- from a compilation that can be seen as a key source and starting-point into the notion of the oneness of mankind.
2. Webinar "No Jim Crow Church - The Origins of South Carolina Bahá’i Community," by Louis Venters, 4 December 2016: goo.gl/V1Oh3l
- one of the most important discussions of the Bahá’i approach to 'social equality' and social change in the US and of the current reality in the United States. Simply a must-see.
3. Webinar "The Beautiful Struggle: Understanding Racism and Transforming Words into Deeds," by Ruha Benjamin, 23 August 2017: goo.gl/sQb8dN
4. "Tablet on the Struggle for Survival" by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: http://goo.gl/uPHMib
- man should expand his thinking from concern with himself, his family, or his nation towards a concern with 'bringing prosperity and blessings to the entire human race'. Cooperation, not "the struggle for survival" is innate to human reality. See excerpt illustrated above.
5. "Message from the Universal House of Justice to All National Assemblies," 13 July 1972: http://goo.gl/UQxWZ1
- "We must not allow the fear of rejection by our friends and neighbors to deter us from our goal: to live the Bahá'i life. Let us strive to blot out from our lives every last trace of prejudice - racial, religious, political, economic, national, tribal, class, cultural, and that which is based on differences of education or age."
6. Video A beautiful short interview with Tod Ewing on the oneness of humankind and the spiritual dimensions of racial reconciliation: goo.gl/4M78hG
7. "The Vision of Race Unity. America's Most Challenging Issue" - A Statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of the United States, 1991: https://goo.gl/2oXqUv
"Racism is the most challenging issue confronting America. ... To ignore the problem is to expose the country to physical, moral and spiritual danger. ... The evil consequences of slavery are still visible in this land. They continue to affect the behavior of both Black and 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 are the most pressing issues 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. ... Both groups must understand that no real change will come about without close association, fellowship, and friendship among diverse people."
8. Video "The Power of Race Unity" sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of the United States, 1997: https://goo.gl/eKlg7A
- four examples of individual initiatives developed during the 1990s to give expression to "The Vision of Race Unity" above: "Calling all Colors" - a kids project founded by a 8 year old in SC, the Bahá’i youth workshops (~ 1000) founded by Oscar DeGruy (dance, drama and song), Dan Seals's country music video "We are One," and Dr. Richard Thomas's university-wide program to teach acceptance of diversity for students and faculty at Michigan State University.
9. Music Video "I Can't Breathe" by Moanin' Sons feat. Lonnie Jordan of War: https://goo.gl/YFZ5ta
10. "Combat Racism with Oneness of Humanity," The Bahá’í International Community: http://goo.gl/yDoPPo
- "Just as a fever is a symptom of disease in the body, racism is a symptom of disease in society. Suppressing the symptom does not cure the disease, but curing the disease eliminates the symptom. The Bahá’í International Community is convinced that the disease from which society currently suffers is failure to recognize the principle of the oneness of humanity, and racism is but a symptom."
11. "Statement to World Conference against Racism," The Bahá’í International Community: https://goo.gl/IIWRwQ
-
"At the root of all
forms of discrimination and intolerance is the erroneous idea that humankind is
somehow composed of separate and distinct races, peoples or castes, and that
those sub-groups innately possess varying intellectual, moral, and/or physical
capacities, which in turn justify different forms of treatment. The reality is that
there is only the one human race. We are a single people, inhabiting the planet
Earth, one human family bound together in a common destiny, a single entity
created from one same substance, obligated to 'be even as one soul'. Recognition of this reality is the antidote to racism, xenophobia and
intolerance in all its forms."
12. The Prosperity of Humankind" - Bahá’i International Community, 1995: goo.gl/63Lui4
13.""Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of Iran," 2 March 2013: https://goo.gl/AopQLI
Secondly, with a humble attitude of learning, Bahá’is seek to enter “into collaboration, as their resources permit, with an increasing number of movements, organization, groups and individuals, establishing partnerships that strive to transform society and further the cause of unity, promote human welfare and contribute to world solidarity”. Bahá’is "will not affiliate themselves with political parties, become entangled in partisan issues, or participate in programmes tied to the divisive agenda of any group or faction." “Wherever they reside Bahá’is endeavour to uphold the standards of justice, addressing inequalities directed towards themselves or towards others, but only through lawful means available to them, eschewing all forms of violent protest.”
12. The Prosperity of Humankind" - Bahá’i International Community, 1995: goo.gl/63Lui4
- "The bedrock of a strategy that can engage the world's population in assuming
responsibility for its collective destiny must be the consciousness of the
oneness of humankind.
Deceptively simple
in popular discourse, the concept that humanity constitutes a single people
presents fundamental challenges to the way that most of the institutions of
contemporary society carry out their functions.
What is true of the life of the individual has its parallels in human society. The human species is an organic whole, the leading edge of the evolutionary process. That human consciousness necessarily operates through an infinite diversity of individual minds and motivations detracts in no way from its essential unity. Indeed, it is precisely an inhering diversity that distinguishes unity from homogeneity or uniformity.
What is true of the life of the individual has its parallels in human society. The human species is an organic whole, the leading edge of the evolutionary process. That human consciousness necessarily operates through an infinite diversity of individual minds and motivations detracts in no way from its essential unity. Indeed, it is precisely an inhering diversity that distinguishes unity from homogeneity or uniformity.
13.""Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of Iran," 2 March 2013: https://goo.gl/AopQLI
-
The Bahá’i
attitude to politics is shaped
by a certain framework and a particular conception of history. Humanity
is
moving from the turbulence of adolescence towards a phase of maturity
which will see the unification of the human race. This transition is
shaped by the interaction of two processes: one destructive in nature
(clearing
the barriers to change), one integrative (opening new spaces of
cooperation and
collaboration). In this process of transition and massive social
reorganization,
“the principle that is to infuse all
facets of organized life on the planet is the oneness of humankind”. Bahá’is do
not believe this transformation could come solely through their efforts. Nor do
they attempt to create a movement that would seek to impose their vision of the
future on society. Every group, nation and individual will, to a greater or
lesser degree, contribute to the emergence of a world civilization. The
question is how the Bahá’is could contribute to this process. This is proceeding according to two dimensions.
Firstly, by attempting to construct a community
(and thus a methodology for community building) with corresponding
administrative structures “which would embody the principle of the oneness of
humankind and the convictions underpinning it”. The aim here would be to
experiment with reorganizing the relationships between the individual,
community and the institutions of society on the basis of cooperation instead
of competition (i.e., the struggle for power) redefining the concept of
power as “a limitless capacity to transform that resides in the human race as a
body” (and in the powers of the human spirit such as unity, love, humble
service and ethical action) rather than as “a means of domination.” These are
very high ideals and the Bahá’i community makes no claims to perfection. But in
the current condition of the world what harm is there in investigating the
possibilities for formulating a peaceful and united world civilization?
Secondly, with a humble attitude of learning, Bahá’is seek to enter “into collaboration, as their resources permit, with an increasing number of movements, organization, groups and individuals, establishing partnerships that strive to transform society and further the cause of unity, promote human welfare and contribute to world solidarity”. Bahá’is "will not affiliate themselves with political parties, become entangled in partisan issues, or participate in programmes tied to the divisive agenda of any group or faction." “Wherever they reside Bahá’is endeavour to uphold the standards of justice, addressing inequalities directed towards themselves or towards others, but only through lawful means available to them, eschewing all forms of violent protest.”
14. Video "Forces of Integration and Disintegration" by Kevin Locke: https://goo.gl/EBHHa8
Video "The Gifts of Language and Heritage" by Kevin Locke: https://goo.gl/rtzQTT
15. "Raising Children of Light" (2008) - by Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Bahá’í International Community at the United Nations: http://goo.gl/sc8Eyg
-"As we reflect on our understanding of the world, it is our responsibility as mothers to examine our thinking, knowing that consciously or unconsciously children will absorb our attitudes, our habits, and our worldview. In a world so painfully divided by political agendas, violent conflict, extremes of wealth and poverty, gender stereotypes, racism, religious systems, and endless permutations of “us” vs. “them,” we cannot unreservedly pass on thoughts and attitudes that perpetuate the prevailing order. We need to scrutinize our own thinking. This is perhaps our greatest challenge."
16. "Unity in Diversity"- section from "The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh" (pp.41-42), by Shoghi Effendi: http://goo.gl/q5a17v
17. "Excerpts from the Letter to the United States and Canada about Racism," 1961 - by Ruhiyyih Khanum: https://goo.gl/86wgg8
-"Bahá'u'lláh warned us against the evils of civilization when carried to extremes ... Shoghi Effendi fairly thundered against our civilization--particularly the American variety of it. The future culture and civilization is therefore scarcely likely to be patterned on it."
18. "Letter from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's to the First Universal Races Congres," London, 26-29 July, 1911: https://goo.gl/4qGPiY
-
"The Blessed One, Baha'u'llah, likens the existing
world to a tree, and the people to its fruits, blossoms and leaves. All should
be fresh and vigorous, the attainment of their beauty and proportion depending
on the love and unity with which they sustain each other and seek the Life
eternal. The friends of God should become the manifestors in this world of this
mercy and love. They should not dwell on the shortcomings of others.
Ceaselessly should they be thinking how they may benefit others and show
service and co-operation. Thus should they regard every stranger, putting aside
such prejudices and superstitions as might prevent friendly relations. To-day
the noblest person is he who bestows upon his enemy the pearl of generosity,
and is a beacon-light to the misguided and the oppressed. This is the command
of Baha'u'llah."
19. Bahá’i - a way of life for millions," Ebony magazine, April 1965, p.48: https://goo.gl/ysED7H (please scroll down to page 48).
- this, in a way, is a historical document but also a good introduction to the Bahá’i Faith from the perspective of the oneness of humankind and of the need to adopt "freedom from racial prejudice" as "the watchword of the entire body of American believers, in whatever state they reside" and in every aspect of their life (private or public): "in their homes, their business offices, their schools and colleges, their social parties and recreation grounds."
20. "Prejudice and Discrimination" - by Will C. van den Hoonaard: http://goo.gl/IkU61b
- a quick and basic introduction into the topic with recourse to aspects relating to the Baha'i Faith:
"Society looks most often to education and legislation to alleviate prejudice and discrimination--for reasons still not clearly known, intergroup contact alone is not enough to reduce prejudice (Klineberg, 1968: 441). On one hand, multicultural education, whether direct or indirect, constitute the mainstay of educational efforts to eliminate prejudice. On the other hand, the emphasis on civil rights, enlightened immigration policies, and mandates for quota hiring are the cornerstone of legal approaches to alleviating the effects of prejudice and discrimination. The most overlooked area in resolving the problems of prejudice and discrimination lies in the web of close relationships where genuine feelings of love can be fostered and strengthened (Robert Henderson, American Bahá'í, Nov. 1993 [check].) The private sphere may indeed be the last frontier where a solution to the problems of prejudice may have to be found."
"The root cause of prejudice and discrimination, according to the Bahá'í writings, lies in the accretion of blind imitation of the past. It is through this "aping of the past," that the "foundations of the social order" are "blown to the four winds," and that "humanity be continually exposed to direst peril" (SWAB: 247). Prejudice and Discrimination lead to disunity which results in the dissolving of society (SWAB: 31), through strife and war. World peace will elude our grasp while prejudice and discrimination continue to bedevil the collective life of humanity (PUP: 373)."
21. The 2014 Bahá’i Chair for World Peace Annual Lecture - "The Problem of Racism in 'Post-Racial' America, by Dr. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Sociology Department, Duke University: goo.gl/KhW8iL
22. "Towards a Model of Racial Unity. A case-study of Bahá’i Teachings and Community Practices," book-chapter from "Racial Unity. An Imperative for Social Progress", by Richard W. Thomas. (author permission; waiting for copyright permission)
23. Audio: "Vision of Shoghi Effendi as Reflected in the Advent of Divine Justice" by Richard W. Thomas: https://goo.gl/RiYndp
24. "Addressing the Racial, Ethnic and Class Implications of Legacy Cities," by June Manning Thomas: http://goo.gl/MNrVzi
25. "The Canadians Bahá’is 1938-2000: Constructions of Oneness in Personal and Collective Identity" by Lynn Echevarria: http://goo.gl/cVgXJW
26. Powerpoint presentation: "Mahin and Brenda Root and the Oneness of Mankind" - courtesy of Skip Quinn Ebert and the Greensboro Bahá’í Community and with permission from Brenda Root: https://goo.gl/fA4mSJ
"Cultural diversity helps us realize our basic oneness" by Brenda Root: https://goo.gl/5dZRsD
