Darrick
2008-06-07 23:15:41 UTC
'Abdu'l-Baha
This is what 'Abdu'l-Baha had to say about native Africans:
"The inhabitants of a country life Africa are all as wandering savages
and wild animals. They lack intelligence and knowledge; all are
uncivilized; not one civilized and a wise man is not to be found among
them. These are the proofs of the wise men. The prophets also
acknowledge this opinion, towit: That education hath a great effect
upon the human race, but they declare that minds and comprehensions
are originally different. And this matter is self-evident; it cannot
be refuted. We see that certain children of the same age, nativity and
race, nay, from the same household, under the tutorship of one
teacher, differ in their minds and conprehensions. One advanceth
rapidly, another is slow in catching the rays of culture, still
another remaineth in the lowest degree of stupidity. No matter how
much the shell is educated (or polished), it can never become a
radiant pearl. The black stone will not become the world-illumined
gem." (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha p.567 vv.3-4)
'Abdu'l-Baha wrote a tablet to August Forel; whom He considered to be
a 'wise man'.
August Forel
Forel believed that Negroes were "inherently inferior" to Caucasians,
and could never ever be equal to them in intelligence. Forel was an
early Western Bahá'í. Forel wrote:
"...the brain of the Negro is weaker than that of the white... Even
for their own good the blacks must be treated as what they are, an
absolutely subordinate, inferior, lower type of man, incapable
themselves of culture. That must once and for all be clearly and
openly stated." (August Forel, quoted in Houston S. Chamberlain's _The
Foundations of the Nineteenth Century_)
'Abdu'l-Baha, in His Tablet (Epistle) to Forel, writes:
"O revered personage, lover of truth! ***Thy works are no doubt of
great benefit, and if published, send us a copy." (verse 6:1,7)
'Abdu'l-Baha called Forel a "lover of truth!" and that his works were
of great value.
'Abdu'l-Baha also wrote this about native Africans:
"It is, therefore, certain that sins such as anger, jealousy, dispute,
coventouness, avarice, ignorance, prejudice, hatred, pride, and
tyranny exist in the physical world. All these brutal qualities exist
in the nature of man. A man who had not had a spirutal education is a
brute. Like the savages of Africa, whose actions, habits and morals
are purely sensual, they act according to the demands of nature to
such a degree that they rent and eat one another." (Some Answered
Questions 29:5)
"As ignorance is the cause of crimes, the more knowledge and science
increases, the more crimes will diminish. Consider how often murder
occurs among the barbarians of Africa; they even kill one another to
eat each other's flesh and blood!" (Some Answered Questions 77:13)
"If a child is left in its natural state and deprived of education,
there is no doubt that it will grow up in ignorance and illiteracy,
its mental faculties dulled and dimmed; in fact, it will become like
an animal. This is evident among the savages of central African, who
are scarcely higher than the beast in mental development." (The
Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.311)
'Abdu'l-Baha taught (in 1913) that black people should ever be
grateful to white people:
The black man must ever be grateful to the white man, for he has
manifested great courage and self-sacrifice in behalf of the black
race. Four years he fought their cause, enduring severe hardships,
sacrificing life, family, treasure, all for his black brother until
the great war ended in the proclamation of freedom. By this effort and
accomplishment the black race throughout the world was influenced and
benefited. Had this not been accomplished, the black man in Africa
would still be bound by the chains of slavery. Therefore, his race
should everywhere be grateful, for no greater evidence of humanism and
courageous devotion could be shown than the white man has displayed.
If the blacks of the United States forget this sacrifice, zeal and
manhood on the part of the whites, no ingratitude could be greater or
more censurable. If they could see the wretched conditions and
surroundings of the black people of Africa today, the contrast would
be apparent and the fact clearly evident that the black race in
America enjoys incomparable advantages. The comfort and civilization
under which they live here are due to the white man's effort and
sacrifice. Had this sacrifice not been made, they would still be in
the bonds and chains of slavery, scarcely lifted out of an aboriginal
condition. Therefore, always show forth your gratitude to the white
man. (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.12)
How did black Americans live in 1913 when 'Abdu'l-Baha said this?
Did 'Abdu'l-Baha teach that all races were equal in intelligence? He
wrote:
"Ten children of the same age, with equal station of birth, taught in
the same school, partaking of the same food, in all respects subject
to the same environment, their interests equal andin common, will
evidence separate and distinct degrees of capability and advancement;
some exceedingly intelligent and progressive, some of mediocre
ability, others limited and incapable. One may become a learned
professor while another under the same course of education proves dull
and stupid. From all standpoints the opportunities have been equal but
the results and outcomes vary from the highest to the lowest degree of
advancement. It is evident therefore that MANKIND DIFFERS in natal
capacity and intrinsic intellectual endowment." (Foundation of World
Unity, pp.54-5 verse 3)
'Abdu'l-Baha actually taught that the Persian race was the most
innately superior of all races:
"It should not be imagined that the people of Persia (the Aryans) are
inherently deficient in intelligence, or that for essential
perceptiveness and understanding, inborn sagacity, intuition and
wisdom, or innate capacity, they are inferior to others. God forbid!
On the contrary, they have always excelled all other peoples in
endowments conferred by birth." (Secret of Divine Civilization, p.9)
He also wrote:
"Every imperfect soul is self-centred and thinketh only of his own
good. But as his thoughts expand a little he will begin to think of
the welfare and comfort of his family. If his ideas still more widen,
his concern will be the felicity of his fellow citizens; and if still
they widen, he will be thinking of the glory of his land and of his
race." (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.69)
Tell the Baha'is what you think!
1-800-22-UNITE (toll free Baha'i call-in line)
This is what 'Abdu'l-Baha had to say about native Africans:
"The inhabitants of a country life Africa are all as wandering savages
and wild animals. They lack intelligence and knowledge; all are
uncivilized; not one civilized and a wise man is not to be found among
them. These are the proofs of the wise men. The prophets also
acknowledge this opinion, towit: That education hath a great effect
upon the human race, but they declare that minds and comprehensions
are originally different. And this matter is self-evident; it cannot
be refuted. We see that certain children of the same age, nativity and
race, nay, from the same household, under the tutorship of one
teacher, differ in their minds and conprehensions. One advanceth
rapidly, another is slow in catching the rays of culture, still
another remaineth in the lowest degree of stupidity. No matter how
much the shell is educated (or polished), it can never become a
radiant pearl. The black stone will not become the world-illumined
gem." (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha p.567 vv.3-4)
'Abdu'l-Baha wrote a tablet to August Forel; whom He considered to be
a 'wise man'.
August Forel
Forel believed that Negroes were "inherently inferior" to Caucasians,
and could never ever be equal to them in intelligence. Forel was an
early Western Bahá'í. Forel wrote:
"...the brain of the Negro is weaker than that of the white... Even
for their own good the blacks must be treated as what they are, an
absolutely subordinate, inferior, lower type of man, incapable
themselves of culture. That must once and for all be clearly and
openly stated." (August Forel, quoted in Houston S. Chamberlain's _The
Foundations of the Nineteenth Century_)
'Abdu'l-Baha, in His Tablet (Epistle) to Forel, writes:
"O revered personage, lover of truth! ***Thy works are no doubt of
great benefit, and if published, send us a copy." (verse 6:1,7)
'Abdu'l-Baha called Forel a "lover of truth!" and that his works were
of great value.
'Abdu'l-Baha also wrote this about native Africans:
"It is, therefore, certain that sins such as anger, jealousy, dispute,
coventouness, avarice, ignorance, prejudice, hatred, pride, and
tyranny exist in the physical world. All these brutal qualities exist
in the nature of man. A man who had not had a spirutal education is a
brute. Like the savages of Africa, whose actions, habits and morals
are purely sensual, they act according to the demands of nature to
such a degree that they rent and eat one another." (Some Answered
Questions 29:5)
"As ignorance is the cause of crimes, the more knowledge and science
increases, the more crimes will diminish. Consider how often murder
occurs among the barbarians of Africa; they even kill one another to
eat each other's flesh and blood!" (Some Answered Questions 77:13)
"If a child is left in its natural state and deprived of education,
there is no doubt that it will grow up in ignorance and illiteracy,
its mental faculties dulled and dimmed; in fact, it will become like
an animal. This is evident among the savages of central African, who
are scarcely higher than the beast in mental development." (The
Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.311)
'Abdu'l-Baha taught (in 1913) that black people should ever be
grateful to white people:
The black man must ever be grateful to the white man, for he has
manifested great courage and self-sacrifice in behalf of the black
race. Four years he fought their cause, enduring severe hardships,
sacrificing life, family, treasure, all for his black brother until
the great war ended in the proclamation of freedom. By this effort and
accomplishment the black race throughout the world was influenced and
benefited. Had this not been accomplished, the black man in Africa
would still be bound by the chains of slavery. Therefore, his race
should everywhere be grateful, for no greater evidence of humanism and
courageous devotion could be shown than the white man has displayed.
If the blacks of the United States forget this sacrifice, zeal and
manhood on the part of the whites, no ingratitude could be greater or
more censurable. If they could see the wretched conditions and
surroundings of the black people of Africa today, the contrast would
be apparent and the fact clearly evident that the black race in
America enjoys incomparable advantages. The comfort and civilization
under which they live here are due to the white man's effort and
sacrifice. Had this sacrifice not been made, they would still be in
the bonds and chains of slavery, scarcely lifted out of an aboriginal
condition. Therefore, always show forth your gratitude to the white
man. (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.12)
How did black Americans live in 1913 when 'Abdu'l-Baha said this?
Did 'Abdu'l-Baha teach that all races were equal in intelligence? He
wrote:
"Ten children of the same age, with equal station of birth, taught in
the same school, partaking of the same food, in all respects subject
to the same environment, their interests equal andin common, will
evidence separate and distinct degrees of capability and advancement;
some exceedingly intelligent and progressive, some of mediocre
ability, others limited and incapable. One may become a learned
professor while another under the same course of education proves dull
and stupid. From all standpoints the opportunities have been equal but
the results and outcomes vary from the highest to the lowest degree of
advancement. It is evident therefore that MANKIND DIFFERS in natal
capacity and intrinsic intellectual endowment." (Foundation of World
Unity, pp.54-5 verse 3)
'Abdu'l-Baha actually taught that the Persian race was the most
innately superior of all races:
"It should not be imagined that the people of Persia (the Aryans) are
inherently deficient in intelligence, or that for essential
perceptiveness and understanding, inborn sagacity, intuition and
wisdom, or innate capacity, they are inferior to others. God forbid!
On the contrary, they have always excelled all other peoples in
endowments conferred by birth." (Secret of Divine Civilization, p.9)
He also wrote:
"Every imperfect soul is self-centred and thinketh only of his own
good. But as his thoughts expand a little he will begin to think of
the welfare and comfort of his family. If his ideas still more widen,
his concern will be the felicity of his fellow citizens; and if still
they widen, he will be thinking of the glory of his land and of his
race." (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.69)
Tell the Baha'is what you think!
1-800-22-UNITE (toll free Baha'i call-in line)