“The joy that is found in discovering the love and power of connecting together as one human family,” as one of the 25 attendees put it, shone through as Bahá’ís and friends from the Kansas City and St. Louis areas of Missouri “drummed up a conversation.”

The Dec. 16 gathering in St. Louis at the home of Dan McCoy was the latest in an ongoing series going back two years. Instruction and an explanation of the importance of drumming in the lives of African American Bahá’í men led into a musical devotional, a fireside and dialogue on race.

Louis Anderson, who traveled from Kansas City with three others, later wrote in the Kansas City Bahá’í newsletter The Uniflyer that a goal of the occasion was to “bring the spirit of the Black Men’s Gathering to the devotions and fireside.” For 25 years the BMG played an important role in healing the hurts of racism and linking hearts, across the U.S. and internationally, to work together in service.

“During the drumming session, we discussed the importance of unity and oneness in drumming as well as in the world,” Anderson relates. “The friends had a chance to experience the difference between drumming with and without spirit.

“Following that spiritual experience of oneness and unity, we silenced the drums. We then began praying with an intense and passionate feeling about love, oneness and God. The spirit and energy shown during these moments were felt by all the participants. We prayed until that energy was joyfully depleted.”

After lunch and fellowship, the fireside opened with Maurice Hayes of Kansas City “singing his way into our hearts,” as Anderson describes it. “And, of course, our spirits were revived and the excitement and joy filled the house.”

Anderson then spoke on the attitude and manner shown by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when giving public talks. “We discussed these points as elements or skills we should be able to apply when we, figuratively speaking, ‘drum up a conversation.’

“The discussion was spirited, and the group found new ways to apply this knowledge — particularly the seekers. One African American seeker praised the Bahá’ís for having such an uplifting, meaningful and intellectual conversation on the issues of race.”

The dialogue facilitated by Anderson featured “moving and insightful sharing with people from varied backgrounds and experiences,” says Joyce Olinga, a St. Louis-area Bahá’í.

Perspectives included how racism affects women of color; the importance of raising dialogue to a higher understanding; that racist and sexist attitudes both must be addressed; a need to understand Black Lives Matter; and how blacks and whites alike are adversely affected by racism.

“Some of the white participants shared their challenge and process of learning how to address racism within their own community,” Olinga recalls. One example shared was how to compassionately help others see oppression through their own eyes.