AVRIMENT OMMNT Forging a Path to Racial Justice A message from the Bahais of the United States The Sob he of w THE BAHA'IS OF THE UNITED STATES join our fellow-citizens Religion, an enduring source of insight concerning human in heartfelt grief at the deaths of George floyd, Breonna Taylor, purpose and action, has a key role to play in this process. All faith A e ers teswere suddenly cain eione tial sas violations against fellow human beings, due only to the color of their skin, have deepened the dismay caused by a pandemic whose consequences to the health and livelihoods of people of we do ourselves. Take, for example. the following passage from the Bahai Scriptures in which God addresses humankind: color have been disproportionately severe. This has come to pass Know ye not why We created you aill from the same dust? Thet against a backdrop of longstanding racial injustice in virtually every aspect of American fe, Itis clear that racial prejudice is the most vital and challenging issue we face as a country. no one should exalt himselfover the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We heve created you all from one seme substance itis incumbent on you to be even es one soul to wolk with he same feet eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detochment may be made manifest Yet, amidst these tragedies, there ane also signs of hope. Countless citizens have arisen to proclaim the truth that we are one nation, and to demand specifi actions to address the pervasive inequities that for too long have shaped our society, We have remembered who we aspire to be as a people, and are determined to make a change for the better. This moment beckons us to a renewed commitment to realize the ideal of To understand and firmly believe that we are all children of God provides us with access to vast spiritual resources, motivating us to see beyond ourselves and to work steadily and sacrificially in the face of all obstacles. It helps to ensure that the process is consistent with the goal to create communities characterized by justice.It gives us the falth, strength, and creativity to transform our own hearts, as we also work for the transformation of society E Paribus Cnum-out of many, one-the very ideal upon which America was founded To create a just society begins with recognition of the fundamental truth thát humanity is one. But it is not enough simply to believe this in our hearts. creates the moral imperative to act, and to view all aspects of our personal, social. and institutional lives through the lens of juitice. t impliesa reordering of our society more profound than anything we have yet achieved. And it requires the participation of Americans of every race and background, for it is only through wuch inclusive participation that new moral and social directions can emerge We believe that the tribulations now encompassing much of the world are the symptoms of humanity's falure to understand and embrace our essential oneness. The interrelated threats of dimate change, gender discrimination, extreme wealth and poverty, unfair distribution of resources, and the like, all stem from this deficiency and can never be resolved if we do not awaken to our dependence upon each other The world has contracted to a neighborhood, and it is important to appreciate Whatever immediate results might come from the current demonstrations the elimination of racimwill require asustained butt merica impact orony our on country and concerted effort. It is one thing to protest against partikular forms of injustice. Itis a far more profound challenge to create a new framework for justice. Our efforts can only succeed when and our founding ideals of liberty and justice, attract the eyes of leam to build relationships with each other based on sincere friendship, regand, and trust, which, in turn, become pillars for We should also never forget that the richness of our diversity. the world to us, They will be influenced by what we achieve, or fal to achieve, in this regard. t is not an exaggeration to say that the cause of world peace isinked to our success in resolving the ssue of racial injustice the activities of our institutions and communities It is essential for us to join hands in a process of learning how to create models of what we want to see in every dimension of American life, as we leam to apply the principle of oneness through practical engagement and experience. To this end, we offer the following thoughts The oneness of humanity is the foundation of our future. Its realization is the inevitable next stage in our Me on this planet We will replace a world society based upon competition and confict, and driven by rampant materiaism with one founded upon our higher potential for collaboration and reciprocity This achievement will mark the universal coming of age of the human race. How soon we achieve this, and how easily, will depend upon the commitment we demonstrate to this cardinal principle. An essential element of the process wilbe honest and truthful discourse about current conditions and their causes, and understanding in particular, the deeply entrenched notions of anti-Blackness that pervade our society. We must buld the capacity to truly hear and acknowledge the voices of those who have directly suffered from the effects of racism. This capacity should manifest itself in our school, the media, and other civic arenas, as well as in our work and personal elations. This should not end with words, but lead to meaningful, constructive action We have come to a moment of great public awareness and rejection of injustice. Let us not lose ths opportunity. Will we commit to the process of forming"a more perfect uniont w we be guided by "the better angels of our nature" to choose the course of wisdom, of courage, and of unity? Will we choose to truly become that "city upon a hi to serve as inspiration to all humanity Let us then join hands with each other in commitment to the path of justice Together we can surely achieve this There are already significant efforts underway to leam how to create models of unity in neighborhoods and communities throughout the nation. Bahas have been persistently engaged in such efforts for many years. The aim is not unity in samenessitis unity in diversity. it is the recognition that everyone in this land has a part to play in contributing to the betterment of society, and that true prosperity, material and spiritual, will be available to us all to the degree that we live up to this standard We should eamestly discover what is being done, what truly helps to make a difference, and why. We should share this knowledge throughout the country as a means of inspiring and assisting the work of others. If we do this, we could soon find ourselves in the midht of a mass transition toward racial justice. Bahaullah said: "So powerfuls the ightef unity that it con uminate the whole earth May that light grow brighter with every pasing day. National Spiritual Assembly of The Bahas of the United States BAHÁÍ FAITH www.bahaius/path-to-racial-justikce www.crbahais.org (319) 423-9932 Padfor by the Bahasolthe Ued Sues AVRIMENT OMMNT Forging a Path to Racial Justice A message from the Bahais of the United States The Sob he of w THE BAHA'IS OF THE UNITED STATES join our fellow-citizens Religion, an enduring source of insight concerning human in heartfelt grief at the deaths of George floyd, Breonna Taylor, purpose and action, has a key role to play in this process. All faith A e ers teswere suddenly cain eione tial sas violations against fellow human beings, due only to the color of their skin, have deepened the dismay caused by a pandemic whose consequences to the health and livelihoods of people of we do ourselves. Take, for example. the following passage from the Bahai Scriptures in which God addresses humankind: color have been disproportionately severe. This has come to pass Know ye not why We created you aill from the same dust? Thet against a backdrop of longstanding racial injustice in virtually every aspect of American fe, Itis clear that racial prejudice is the most vital and challenging issue we face as a country. no one should exalt himselfover the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We heve created you all from one seme substance itis incumbent on you to be even es one soul to wolk with he same feet eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detochment may be made manifest Yet, amidst these tragedies, there ane also signs of hope. Countless citizens have arisen to proclaim the truth that we are one nation, and to demand specifi actions to address the pervasive inequities that for too long have shaped our society, We have remembered who we aspire to be as a people, and are determined to make a change for the better. This moment beckons us to a renewed commitment to realize the ideal of To understand and firmly believe that we are all children of God provides us with access to vast spiritual resources, motivating us to see beyond ourselves and to work steadily and sacrificially in the face of all obstacles. It helps to ensure that the process is consistent with the goal to create communities characterized by justice.It gives us the falth, strength, and creativity to transform our own hearts, as we also work for the transformation of society E Paribus Cnum-out of many, one-the very ideal upon which America was founded To create a just society begins with recognition of the fundamental truth thát humanity is one. But it is not enough simply to believe this in our hearts. creates the moral imperative to act, and to view all aspects of our personal, social. and institutional lives through the lens of juitice. t impliesa reordering of our society more profound than anything we have yet achieved. And it requires the participation of Americans of every race and background, for it is only through wuch inclusive participation that new moral and social directions can emerge We believe that the tribulations now encompassing much of the world are the symptoms of humanity's falure to understand and embrace our essential oneness. The interrelated threats of dimate change, gender discrimination, extreme wealth and poverty, unfair distribution of resources, and the like, all stem from this deficiency and can never be resolved if we do not awaken to our dependence upon each other The world has contracted to a neighborhood, and it is important to appreciate Whatever immediate results might come from the current demonstrations the elimination of racimwill require asustained butt merica impact orony our on country and concerted effort. It is one thing to protest against partikular forms of injustice. Itis a far more profound challenge to create a new framework for justice. Our efforts can only succeed when and our founding ideals of liberty and justice, attract the eyes of leam to build relationships with each other based on sincere friendship, regand, and trust, which, in turn, become pillars for We should also never forget that the richness of our diversity. the world to us, They will be influenced by what we achieve, or fal to achieve, in this regard. t is not an exaggeration to say that the cause of world peace isinked to our success in resolving the ssue of racial injustice the activities of our institutions and communities It is essential for us to join hands in a process of learning how to create models of what we want to see in every dimension of American life, as we leam to apply the principle of oneness through practical engagement and experience. To this end, we offer the following thoughts The oneness of humanity is the foundation of our future. Its realization is the inevitable next stage in our Me on this planet We will replace a world society based upon competition and confict, and driven by rampant materiaism with one founded upon our higher potential for collaboration and reciprocity This achievement will mark the universal coming of age of the human race. How soon we achieve this, and how easily, will depend upon the commitment we demonstrate to this cardinal principle. An essential element of the process wilbe honest and truthful discourse about current conditions and their causes, and understanding in particular, the deeply entrenched notions of anti-Blackness that pervade our society. We must buld the capacity to truly hear and acknowledge the voices of those who have directly suffered from the effects of racism. This capacity should manifest itself in our school, the media, and other civic arenas, as well as in our work and personal elations. This should not end with words, but lead to meaningful, constructive action We have come to a moment of great public awareness and rejection of injustice. Let us not lose ths opportunity. Will we commit to the process of forming"a more perfect uniont w we be guided by "the better angels of our nature" to choose the course of wisdom, of courage, and of unity? Will we choose to truly become that "city upon a hi to serve as inspiration to all humanity Let us then join hands with each other in commitment to the path of justice Together we can surely achieve this There are already significant efforts underway to leam how to create models of unity in neighborhoods and communities throughout the nation. Bahas have been persistently engaged in such efforts for many years. The aim is not unity in samenessitis unity in diversity. it is the recognition that everyone in this land has a part to play in contributing to the betterment of society, and that true prosperity, material and spiritual, will be available to us all to the degree that we live up to this standard We should eamestly discover what is being done, what truly helps to make a difference, and why. We should share this knowledge throughout the country as a means of inspiring and assisting the work of others. If we do this, we could soon find ourselves in the midht of a mass transition toward racial justice. Bahaullah said: "So powerfuls the ightef unity that it con uminate the whole earth May that light grow brighter with every pasing day. National Spiritual Assembly of The Bahas of the United States BAHÁÍ FAITH www.bahaius/path-to-racial-justikce www.crbahais.org (319) 423-9932 Padfor by the Bahasolthe Ued Sues