in the law of growth, in sense endowment, intelligence,
patriotism, language, citizenship, civilization and religion you are one
and the same. A single point of distinction exists--that of racial color.
God is not pleased with--neither should any reasonable or intelligent man
be willing to recognize--inequality in the races because of this
distinction.

But there is need of a superior power to overcome human prejudices, a
power which nothing in the world of mankind can withstand and which will
overshadow the effect of all other forces at work in human conditions.
That irresistible power is the love of God. It is my hope and prayer that
it may destroy the prejudice of this one point of distinction between you
and unite you all permanently under its hallowed protection. Baha'u'llah
has proclaimed the oneness of the world of humanity. He has caused various
nations and divergent creeds to unite. He has declared that difference of
race and color is like the variegated beauty of flowers in a garden. If
you enter a garden, you will see yellow, white, blue, red flowers in
profusion and beauty--each radiant within itself and although different
from the others, lending its own charm to them. Racial difference in the
human kingdom is similar. If all the flowers in a garden were of the same
color, the effect would be monotonous and wearying to the eye.

Therefore, Baha'u'llah hath said that the various races of humankind lend
a composite harmony and beauty of color to the whole. Let all associate,
therefore, in this great human garden even as flowers grow and blend
together side by side without discord or disagreement between them.

30 April 1912
Talk at Fourth Annual Conference of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People
Handel Hall, Chicago, Illinois

Notes by Joseph H. Hannen

According to the words of the Old Testament God has said, "Let us make man
in our image, after our likeness." This indicates that man is of the image
and likeness of God--that is to say, the perfections of God, the divine
virtues, are reflected or revealed in the human reality. Just as the light
and effulgence of the sun when cast upon a polished mirror are reflected
fully, gloriously, so, likewise, the qualities and attributes of Divinity
are radiated from the depths of a pure human heart. This is an evidence
that man is the most noble of God's creatures.

Each kingdom of creation is endowed with its necessary compleme