“The first proclamation of emancipation for the blacks was made by the whites of America”

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, pp. 44-45) To read the entire talk please visit Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)