A Unity Feast in a Segregated Hotel

At that time, Washington was the most racially and socially mixed Bahá’í community in America, but it had deep racial unity problems. The upper classes, including people like Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, still upheld the long-standing social conventions of racial segregation that were not easily overcome. Many white believers were afraid to host multiracial gatherings in their homes for fear of what others would say.

1 / 3

Many black believers were also reluctant to attend meetings because of their fear of insults and discriminatory treatment. An example: once ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said He wanted to host a unity Feast. The committee organized for the event selected one of the city's most exclusive hotels, one known for its refusal to admit black people. The black Bahá’ís thought it might be better if they did not attend and so avoid the problem of the color bar.

2 / 3

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, however, insisted they attend and in the end all the Bahá’ís, both black and white, sat side-by-side in the previously segregated hotel.

3 / 3