This course explores the rich and often under-recognized history of African American Bahá’is from the late 19th century to the present. Participants will examine the ways that Bahá’is of African descent helped shape the development of the Bahá’i Faith in the U.S. and abroad. Through lectures by scholars and researchers, the course highlights themes of spiritual transformation, social justice, cultural resilience, community building and interracial fellowship.
Facilitator: Gwen Etter-Lewis
Featured speakers: Richard Thomas, Masud Olufani, Lex Musta, Christopher Buck, Juliet Gentzkow, Burton Smith, Steven Kolins, and others.
Learning Goals
By the end of the course participants will:
- Gain a deeper appreciation of African American contributions to the Bahá’i Faith
- Better understand how Bahá’i teachings on race unity and social justice connect with African American history and lived experiences
- Connect course themes and insights to their own life experiences and spiritual journeys
- Engage in meaningful dialogue across different cultural backgrounds and generations
Our courses are available any time, day or night, to access the course materials, but they have a weekly Zoom meeting that all are encouraged to participate in, which are scheduled for Sunday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time (3-5:00 Pacific). They will be recorded and posted. To facilitate the flow of discussion in the online course forums, each course is divided into units. You will be encouraged to progress through the course alongside the other course participants. A two-week period at the end of the course is provided for you to reflect on what you have learned, to consider how your learning can be applied to your daily life, to give feedback on your learning experience, and to complete any outstanding readings or assignments.
Tuition: $150, students $75; discounts available .
Online Course Format
