First Race Amity Conference

In the spring of 1920, the head of the Bahá’í Faith at the time, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, encouraged the American Bahá’í community “to arrange in Washington a convention for unity between the white and colored people.” Organizers of the conference sought to present the view that human oneness was the foundation of universal peace; that integration must include all ethnicities, races and religions and cannot exist without the application of additional principles, such as gender equality. The message of freedom from all forms of prejudice was stressed because, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá warned, “it is prejudice that destroys the world.” In a message sent to the conference, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: “Say to this convention that never since the beginning of time has one more important been held. This convention stands for the oneness of humanity; it will become the cause of the enlightenment of America. It will, if wisely managed and continued, check the deadly struggle between these races which otherwise will inevitably break out.”

The first day of the conference hosted 2,000 people at the First Congregational Church in Washington D.C on May 19th, 1921. Subsequent days had upwards of 1,500 participants. The program included songs by Howard University singers and poems read by African American poets. Conference speakers were politicians, educators, students and more, including Alain Locke, a distinguished professor and Dean at Howard University and the acknowledged “Dean” of the Harlem Renaissance.

Printed on the program was the following description:

“Half a century ago in America slavery was abolished.

Now there has arisen need for another great effort in order that prejudice may be overcome.

Correction of the present wrong requires no army, for the field of action is the hearts of our citizens. The instrument to be used is kindness, the ammunition – understanding. The actors in this engagement for right are all the inhabitants of these United States.

The great work we have to do and for which this convention is called is the establishment of amity between the white and the colored people of our land.

When we have put our own house in order, then we may be trusted to carry the message of universal peace to all mankind.”

This first Conference for Race Amity initiated a series of conferences on this theme in the subsequent years and is one of the expressions of the American Bahá’í community’s commitment to uprooting the forces that underpin and perpetuate racism in this nation. On the centenary of this first race amity conference, the Bahá’ís of the United States are hosting this symposium as an occasion to commemorate the first conference by exploring aspects of the path of healing and justice on the journey toward oneness.