First Universal Races Congress
Encyclopedia
In 1911 the First Universal Races Congress met in London at the University of London
as an early effort of Anti-racism
, at which distinguished speakers from many countries for four days discussed race problems and ways to improve interracial relations. The Congress was initiated on comments of Felix Adler in 1906 and executed largely centered on the efforts of Gustav Spiller. Lord Philip Stanhope, 1st Baron Weardale was president of the Congress and William Pember Reeves
served as chair of the executive committee. The Congress had 2100 members.
The original call for the Congress was published including these remarks:
More than fifty countries and twenty governments sent official representatives resulting in fifty eight papers that were categorized into five groups
An early draft of the Resolutions arrived at from the consultation were:
was an influential British anthropologist and ethnologist. He wrote a paper for the journal Science about the first Congress. Brajendra Nath Seal
, was a renowned Bengali Indian humanist philosopher, a founding proponent of Brahmo Samaj
, and did work in comparative religion and on the philosophy of science. Seal addressed the Congress where he first stated the concept of group divergence, which relates to Human evolutionary genetics
and effects of reproductive isolation
, in a period when genetics as such were unknown, in his address on "Race Origin". Charles Eastman
, a Native American writer, physician, and reformer was of Santee Sioux and Anglo-American descent; active in politics and issues on American Indian rights, he represented the American Indian at the Congress. Sarah J. Garnet
accompanied her sister, Susan McKinney Steward, who addressed her paper Colored American Women to the Congress. The pioneering physician Frances Hoggan
spoke. W. E. B. Du Bois observed that the Congress could make clear the state of scientific knowledge concerning the meaning of the term "race" and presented the paper "The Negro Race in the United States of America". Mary White Ovington
, the ,co-founder of the NAACP attended. Mojola Agbebi
, an advocate of indigenous leadership for African churches, offered a paper. William Sanders Scarborough
was the official delegate from Wilberforce University
, the first African-American college in the United States owned by blacks. The head of the Bahá'í Faith
, `Abdu'l-Bahá
had been invited to speak, but sent representatives and a letter. Other religious speakers included Thomas William Rhys Davids
, Genchi Kato and Alfred Caldecott.
After the Congress, Dusé Mohamed Ali
founded the African Times and Orient Review in London. Volume 1 No 1 proclaimed that "the recent Universal Races Congress, convened in the Metropolis of the Anglo-Saxon world, clearly demonstrated that there was ample need for a Pan-Oriental, Pan-African journal in the seat of the British Empire."
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
as an early effort of Anti-racism
Anti-racism
Anti-racism includes beliefs, actions, movements, and policies adopted or developed to oppose racism. In general, anti-racism is intended to promote an egalitarian society in which people do not face discrimination on the basis of their race, however defined...
, at which distinguished speakers from many countries for four days discussed race problems and ways to improve interracial relations. The Congress was initiated on comments of Felix Adler in 1906 and executed largely centered on the efforts of Gustav Spiller. Lord Philip Stanhope, 1st Baron Weardale was president of the Congress and William Pember Reeves
William Pember Reeves
The Hon. William Pember Reeves was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform.-Biography:...
served as chair of the executive committee. The Congress had 2100 members.
The original call for the Congress was published including these remarks:
To discuss, in the light of science and modern conscience, the general relations subsisting betweent he peoples of the West and those of the East, between the so-called "white" and the so-called "colored" peoples, with a view to encouraging between them a fuller understanding, the most friendly feelings, and the heartier co-operation.… The interchange of material and other wealth between the races of mankind has of late years assumed such dimensions that the old attitude of distrust and aloofness is giving way to a genuins desire for a closer acquaintanceship. Out of the his interesting situation has spring the idea of holding a Congress where the representatives of the different races might meet each other face to face, and might, in friendly rivalry, further the cause of mutual trust and respect between the Occident and Orient, between the so-called "white" peoples and the so-called "colored" peoples.
More than fifty countries and twenty governments sent official representatives resulting in fifty eight papers that were categorized into five groups
- Fundamental Considerations,
- General Conditions of Progress,
- Special Problems of Inter-racial Economics and Peaceful Contact between Civilizations,
- Modern Conscience in Relation to Racial Questions,
- Positive Suggestions for Promoting Inter-racial Friendliness.
An early draft of the Resolutions arrived at from the consultation were:
- To urge that the establishing of harmonious relations between the various divisions of mankind is an essential condition precedent to any serious attempt to diminish warfare and extend the practice of arbitration.
- To commend to individuals of different races coming into passing or permanent contact with one another cnduct which shall be courteous and respectful. To induce each people to study sympathetically the customs and civilizations of other peoples, since even the lowliest civilizations have much to teach, and since every civilization should be reverenced as having deep, histoic roots.
- To emphasize that difference in civilization does not, as is often supposed, necessarily connote, either inferiority or superiority.
- To study impartiality and on the broad basis the physical and social effects of race-blending and the causes which promote or hinder it.
- To request governments to compile statistics on the subject, and to discourage hasty and crude generalizations on the subject.
- To point out the irreconcialiability of the contention prevalanet among the various peoples of the world that their customs, their civilization, andtheir physique are superior to those of other peoples, and also to deprecate the loose manner in which the term "race" is popularly employed.
- To urge the paramount importance of providing in all lands a universal and efficient system of education - physical, intellectual, and moral - as ine of the principal means of promoting cordial relations within and among, all divisions of mankind.
- To respect, or to endeavour to assimulate or change, the economic, hygienic, educational and moral standards of immigrants rather that to regard them as indefensible or fixed.
- To collect records of experiments showing the successful uplifting of relatively backward people by the application of humane methods, and to urge the application of such methods universally.
Selected speakers, presenters and witnesses
Felix Adler was the official delegate from the United States National Bureau of Education (as it was then known). Alfred Cort HaddonAlfred Cort Haddon
Alfred Cort Haddon, Sc.D., FRS, FRGS was an influential British anthropologist and ethnologist.Initially a biologist, who achieved his most notable fieldwork, with W.H.R. Rivers, C.G. Seligman, Sidney Ray, Anthony Wilkin on the Torres Strait Islands...
was an influential British anthropologist and ethnologist. He wrote a paper for the journal Science about the first Congress. Brajendra Nath Seal
Brajendra Nath Seal
Sir Brajendra Nath Seal KCIE was a renowned Bengali Indian humanist philosopher. He was one of the greatest original thinkers of the Brahmo Samaj and did work in comparative religion and on the philosophy of science. He systematized the humanism of the Brahmo philosophical thought...
, was a renowned Bengali Indian humanist philosopher, a founding proponent of Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
, and did work in comparative religion and on the philosophy of science. Seal addressed the Congress where he first stated the concept of group divergence, which relates to Human evolutionary genetics
Human evolutionary genetics
Human evolutionary genetics studies how one human genome differs from the other, the evolutionary past that gave rise to it, and its current effects. Differences between genomes have anthropological, medical and forensic implications and applications...
and effects of reproductive isolation
Reproductive isolation
The mechanisms of reproductive isolation or hybridization barriers are a collection of mechanisms, behaviors and physiological processes that prevent the members of two different species that cross or mate from producing offspring, or which ensure that any offspring that may be produced is not...
, in a period when genetics as such were unknown, in his address on "Race Origin". Charles Eastman
Charles Eastman
Charles Alexander Eastman was a Native American physician, writer, national lecturer, and reformer. He was of Santee Sioux and Anglo-American ancestry...
, a Native American writer, physician, and reformer was of Santee Sioux and Anglo-American descent; active in politics and issues on American Indian rights, he represented the American Indian at the Congress. Sarah J. Garnet
Sarah J. Garnet
Sarah J. Tompkins Garnet was an African-American educator and suffragist from New York City who was a pioneer as the first African-American female school principal in the New York City public school system....
accompanied her sister, Susan McKinney Steward, who addressed her paper Colored American Women to the Congress. The pioneering physician Frances Hoggan
Frances Hoggan
Frances Elizabeth Hoggan MD was the first British woman to receive a doctorate in medicine from a university in Europe, and the first female doctor to be registered in Wales....
spoke. W. E. B. Du Bois observed that the Congress could make clear the state of scientific knowledge concerning the meaning of the term "race" and presented the paper "The Negro Race in the United States of America". Mary White Ovington
Mary White Ovington
Mary White Ovington was a suffragette, socialist, Unitarian, journalist, and co-founder of the NAACP.-Biography:...
, the ,co-founder of the NAACP attended. Mojola Agbebi
Mojola Agbebi
Mojola Agbebi was a Nigerian Yoruba Baptist minister. He was formerly named David Brown Vincent, but during the wave of African nationalism in the late 1880s, he changed his name. Agbebi was a strong advocate of indigenous leadership for African churches...
, an advocate of indigenous leadership for African churches, offered a paper. William Sanders Scarborough
William Sanders Scarborough
William Sanders Scarborough is generally thought to be the first African American classical scholar. Scarborough served as president of Wilberforce University between 1908 and 1920 after having been born into slavery...
was the official delegate from Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
, the first African-American college in the United States owned by blacks. The head of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, `Abdu'l-Bahá
`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
had been invited to speak, but sent representatives and a letter. Other religious speakers included Thomas William Rhys Davids
Thomas William Rhys Davids
Thomas William Rhys Davids was a British scholar of the Pāli language and founder of the Pali Text Society.-Life:...
, Genchi Kato and Alfred Caldecott.
After the Congress, Dusé Mohamed Ali
Dusé Mohamed Ali
Dusé Mohamed Ali , , was an African nationalist. He was also an actor, historian, journalist, editor, lecturer, traveller, publisher, a founder of the Comet Press Ltd. and The Comet newspaper .-Early life:He was born in Alexandria, Egypt...
founded the African Times and Orient Review in London. Volume 1 No 1 proclaimed that "the recent Universal Races Congress, convened in the Metropolis of the Anglo-Saxon world, clearly demonstrated that there was ample need for a Pan-Oriental, Pan-African journal in the seat of the British Empire."
External links
- Papers on inter-racial problems, communicated to the first Universal Races Congress (Page scans at the Internet Archive)