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 23 April 1912  | 
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     Today I am most happy, for I see here a gathering of the servants 
of God.  I see white and black sitting together.  There are no whites 
and blacks before God.  All colors are one, and that is the color of 
servitude to God.  Scent and color are not important.  The heart is 
important.  If the heart is pure, white or black or any color makes no 
difference.  God does not look at colors; He looks at the hearts.  He 
whose heart is pure is better.  He whose character is better is more 
pleasing.  He who turns more to the Abhá Kingdom is more advanced.  
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     In the realm of existence colors are of no importance.  Observe 
 
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in the mineral kingdom colors are not the cause of discord.  In the 
vegetable kingdom the colors of multicolored flowers are not the 
cause of discord.  Rather, colors are the cause of the adornment of 
the garden because a single color has no appeal; but when you observe 
many-colored flowers, there is charm and display.  
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     The world of humanity, too, is like a garden, and humankind are 
like the many-colored flowers.  Therefore, different colors constitute 
an adornment.  In the same way, there are many colors in the 
realm of animals.  Doves are of many colors; nevertheless, they 
live in utmost harmony.  They never look at color; instead, they 
look at the species.  How often white doves fly with black ones.  In 
the same way, other birds and varicolored animals never look at 
color; they look at the species.  
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     Now ponder this:  Animals, despite the fact that they lack reason 
and understanding, do not make colors the cause of conflict.  Why 
should man, who has reason, create conflict?  This is wholly unworthy 
of him.  Especially white and black are the descendants of 
the same Adam; they belong to one household.  In origin they were 
one; they were the same color.  Adam was of one color.  Eve had 
one color.  All humanity is descended from them.  Therefore, in 
origin they are one.  These colors developed later due to climates 
and regions; they have no significance whatsoever.  Therefore, 
today I am very happy that white and black have gathered together 
in this meeting.  I hope this coming together and harmony reaches 
such a degree that no distinctions shall remain between them, and 
they shall be together in the utmost harmony and love.  
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     But I wish to say one thing in order that the blacks may become 
grateful to the whites and the whites become loving toward the 
blacks.  If you go to Africa and see the blacks of Africa, you will 
realize how much progress you have made.  Praise be to God!  You 
are like the whites; there are no great distinctions left.  But the 
blacks of Africa are treated as servants.  The first proclamation of 
emancipation for the blacks was made by the whites of America.  
How they fought and sacrificed until they freed the blacks!  Then it 
spread to other places.  The blacks of Africa were in complete bondage, 
but your emancipation led to their freedom also—that is, the 
European states emulated the Americans, and the emancipation 
proclamation became universal.  It was for your sake that the 
whites of America made such an effort.  Were it not for this effort, 
universal emancipation would not have been proclaimed.  
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     Therefore, you must be very grateful to the whites of America, 
and the whites must become very loving toward you so that you 
may progress in all human grades.  Strive jointly to make extraordinary 
 
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progress and mix together completely.  In short, you must be 
very thankful to the whites who were the cause of your freedom in 
America.  Had you not been freed, other blacks would not have 
been freed either.  Now—praise be to God!—everyone is free and 
lives in tranquillity.  I pray that you attain to such a degree of good 
character and behavior that the names of black and white shall 
vanish.  All shall be called human, just as the name for a flight of 
doves is dove.  They are not called black and white.  Likewise with 
other birds.  
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     I hope that you attain to such a high degree—and this is impossible 
except through love.  You must try to create love between 
yourselves; and this love does not come about unless you are 
grateful to the whites, and the whites are loving toward you, and 
endeavor to promote your advancement and enhance your honor.  
This will be the cause of love.  Differences between black and 
white will be completely obliterated; indeed, ethnic and national 
differences will all disappear.  
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     I am very happy to see you and thank God that this meeting is 
composed of people of both races and that both are gathered in 
perfect love and harmony.  I hope this becomes the example of universal 
harmony and love until no title remains except that of humanity.  
Such a title demonstrates the perfection of the human 
world and is the cause of eternal glory and human happiness.  I pray 
that you be with one another in utmost harmony and love and strive 
to enable each other to live in comfort.  
 
 
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