The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1957-02-16
Editor, The Miami Times:

teD- IL, 1891
From February l0-l7 many
Americans will participate in OBJ
serving Negro History Week 10
promote wider understanding Of
the remarkable progress OF our
Negro citizens and the magnifi-
cent often unique contribution
they are making TO American
culture.
American members Of the Bahai
World Faith, responding 10
directive from the National
Spiritual Assembly OF the Bahais
of the United States, viii join
in this observance. Bsha'is con-
slider this occa-ion an opportunity
TO assist in focusing public al
tsntion, not alone on the purpose
Of Negro History Week, but also
on the more inclusive theme OF
the oneness Of mankind.
Appreciation of the abilit;e-
and achievements of the various
racial minoritieS should help Us
10 become aware Of the basic
truth of human unity . a reali-
cation that the whole world needs
at this critical hour in its history.
But such appreciation Is no:
enough. In America the race issues
called racial in-eg-ation al the
present hour, has been and is the
most serious, challenging and
dangerous of our national prob
lens. II not only per2lexes and
threatens us At home but dis
credits our leadership n the eyes
Of the world
II was the very diStin -uished
Negro editor and educator, the
late Alain Locke, who pointed our |
that actual new problems arise !
from cultural gains made by a !
minority race: For the mass |
opinion still interprets this rapid |
advance (of the Negro a. social |
and economic encroachment, and /
seldom looks At If in its deeper |
cOn-tructive aspect Of common I
advance and lifting of the level 1
of civilization. So, unless liberal /
white opinion in both sections, in /
cooperation with intelligent Negro |
leadership, can rapidly widen op-
portunitieS and Lessen artificial /
handicapS, the mass momentum /
of Negro advance must produce I
serious race conflict"
Just as consciousness of the 4
actual gains made by a race does /
not, Of itself, relieve the problem, !
likewise knowledge of the find /,
ings of scientists is not perfect /!
remedy, though conclusions ex-
pressed by the late dean of
American anthropologMts, Franz
BoaS, do strengthen the cause of |
human unity.
Il believe the present state Of /
knowledge iustiies us in saying
that, while individuals differ, bio !
logical differences between races !
are small. There is no reason to !
believe that one race is by nature !
so much more intelligent, endow-
ed with greater will power, emo
tionally more stable than another, |
that the difference would ma
teriaHy influence its culture"
In the face of all grave diff |
cultieS, Bahais have reason TO
look forward confidently to . |
victorious solution of the worlds |
race problems within this cen
tury The way to such attainment |
is the core of the message OF |
Baha'u'llah, Prophet-Founder of |
the Baha'i Faith, Who. proclaim
ed: This is a new cycle of hu-
man power. II is the hour Of the
unity Of the sons of men and the |
drawing together of all races and
classes Ye are loosed from |
ancient superStitions which have |
kept men ignorant, destroying the |
foundations Of true humanity"
Baha'iS are eager to share this |
confidence with Others. Such a
victory, when achieved, viii bring |
together all peoples in under
standing and cooperative endea-
vor, destroying the curse of war
and releasing latent human pow |
ers for the building of the first |
civilization the world has yet |
known.
GeorGe Savitt,
L. u 81