Sammy Davis Jr. Story, `Yes I Can', lsr Remarkatile
Autobiographical Record of Negro-Jewish: Experience
"Yes I Can" is the title of
Sammy Davis Jr.'s autobiographic-
al story which reaffirms that in-
deed, he not only can but did suc-
ceed against great odds to reach
the top of the ladder in the enter-
tainment world.
Compiled with the cooperation
of Jane and Burt Boyar, published
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, this
is an especially timely story in
view of other current revealing
situations about the Negro's strug-
gle for recognition, for a place in
American life without prejudice.
In addition, Sammy Davis had
adopted the Jewish f a i t h and
therefore added to the prejudices
that were aimed at him. In all
instances, he emerged the proud,
'" ` "`'--brave defender of justice.
The discriminating incidents rec-
orded in this lengthy account of
an interesting life emerge as part
of this decade's battle against the
race hatreds that have left a blot
on America. The manner in which
Sammy Davis was hounded, the
signs "no Niggers, no dogs, no
Jews" that accompanied him, the
indignities he suffered in the army
at the hands of bigots — these
are among the many sad occur-
rences in the book. There are good
ones to offset them, and the fine
treatment he received at the hands
of fellow-actors is a heartening
part of "Yes I Can."
There are numerous details rel-
ated to Sammy's acceptance of the
Jewish faith. Rabbi Max Nussbaum
was among his teachers. His mar-
riage to May Britt was performed
by Rabbi William Kramer in Rabbi
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SAMMY DAVIS, JR.
Nussbaum's absence, at Temple
Israel, Hollywood. Eddie Cantor
had a long conversation with him
about the Jewish angle.
It was after t he accident in
which Sammy lost an eye that
Eddie said to him: "You look upon
your accident as a warning or a
threat. I can only speak to you as
a Jew and interpret it according
to our philosophy. We don't believe
that goodness should stem from
threat of punishment. We worship
God in love, not in fear. In the
Talmud, which represents many
centuries of Jewish thinking, it is
written 'Whom the Lord loveth He
correcteth.' Therefore, 'Should a
man see suffering came upon him
let him scrutinize his actions."
Eddie was giving Sammy encour-
agement, and throughout the story
fellow-actors, producers, others
gave Sammy the courage that led
him to the top in his calling.
Rabbi Alvin Fine was among
those who encouraged him in his
faith after his accident, and a
Hillel story was offered as part
of the comfort that was provided.
It was then that Sammy already
began to show an interest in
Judaism.
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The work of the bigots emerges
as the constant threat that mars
the spirit of America. Like the sign
that a p p e a r e d on his garage:
"Merry Christmas Nigger!" Or the
Nazi storm troopers' picketing of
him in Washington with signs that
read: "WHAT'S THE MATTER,
SAMMY? CAN'T YOU FIND A
COLORED GIRL?" . . . "GO BACK
TO THE CONGO, YOU KOSHER
COON." And the sign that was
appended on a black dog that ac-
companied these picketers that
read: "I'M BLACK TOO SAMMY,
BUT I'M NOT A JEW." And an-
other of their signs that read:
MARRIAGE TO MAY BRITT WILL
BE AN INJUSTICE TO THE
NEGRO RACE."
Well, the marriage took place,
and it is a happy one — there are
already two children. But before
the marriage, in London, too, there
was picketing and a display of
ugly signs: "GO HOME, NIGGER"
. . . "SAMMY, GO BACK TO THE
TREES". . . . GET DIVORCED
FIRST, SLAG."
But the people in England re-
sented such outrages and told
Sammy so in many ways. A letter
from Cassandra reproduced in
"Yes I Can" assured him that such
signs have "nothing to do with
what English people feel and
think."
UN 4-9882
SAM LEFKOFSKY
for instance, the story of his report
to Goldwyn that he would not work
on the film "Sportin' Life" on
Yom Kippur. Samuel Goldwyn was
amazed to hear it, and when he
yielded he said: "Directors I can
fight. Fires on the set I can fight.
Writers, even actors I can fight.
But a Jewish colored fellow? This
I can't. fight!"
Sammy had begun to r e a d
Sachar's "History of the Jews." He
quotes from it, he states that he
saw an affinity between Jew and
Negro and the long recorded con-
versation with Rabbi Nussbaum is
especially illuminating. He pleaded
with the rabbi: "I've read and I've
studied and I've called myself a
Jew. I've tried to feel .like a Jew,
I really have, but I know it can't
work until I know I really am a
Jew. Please. Don't turn me away."
Rabbi Nussbaum warned him:
"Judaism is not a symptomatic
cure. It cannot be taken internally
like a tranquilizer. Judaism is a
Philosophy . ." etc, etc. But
Sammy Davis was insistent. He
was welcomed to the fold. There
is evidence in what he writes in
his autobiography that there is
great sincerity in his act of ac-
cepting Judaism.
There is an interesting note rel-
ating to his appearance on a Mike
Wallace show when the announce-
ment was made: "A Negro . . . a
Jew . . . the Peck's Bad Boy of
show business . . . a man to whom
any worthy charity can turn . . .
probably the finest entertainer in
all of show business . . ."
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MR. MA-RIO'S HAIR FASHIONS
May Britt went along with his
preference for Judaism, especially
when he told her just before their
marriage: "You know how much
I have gotten out of Judaism
for me it's everything." And she
assured him that she, too, "started
looking into Judaism strictly be-
cause I_ wanted our kids to have
the same religion as the two of us,
but now that I've studied it, I'm
On one occasion Sammy com- getting to really love it."
mented: "I never yet saw a news-
It is his attitude regarding his
paper refer to Milton Berle as new faith that is of special interest
`the greater J e wish comedian.' in his autobiography. There is,
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Best Wishes to the Entire Jewish Community
For a Year of Health and Happiness
This sums up Sammy Davis, Jr.
well written with the aid of Jane
And his autobiographical story,
and Burt Boyar, proves it.
—P. S.
Jack Solomon of Britain, who has
been Europe's top boxing pro-
moter for so many years, has an-
nounced his intention of quitting
boxing for the wrestling field.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
54—Friday, September 24, 1965
4