Published on Sun Jul 19 2026 06:00:00 GMT+0600 (Omsk Standard Time) by 8th Principle UU

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of the United States carries a unique responsibility in the work of dismantling racism. Our faith tradition emerged in the very soil where the modern concepts of whiteness and chattel slavery were invented, and too often we have been entangled in the systems of oppression we now seek to undo. Understanding this history—both its failures and its moments of courage—is essential to answering the call of the 8th Principle.

The Birth of Unitarianism and Universalism Amidst Systemic Racism

Unitarianism and Universalism in America came of age during a period when the ideology of white supremacy was being codified into law and culture. The very notion of 'whiteness' as a social category was constructed in the American colonies to justify the enslavement of African people and the dispossession of Indigenous nations. This was the context in which our theological ancestors built their churches and shaped their worldviews.

Many early Unitarians belonged to the New England elite—merchants, politicians, and intellectuals who profited directly or indirectly from the slave trade and the exploitation of Native American lands. While some individuals spoke against these injustices, the denomination as a whole often remained silent, and some prominent Unitarians even became leaders in the eugenics movement, promoting birth control for people of color based on the false belief in racial inferiority.

Universalism, by contrast, drew more heavily from the working class, and its ministers were more likely to condemn slavery. Yet even Universalists were not uniformly abolitionist, and the institutional structures of both movements were complicit in the broader culture of racism.

This history is not merely a matter of the distant past; it shapes the identity and habits of our faith today. To move forward, we must first look back with honesty.

Missed Opportunities and Moments of Silence

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, there were pivotal moments when our faith could have taken a bold stand against racism but failed to do so. Even when individual ministers and congregations spoke out, the national bodies of Unitarianism and Universalism did little to mobilize for abolition or to challenge the Jim Crow laws that followed emancipation.

This pattern of institutional inaction continued into the modern era. After the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2013, many Unitarian Universalist ministers remained silent in their pulpits. While some did speak, the denomination as a whole did not issue a unified, prophetic response. For many UUs of color, this silence was a painful reminder that even a liberal faith can be reluctant to confront racism when it feels uncomfortable.

The failure to speak in such moments is not neutral; it sends a message about whose lives and deaths are considered worthy of public lament. The 8th Principle calls us to break this silence and to make anti-racism a central, non-negotiable part of our faith.

The Civil Rights Era: A Legacy of Courage and a Broken Promise

There is a bright chapter in our history: during the Civil Rights Movement, many Unitarian Universalists answered the call of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and marched, organized, and put their bodies on the line for racial justice. UU ministers and laypeople were among those who traveled to Selma and participated in freedom rides. This was a time when our faith lived up to its highest ideals, and we should be proud of that witness.

However, that moment of solidarity was followed by a painf, Black Unitarian Universalists organized the Black Affairs Council (BAC) and the Black Unitarian Universalist Caucus (BUUC) to push for full inclusion and empowerment within the denomination. Initially, the UUA supported these efforts, but when a financial crisis hit the association, funding was abruptly cut. The resulting conflict was deeply damaging; many African American UUs felt abandoned, and a significant number left the denomination altogether.

This experience taught a hard lesson: commitments to racial justice must be more than aspirational words. They require ongoing, structural investment even when resources are scarce. The 8th Principle seeks to embed that commitment so deeply that it cannot be so easily discarded.

Decades of Silence, Then Steps Forward and Steps Back

After the turmoil of the late 1960s and 1970s, the UUA entered a long period of relative silence on issues of race. It was not until the late 1980s and early 1990s that serious efforts to address racial justice resumed. The denomination passed resolutions, formed committees, and began to educate itself about systemic racism. For roughly a decade, there was meaningful progress: more people of color entered UU ministry, multicultural congregations emerged, and anti-racism training became more common.

But this forward momentum was not sustained. In the years that followed, institutional attention drifted, and the structures that had been created were often underfunded or dismantled. The regression became painfully public when the UUA President resigned in 2017 amid revelations of hiring practices that were not inclusive and a workplace culture that marginalized people of color. This was not an isolated incident but a symptom of deeper, systemic issues that had never been fully addressed.

The cycle of progress and retreat reveals a fundamental problem: our good intentions are not enough. Without a clear, binding commitment—like the 8th Principle—we risk repeating the same patterns of harm.

Why the UUA (USA) Must Lead the Way

The United States is not the only country with a history of racism, but it is the birthplace of a particular form of racial hierarchy that has been exported globally. The UUA, as a religious body rooted in American history, has a special obligation to confront this legacy. The 8th Principle is not about guilt; it is about responsibility and transformation.

Our faith is grounded in the affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Yet for too long, that affirmation has been contradicted by our actions and our silences. The 8th Principle calls us to build a world where all people are truly free from oppression, and that work must begin within our own communities.

We cannot change what we do not acknowledge. The 8th Principle is our acknowledgment and our commitment.

To understand why the 8th Principle is necessary, we must also ask Why Now? and Why Single Out Racism? These questions help us see that anti-racism is not one issue among many, but a lens through which we must examine all aspects of our faith and our society.

A Call to Action: Living the 8th Principle

The 8th Principle asks us to journey toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse, multicultural Beloved Community. This is not a passive hope; it requires active, accountable, and structural change. We must examine our own history with humility, listen to the voices of those who have been marginalized, and commit resources to dismantling racism both within the UUA and in the wider world.

This work is ongoing. It is not about achieving a perfect record but about being faithful to the call of love and justice. As we look at the history that brought us to this moment, we see both failure and possibility. The 8th Principle is an invitation to write a new chapter—one in which our actions finally match our values.

Written by 8th Principle UU