THE SHOALS–City and County governments in Lauderdale, Colbert, and Franklin Counties proclaim Sunday, June 13th as Race Amity Day. A coalition of organizations joined together to request that City Councils and County Commissions in three Northwest Alabama counties issue proclamations and resolutions in recognition of the centenary of the Race Amity effort.
The purpose of Race Amity Day is to recognize that the people of the United States are its greatest asset, and to recognize that this nation is comprised of multicultural, multiethnic multiracial citizens. The intent of Race Amity Day is to encourage friendship, collegiality, civility, respect and kindness among all.
The Shoals Race Amity Coalition will observe and commemorate the centennial of Race Amity Day with two weekends of events. Beginning Sunday, June 6th, at 2 pm at the Indian Mound Museum in Florence, with the PBS film “Race Amity: America’s Other Tradition”; and continuing Sunday, June 13th, with a watch party will be held at the Florence Library to live stream the national observance. The June 13th event will feature display of the proclamations and resolutions issued by the City and Town councils of Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, Florence, Russellville, Cherokee, Leighton, and Littleville; and the Commissions of Lauderdale, Colbert, and Franklin Counties.
A century ago, after three years of intense racial strife during which the United States was faced with divisions caused by prejudice, a groundbreaking convention was held in 1921 to address racial divisions and focus on developing cross-racial friendships. The conference, held each year since then, has become known as the annual Race Amity Conference. The year 2021 marks the one hundredth observance of that convention. At this time when America again faces a crisis of racial division, the coalition of Shoals Area organizations joined with members of the Ba’hai Faith to organize Race Amity Day in the Shoals in recognition of the ongoing need for and the importance of that original effort. Partners included NAACP Tri-County Branch, and the MLK Committee, both of which share the common goal of racial reconciliation.
Media Release/Jacqueline Osborne/Race Amity Day
