Race Unity Day brought together a variety of community members Friday. The celebration of diversity is a Baha’i tradition.

Bryce Abel, spokesman for the Ames Baha’is, encouraged all Ames residents to join in the festivities to help “promote the oneness of humanity and eliminate prejudice.”

The Butternut Shelter at Emma McCarthy Lee Park housed attendants of various ages, races and backgrounds for the events of the evening. Along with a picnic-style meal, conversation, music and games, guest speaker Yvor Stoakley gave a brief speech on the importance of making race unity a reality in the United States.

Stoakley, an attorney from the Chicago area, earned his undergraduate degree from Grinnell College and received his law degree from Northwestern University.

“The observation of Race Unity Day deals more with action than words,” Stoakley said. “Race unity is an issue in the United States that is an emotional one because of our past history and experiences. Everybody has to make efforts to try to become aware of what the problems are and to find ways to address them.”

Also highlighted in Stoakley’s speech was the opportunity Iowa now has to take a leadership role in improving race relations because of the new wave of immigrants being encouraged to move into the state.

Race Unity Day is an annual event celebrated nationally. It has been recognized in Ames for approximately the last 40 years. Traditionally, the event is held on the second Sunday in June. Its purpose is to share in the beauty of all people regardless of race.

The Baha’i faith was founded by Baha’u’llah in Iran about 150 years ago. Since then, the faith has spread all over the world and ranks as the second most widespread religion in terms of world coverage, behind Christianity.

Its followers believe that all religions come from one common god, so in turn, all religions are one. The spiritual truths in all religions are in essence the same, it is just their social teachings that have changed over time.

Some social teachings of the Baha’is include the belief that all races and religions are one, prejudice should be eliminated, men and women are equal and all children deserve an education.

One participant in the event, Elham Springer, helped to sum up the faith and the celebration.

“The reason I love it is for the belief in the unity of mankind and the equality of men and women,” she said.