i Faith has stated:

But there is a need of a superior power to overcome human prejudices, a power which nothing in the world of mankind can withstand and which will overshadow the effect of all other forces at work in human conditions. That irresistable power is the love of God. It is my hope and prayer that it may destroy the prejudice of this one point of distinction (racial color) between you (the colored and white races) and unite you all permanently under its hallowed protection

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