Thougts on Race

On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Eric Holder, the Attorney General for the United States, said that he viewed the American psople as being a "nation of cowards." He challenged Amercians to speak with each other about issues that related to race.

More than 95 years ago, Abdu'l-Baha was not afraid to speak out concerning his views on the racial problems in America. During his visit to the United States in 1912, Abdu'l-Baha presented a talk at the fourth annual meeting of the NAACP. He shared with members of that ground-breaking organization the Baha'i teachings on equality.

Abdu'l-Baha also served as the required spiritual leader at a marriage ceremony, a ceremony that wed one African American male to one Caucasian female. Abdu'l-Baha also invited an African American friend to join him at a dinner, a dinner that was held in Washington, D.C.

Seemingly oblivious of (or uncaring of) the segregation that predominated in the Capital at that time, Abdu'l-Baha signaled that his African American friend should have the seat of honor at Abdu'l-Baha's table. That was not a cowardly act.