Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 14, 1993 Page: 2 of 24
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Fea tu re
TEXAS JEWISH POST, THURSDA Y, OCTOBER 14, 1993-IN OUR 47TH YEARI
r
r
e
By Debra Nussbaum Cohen
ew ties between the Congres-
sional Black Caucus and the con-
troversial Black Muslim leader
Louis Farrakhan have cast a
shadow on the future of black -
Jewish cooperation on legislative
issues of mutual concern.
For the moment, at least, the future of such
coalition work remains ambiguous, as the Jewish
community sorts out the implications and the ex-
tent of the warming relationship between the cau-
cus and Farrakhan, who is viewed as anti-Semitic
by many in the Jewish community.
Jewish groups and legislators have long worked
closely with the caucus on such issues as civil
rights, aid to cities, public education and the fight
against poverty. And the caucus, which currently
comprises 39 members of the House of Representa-
tives and one senator, has a long history of solid
support for Israel.
But that relationship has been strained since
mid-September,
when the black
caucus invited
Farrakhan,
leader of the Na-
tion of Islam, to
participate in a
panel discussion
as part of its an-
nual Legislative
Weekend.
During a panel
discussion on
“Race America,’
the caucus chair-
man, Rep.
Kweisi Mfume
(D-Md.), said the
group would “en-
ter a sacred cov-
enant” with the Kweisi Mfume
Nation of Islam, among other groups, on legislative
concerns.
In a statement issued after meeting subsequently
with Jewish groups, Mfume reiterated
the caucus’s intention of forging ahead
with a relationship with Farrakhan
and any others who “we feel are as
committed as we are to real and mean-
ingful social change for our people."
Their new cooperation is the latest
evidence of a growing acceptance
Farrakhan seems to be enjoying in the
mainstream black community. His
cadre of Muslim guards, known as the
Fruit of Islam, has won wide acclaim
among African Americans for ridding
low-income housing projects of drug
dealers.
Still, Farrakhan is considered by
Jews across the political spectrum to
be anti-Semitic and one of the most
The caucus chairman told them that he had been
quoted out of context and that he said he had
spoken of a covenant with Farrakhan, as well as
with churches,
mosques and syna-
gogues.
During the meet-
ing, Mfume “clarified
what had actually
I I happened. The cau-
cus did not embrace
Farrakhan,” said
Arthur Abramson,
executive director of
the Baltimore Jewish
Council, who orches-
trated the session.
“There was a
ground for meeting
with Minister
Farrakhan and the
divisive forces in race relations in Arthur Abramson Nation of I slam about
America. All representatives of mainstream Jew- the drug problem because their activities in that
ish organizations refuse to be part of any coalition
that includes him.
The caucus’s embrace of Farrakhan “signals the
declining importance of the Jewish community to
black community interests,” said one senior Jewish
organizational official who met with Mfume.
“The implications of this could be a serious nfl
with the Jewish community. If it does mean that,
then we have to seriously assess what we will do,"
he said.
Jewish groups and legislators, concerned at the
direction the Congressional Black Caucus was tak-
ing after its gathering last month, quickly sought
private meetings with black members of Congress
and, soon afterward, with Mfume himself.
Two such meetings were held in Washington last
week: one with representatives of the Anti-Defa-
mation League and another with representatives
of other national agencies.
Several participants in the broader group meet-
ing, held on Sept. 28, came away feeling reassured
by Mfume.
regard have been effective,” he said.
“We explained to the congressman that the Jew-
ish community at this point cannot work in coali-
tion with Farrakhan. Mfume understood it,” said
Abramson.
“That was the whole point: to reconfirm where we
are and to sensitize each other. There has been a
broadening of perspective*
Another participant in the Sept. 28 meeting
described Mfume as “sympathetic,” but he said it
“remains to be seen what effect this has on black-
Jewish relations.
“If other black groups don’t pick it up and invite
Farrakhan to participate in other multiracial coa-
litions, it won’t be that big a flap,” he said.
Yet that seems unlikely, as Farrakhan’s Nation
of Islam is brought in to work with other elements
of black leadership.
In his Sept. 29 statement, Mfume affirmed the
caucus’ intention of developing a relationship with
Farrakhan and seemed to issue a gentle rebuke to
Jewish groups and, possibly, the Nation of Islam.
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Wisch, J. A. & Wisch, Rene. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 14, 1993, newspaper, October 14, 1993; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth755562/m1/2/?q=j+w+gardner: accessed June 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .