RACE UNITY DAY
Race Unity Day used to be called Race Amity Day. It was started in the 1920’s by members of the Baha’i religion. It is celebrated each June by members of the Baha’i faith all around the nation. The goal is to raise and promote racial awareness and promote community and racial unity.
The Baha’i faith, in and of itself, has three main beliefs:
The oneness of God,
The oneness of religion,
& the oneness of humanity.
The Baha’i faith was started somewhere in the Middle East in the 1840’s and within 50 years, was introduced into the US. With its strong emphasis on unity between whites and blacks, it has grown to be the 2nd most widespread of all the independent worldwide religions.
On Sunday afternoon, June 10th, the Niles (Michigan) Baha’i Community helped sponsor Race Unity Day at Bertrand County Park, just across the state line from South Bend.
Larry Dwyer & his wife Deborah live in South Bend, but made the 15-minute trip to Bertrand Park to speak in front of a racially mixed group of about 25. This year’s theme was “Celebrating the Oneness of Mankind.” Their message was clear:
“We need people to associate with one another. Racial prejudice is the number one illness in the US.”
They spoke of the “need to do more,” and quoted from the Christian Bible to point out the need for strong race relations and unity. Utilizing the same oft-repeated tactic of white supremacy groups, the Dwyers have shown that the Bible does NOT say to be a bigot, and that, in fact, it says the very opposite.
“There is a pattern of racial prejudice,” Deborah said. “(this country) has a system that white-skinned is pure, right, and black is inferior. We breathe it in because it is the air we breathe. The system we have in line with our society is out of line with God.”
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