Race Unity Day to celebrate diversity

Web Posted: 07/06/2003 12:00 AM

San Antonio residents of various ethnic backgrounds and faiths are invited to embrace their differences and promote racial harmony at the sixth annual Race Unity Day next Saturday.

Several hundred people are expected to attend the multicultural event at the Villita Assembly Building, 104 Villita St., from 2 to 10 p.m.

"It's really to celebrate unity, to celebrate our differences ... and to point them out and be aware of them and embrace them," said Winifred Barnum, the event's executive director.

The festivities will include live entertainment, face painting and about 14 booths featuring jewelry, African artifacts and an array of food — from Vietnamese to Pakistani to Cajun.

Organized by the Baha'i community of San Antonio, the celebration is an expression of diversity, acceptance and "understanding that human rights are for everybody," not just an exclusive group, Barnum said.

Speakers will be state Rep. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio; San Antonio police Lt. Janae Florance; Father David Garcia, rector of San Fernando Cathedral; Councilwoman Patti Radle; and radio talk-show host Chris Duel.

Entertainment will include country western performer Dino Fox, the band Los Nice Guys, Austin country-rocker Patricia Vonne, singer Ashley Dixon, the Spurs Coyote, and the Capoeria Dancers, who combine music, artistry and martial arts.

The San Antonio Lion Dance Association, a Chinese cultural group, will perform the lion dance featuring two performers in a lion costume.

The purpose of the dance is to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, said Barbie Chan, the association's secretary.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i faith established the national Race Unity Day in 1957 to foster better race relations.