Des Moines Bahá’ís Promote Race Unity, 1995-1997

by Diane Findlay, submitted October 2023

NOTE: This article is constructed from materials provided by Pam Birdsong.

In the mid-1990s, the Des Moines Bahá’í community was very active in promoting racial harmony through Race Unity Day observances and other events. Napolun Birdsong was at the center of these efforts.

One such event was Patchwork: A Celebration of Cultural Diversity, in observance of Race Unity Day, held June 18^th, 1995, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The daylong event featured the arts through a variety of musical and dance performances. Napolun reached out to a wide variety of performers, from gospel choirs to Thai dancers to a mariachi band to Mesquakie drummers… As best I can discern from the photos, activities included music by Bruce Wilson, dancing led by Margy Davis (then Segebart), along with several others. Performances were followed by a potluck supper and fellowship time.

The Bahá’í community was part of a Race Unity Day Coalition, with Willkie House and Central Iowa Dance, which sponsored a Race Unity Festival at Willkie House on June 9, 1996, combining an international food fair, children’s activities, and performances featuring east Indian dancers, Lakota hoop dancer Dallas Chief Eagle, a gospel choir, Willkie House dancers, Des Moines area jazz and Blues musicians, and more. The event honored the 40^th Annual Race Unity Day.

The Faith was also represented at several shopping mall community day exhibitions, including Southridge, Valley West Mall, Park Fair Mall in 1995. These displays included an emphasis on racial harmony, along with other basic teachings.