Arkansas State press., 1948-10-01
RACE UNITY
Abdu'I.Baha

In the cStlinatloH VI Iod UNIV
is no distinction of color; adj are
one in color and beauty of SER
vitude to him. Color is not i'm
portant; the heart Is all impor-
tant 1t matters not what the ex-
terror may be if the heart be pure
and white within. God does not
behold differences of hue and
complexion; He looks at the
hearts. He whose morals and VIZ
tues are praise worthy is preferred
in the presence of God; he who is
devoted to the Kingdom is most
beloved. In the realm of genesis
and creation the question OF col
or is of the least importance.
The mineral kingdom abounds
with many colored substances and
compositions but we find no strife
among them on that account In
the kingdom of the plant and
vegetable, distinct and varlegated
hues exist but the fruit and flow
ers are not in conflict for that
reason. Nay, rather, the very fact
that there is difference and var
iety lends a charm to the garden
.. The world of humanity is
like a garden and the various
races are the flowers which con-
stitute its adornment and decora-
ton. In the animal kingdom also
we find variety of color. See how
the doves differ i'll beauty yet
they live together in perfect
peace. and love one another, They
do not make difference of color a
cause of discord and strife. They
view each other as the same
species and kind ........ Throughout
the animal kingdom we do not
find the creatures separated be-
cause of color. If we do not find
color distinction drawn in a king
dom of lower intelligence and
reason, how can it be justified a.
mong human beings, especially
when we know that all have
come from the same source and
belong to the same household? In
origin and intention of creation
mankind is one. Distinctions OF
race and color have arisen after
ward.
| wish to say one thing OF I'M
portance to both in order that the
white race may be just and KIND
to the colored and that the color
ed race may in turn be grateful
and appreciative to ard the
white. The great proclamation OF
liberty and emancipation from
slavery was made on this contin-
ent. A long bloody war was
fought by white men for the sake
of the colored people. These whlte
men forfeited their possessions
and sacrificed their lives by the
thousands in order that colored
men might be freed from bond
age. The colored population Oh
tho United States of America are
possibly not fully informed Oh 'he
wide reaching effect of this free
dom and emancipation upon their
colored brethren in Asia and Al
RIGA where even more terrlple
conditions of slavery existed IN
fluenced and impelled by the eN-
ample of the United States, the
European powers proclaimed UNI
yersal liberty TO the colored race
and slavery ceased to exist lhis
effort and accomplishment by the
white nations should never be
lost sight of. Both races should
rejoice in gratitude for the In
s,itution of liberty and equality
here became the cause OF ipera-
ting your fellow-beings elsewhere
...... May both develop toward the
highest degree of equality ana
altruism. May you be drawn to-
gether in friendship and may ex-
traordinary development make
brotherhood a reality and truth
1t is my hope that through love
and fellowship we may advance
to such a degree Of mutual re-
cognition and estimate, that the
oneness of the human world may
be realized.
SIP