The work of addressing racism in the US has always included people inspired and sustained by religious belief. Individuals, institutions and communities striving to live up to the essential teachings of their faiths have worked in small and large ways to protect and assist those impacted by racism, and to establish a more just society. Acknowledging that religion has also been misused in counterproductive ways should not prevent us from exploring the potential role religion and faith communities can play in overcoming racism. This website offers a collection of documents that do just that. They are connected to a multi-year, multifaith dialogue on this topic, and are shared as a resource for any who wish to continue that exploration.

In 2017 the U.S. Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs, in collaboration with the Peace and Justice Studies Program and the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America, began hosting a Dialogue among faith-based actors with the aim of addressing racism. At a time of heightened racial discord in the United States, we convened leaders and representatives from national-level groups in Washington, D.C. in hopes of creating a space for deeper consideration of the role of the faith community in promoting racial justice and unity in this country. Faith groups work to address racism in different ways, such as service, community building, advocacy, and policy. The Dialogue focused primarily on the level of thought, recognizing that though we must change structures and behavior, if we do not also change our thought, we cannot fully address racism.  READ MORE>