Forging a Path to Racial Justice

The conviction that we belong to one human family is at the heart of the Bahá’í Faith. The principle of the oneness of humankind is “the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh revolve”. At this time in history, and in this country especially, the elimination of racism is our most challenging obstacle to realizing this divine principle. The following statement from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’í of the United States, the nine-member elected governing body of the U.S. Baha’i community, addressed to the American people, speaks to this seemingly intractable obstacle.

The Baha’is of the United States join our fellow-citizens in heartfelt grief at the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others whose lives were suddenly taken by appalling acts of violence. These heartbreaking violations against fellow human beings, due only to the color of their skin, have deepened the dismay caused by a pandemic whose consequences to the health and livelihoods of people of color have been disproportionately severe. This has come to pass against a backdrop of longstanding racial injustice in virtually every aspect of American life. It is clear that racial prejudice is the most vital and challenging issue we face as a country. Yet, amidst these tragedies, there are also signs of hope