`Abdu’l-Bahā had quite an interesting view about black Africans. He claimed that wise people believe that:

The inhabitants of a land like Africa are all like wild savages and land-dwelling animals that lack common-sense and knowledge and are all wild. There is not a single wise and civilized person among them.^[1]

Perhaps some will point out that this statement was not `Abdu’l-Bahā’s personal opinion, but only a recounting of what the wise think. The words that he uttered after this sentence clearly show that he too believed in these words:

On the other hand, they (meaning the wise) show that in civilized countries all the people have the best manners, fine conduct, assistance, collaboration, and perception; and except for a small minority, possess commonsense. Thus it is shown and clarified that the elevation and degradation of intellect and perception is due to nurturing and education, or its absence.^[2]

`Abdu’l-Bahā recounted the opinion of the so-called ‘wise’ to prove a concept he was explaining. If he did not believe in these words, then why didn’t he refute them? Using them as evidence of his beliefs regarding nurturing and education, without any negation or reprove, shows that he also accepts this opinion of the ‘wise’.

Furthermore, what `Abdu’l-Bahā is attributing to the wise is a statement that he has made up himself and has no basis. To date no piece of evidence has been put forward to support these words. No wise person has claimed that all Africans are like wild savages and animals without common-sense.

Furthermore, other examples of his beliefs about Africans, leaves no room for doubt that `Abdu’l-Bahā sees them as animals. He believes that the black Africans that have not been nurtured or educated are cows that God has made look like humans:

The wild tribes have no superiority over animals. For example, what is the difference between African blacks and American blacks? The [black Africans] are cows that God has created with human faces. The [black Americans] are civilized, intelligent, and have culture. In this trip to the black centers, schools, and churches in Washington there were extensive talks with the blacks, and they understood all the points like the intelligent people in Europe. So what difference is there between these two types of blacks other than nurture, with one in utter ignorance and the other in the peak of civilization?^[3]

This is quite regretful; the same people who made claims about the Oneness of Humanity, brotherhood, and equality think like this about their fellow humans, not in the Dark Ages, but in the 20th century!

Even though this type of thinking and rhetoric is by no means justifiable, defenders of Baha’ism insist that `Abdu’l-Bahā used these words as a reminder for proper upbringing and nurturing; and meant that black Africans are cows because they had not been brought up correctly, otherwise if they had the proper upbringing, they too, like black Americans and intelligent Europeans, would become civilized. This reasoning would have been correct if `Abdu’l-Bahā had used different words to describe black Africans. Unfortunately, `Abdu’l-Bahā specifically points to their essence of creation and says khalq Allah al-baqar `alā ṣūrat al-bashar which means “cows that God has created with human faces.” In any case, the words used to describe black Africans are in no manner appropriate for someone who claims to be the successor to a divine figure.

In light of these claims, `Abdu’l-Bahā statements proclaiming that God has made no distinction between people are a clear contradiction:

The God of the world created all [humans] from clay and created everyone from one element, created all from one progeny, created all in one land, and created [all] under the shadow of one sky, has created them with common emotions, and did not put any differences. He created everyone the same and gives all sustenance, nurtures all, protects all, and is kind to all. He has put no differences in any grace or mercy.^[4]

How is it that `Abdu’l-Bahā claims that God has “put no differences in any grace or mercy” but insists that wild tribes (such as the black Africans) have no superiority over animals? Is there a difference and distinction more obvious than this?

[1] `Abdu’l-Bahā, Makātīb (Egypt), vol. 1, p. 331.

[2] `Abdu’l-Bahā, Makātīb (Egypt), vol. 1, p. 331.

[3] `Abdu’l-Bahā, Khaṭābāt (Tehran), vol. 3, p. 48.

[4] `Abd al-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Payām-i malakūt, p. 42.