The first proclamation of emancipation for the blacks was
made by the whites of America. How they fought and sacrificed until they freed
the blacks! Then it spread to other places. The blacks of Africa were in
complete bondage, but your emancipation led to their freedom also -- that is,
the European states emulated the Americans, and the emancipation proclamation
became universal. It was for your sake that the whites of America made such an
effort. Were it not for this effort, universal emancipation would not have been
proclaimed.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Excerpt from a talk given at Howard University on 23
April 1912; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace’) To read the entire talk
please visit Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)
