Race Unity Day

Culture of origin: Bahá’í · Cultural

Holiday sources: Bahá'í Faith

Race Unity Day was inaugurated in 1957 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, which designated the second Sunday in June to promote racial harmony and understanding; it was called Race Amity Day until 1965. "Race amity" was the phrase of the Jim Crow era for harmonious race relations, and American Bahá'ís had held race amity conventions since 1921, at 'Abdu'l-Bahá's instruction. It is sponsored by Bahá'ís but is not a holy day: local communities across the United States mark it with rallies, picnics, festivals and mayoral proclamations.