Books and other materials on Race Unity
I have prepared a list of race unity books & other materials. I hope you will find this list useful in your race unity work. Please feel free to keep this list on file and make copies available to your friends and Bahá'í institutions. Also, if you know of any other race unity materials that you have found useful to you, would you kindly let me know, so that I could consider it to be added to this list. I will be glad to make a clean copy of this list available to you by mail.
Bahá'í sacred writings by Bahá'u'lláh, The Báb and 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the writings of Shoghi Effendi, the Beloved Guardian of the Faith offer many passages on the issue of race. Only a few of those are mentioned here. Following is a partial list of compilations of such passages on race unity as well as books, pamphlets and other materials prepared by Baha'i institutions and individuals on this subject.
Publishers Bahá'í Sacred Writings on Racism: Justice St. Rain publishes a variety of materials dealing with race unity at http://www.special-ideas.com/, check out his website. Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, British Bahá'í Publishing Trust. 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, US Bahá'í Publishing Trust.
Palabra Publications of Riviera Beach, FL, offers a couple of publications on race unity and the elimination of prejudice. Check out their website. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, The Advent of Divine Justice, US Bahá'í Publishing Trust (must read pp 33-54!) Taylor, Bonnie, Compiler, The Pupil of the Eye: African Americans in the World Order of Baha'u'llah, Palabra Publications.
Baha'i writings on Unity, British Bahá'í Publishing Trust.
Ewing, Todd, Compiler, Toward Oneness, Palabra Publications. Based on a compilation originally prepared by George Allen, Behold Me:
Other Books on Racism by Bahá'í Authors Taylor, Bonnie, Compiler, The Power of Unity: Beyond Prejudice and Racism, US Bahá'í Publishing Trust.
The following books on Healing Racism can be ordered from:
- Starr Commonwealth
- 13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd.
- Albion, MI 49224
- 517.629-5591 Fax 517.629-5441
- Email info@ntlhealingracism.org
Honnold, Annamarie, Collecter & editor, Vignettes from the Life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, George Ronald . Oxford. Rutstein, Nathan, & Newkirk, Reginald; Racial Healing: The Institutes for The Healing of Racism This book offers readers a standard text that sets forth the philosophy, psychology and format of the Institutes. "Racial Healing..." shares the insightful and personal accounts of the authors as they journey along the path to healing. This work offers a unique examination of racism as a disease, how it infects and wounds its victims. It explores new dimensions of such ideas as racial superiority, prejudice and denial.
Morrison, Gayle, To Move the World: Louis G. Gregory and the Advancement of Racial Unity in America, US Bahá'í Publishing Trust. Rutstein, Nathan, & Morgan, Michael, editors; Healing Racism Education's Role The sixteen articles in "Healing Racism Education's Role", written by a variety of experts and eyewitnesses to the ravages of racial prejudice, define the nature of this national disease. The authors tell how to diminish racism's effects through classroom education emphasizing the oneness of humanity and the cousinship of all human beings.
"Healing Racism Education's Role" serves as an inspirational guidebook for teachers and parents as it takes the reader through the educational system from early grades to the university campus. It offers how-to advice in the effort to provide racism's vaccine. The book is required reading for all those who recognize in the training of the young an opportunity to strike a blow against the disease of racism, and are looking for ways to do it.
Thomas, Richard W., PhD, Race Unity: an Imperative to Social Progress. Rutstein, Nathan, Healing Racism in America, A Prescription for the Disease, Whitcomb Publishing, Inc. The Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict are but a distant, if wrenching, memory for most Americans. Our nation is in a state of denial says Nathan Rutstein. In "Healing Racism in America" he takes a penetrating, and often painful look at aspects of racism which both blacks and whites usually avoid. He focuses on the pathology of the disease of racism and how it has plagued us since our nation's founding - infecting or affecting most Americans along the way. He introduces the Institutes for the Healing of Racism and tells how this grassroots movement is spreading throughout the United States. Unlike most books on the subject. "Healing Racism" offers a solution to America's most challenging issue. It provides a vaccine against the disease of racism and demonstrates how to administer it.
Thomas, Richard W., PhD, Exploring the Historical and Spiritual Significance of Being a Person of African Descent in the Baha'i Faith, Workshop Manual, 1998, The African American Teaching Committee Rutstein, Nathan, To Be One: A Battle against Racism, George Ronald . Oxford. Reginald Newkirk Reginald Newkirk is among Canada's leading human rights and race relations experts. He has served on federal, provincial and territorial human rights commissions and worked in the areas of native rights, labour relations, and family violence prevention. A skilled trainer and group facilitator, he now works as a private consultant.
Nathan Rutstein Nathan Rutstein has been involved in the formation of Institutes for the Healing of Racism in the United States and Europe since 1988. A former network journalist and college educator, he lectures widely on defining, understanding and healing the disease of racism. He is the author of sixteen books, including five on race-relations issues.
Ellis, Steven E., Overcoming Barriers to Unity: An Essay on Group Harmony, Published by The Alaska Baha'i Bookshop, 13501 Brayton Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99516. This book does not directly deal with race issues, but offers excellent insight and guidelines for better human relations; especially within the context of Baha'i communities.
Manuals for Workshops: The Power of Race Unity: Workshops for Baha'is and friends of Baha'is to complement the video "The Power of Race Unity". 1998. A collaborative Project by the National Education Task Force, The National Teaching Committee, and The National Education and Schools Office.
The Power of Race Unity: Handbook for Neighborhood Race Unity Dialogues. 1998. A Project of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
National Race Unity Committee. 1990. Creating Patterns of Unity: Getting Beyond Prejudice and Racism (a study guide and index to The Power of Unity), US Baha'i Publishing Trust.
each additional book $1.00
Pamphlets:
A statement by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, The Vision of Race Unity: America's Most Challenging Issue, US Baha'i Publishing Trust.
Compiled by Lalita Amos and Andrea Green, Noble Have I Created Thee: Prayers, Meditations and Reflections on the Oneness of Humanity and the Spiritual Destiny of People of African Descent, Published by Special Ideas 1-800-326-1197.
James Williams and Ted Jefferson, The Black Men's Baha'i Gatherings: A Spiritual Transformation, copyright 1995 by James Williams, advisor: Continental Counselor William Roberts.
American Culture and Traditions: A Handbook for New Americans Published by The US Baha'i Refugee Office of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the united States. This booklet was prepared to introduce Baha'i refugees, especially Persians to the 'mainstream Anglo-American Culture'. In my opinion, this booklet makes an excellent reading for Anglo-Americans who have not lived outside of the U.S. and are not deeply familiar with other cultures. This booklet helps one get passed 'ethnocentrism' and realize that one's own cultural way of doing something is only ONE way and not THE WAY.
Louis G. Gregory: Champion of Racial Harmony, copyright 1995 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.
The Light of Unity: Healing Racism, US Baha'i Publishing Trust.
Baha'is and Racial Unity: Walking the Talk. Copyright 1998 Regional Baha'i Council of the Southern States.
There are too many good pamphlets available on race unity through Baha'i Distribution Service and other Baha'i Companies for all of them to be mentioned here. Please contact a Baha'i Librarian for more information.
Videos:
The Power of Race Unity, copyright 1998, The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
Association for the Baha'i Studies, Anarchy into Order, Distributed by Unity Arts Inc.(613)692-1602. This video has 2 volumes. Vol. I is 50 minutes and Vol. II is 61:46 minutes. It features Dr. David Ruhe, a former UHJ member at Harvard and many other prominent Baha'i scholars speaking on current world issues. To name but a few, it features Dr. & Mrs. Richard Thomas on issue of race, Dr. John Woodall, Dr. H. Danesh and Elloy Anello.
Kevin Locke, Morning Star (28:55 min.), International Baha'i Visual Service Office, distributed by Baha'i Distribution Service. This video on Native American culture and prophecies that are fulfilled by the Baha'i Faith includes dance and flute performances by Kevin Locke, an international artist from Lakota background.
Don Todd, Like an Eagle in the Sky (13 min.), U.S. Baha'i Media Services. "This poignant video evokes a rich spiritual and cultural heritage challenging native American peoples to arise to a station of spiritual leadership among the peoples of the world. Producer, Don Todd is a Canadian Native Baha'i..."
Diggs, Lawrence J., Allies, A Positive Approach to Racial Reconciliation, Quiet Storm Trading Company, Roslyn, SD 1996 (available through Amazon.com). Mr. Diggs is an African-American who recounts his world travels and ability to build Allies of many races. Intercultural living.
Shearer, Jody Miller, Enter the River, Healing Steps from White Privilege Toward Racial Reconciliation, Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, 1994 (available through Amazon.com). Mr. Shearer is a Mennonite. He has worked for several years building Mennonite churches among minority communities. This is an attempt to move from his own attitudes of White Privilege into a sense of greater equality, empowering minorities within his church. He somehow managed to do his research without noting the writings of Nathan Rutstein on the Institutes for the Healing of Racism.
Ignatiev, Noel & John Garvey, editors, Race Traitor, 1996, Routledge, New York/London. A collection of essays originally published in the quarterly journal Race Traitor. Race Traitor's (the journal) slogan is -- treason to the white race is loyalty to humanity. This will get your attention to white privilege. The essays are usually quite radical. The premise is that being "White" is a social invention designed to mark those who are "not White." My copy of the book is autographed and I subscribe to the journal. (http://www.racetraitor.com)
