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Strain in Black-Jewish Ties Is Seen by Authoress; Lays Blame on 'Myth'

feels, comes from their close rela-
By CHARLOTTE DUBIN
The role of the Jewish commun- tionship with their four children,
ity in urban problems has been , the eldest 27, the youngest 20.
highly praised by black leadership. I "We have an almost Jewish, or
But in the ghetto, where it really Oriental, concept of family," she
counts, the black man doesn't explained. "We are tightly knit,
and we take care of ourselves. We
know a thing about if.
"This whole thing about Jews have taught our children to be
owning ghetto property is wrapped proud of both sides, and it has
in myth. The seeds of prejudice , been a successful teaching. Aly
were planted long ago, and if children are well adjusted; they
you're going to root it out you know you can't judge people as a
must publicize the things you've group. They can't hate white peo-;
done." ple, because their mother is white.
Barbara Tinker Douglas isn't The Douglas' second child, Car-
quite sure how the hostility — the lyle C., is a former editor of the
feeling that the Jew is the oppres- Alichigan Chronicle and now is an
sor—began among ghetto people, editor of Ebony magazine.
but the Detroit authoress is sure
Mrs. Douglas characterizes her
that the myth persists. In fact, few
three youngest children as mili-
Jewish businesses remain from
tant, "but I'm the most militant
those that once filled the Jewish
of all. For years, you're brought
ghetto, now Black.
up free. Suddenly, because of
Mrs. Douglas, whose novel
marriage, you're no longer free;
"When the Fire Reaches Us"
you can't go to certain places—
(William Morrow and Co.) is
much as a Jew once couldn't go
based on the Detroit riot of July
to certain places.
1967, looks at urban problems
"I taught remedial reading:
from a unique perspective: she
many teachers, who were unaware
is white and her husband of 28
of my background, would say
years is black.
things about the black students. I
As difficult as such a marriage was very bitter toward whites for
may be today, in 1942 it was al-
many years, but I guess I've mel-
most unheard of. Mrs. Douglas'
lowed."
friends and relatives, with the ex-
Mrs. Douglas said she feels a
ception of her parents, would have
strong sympathy for the Black
little to do with them. And so, be-
Panthers because of what they
cause "we all need an identity,"
have done for black pride. "Ghetto
Mrs. Douglas turned to her hus-
people believe, and rightly so, that
band's black friends. "In the begiri-
nobody gives a damn about thern.
ning, the black people accepted
Here comes a group of black kids,
me; they were kind.- Now, I'm
with pride and the desire to 'do
nowhere really. I'm not allowed to
something, and the feeling is that
identify with black people, and I
somebody cares. I don't think many
no longer feel white."
older black people understand it.
Today, the Douglases draw their
circle of friends from black and But if middle-class white and
black had stepped into the breach,
white, but their real strength, she
there would have been no prob-
lem."
24—Friday, August 21, 1970
As to the Black Panthers' stated
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
policy in support of the Arab
states against Israel, "Religion has
nothing to do with it. I would
guess it's a hangover from the con-
and his ORCHESTRA
ception of a ghetto owned by
"Music at its Best
wealthy Jews." On the other hand,
for Your Guests"
"They regard the Arabs as a col-
ored nation . . . The Arabs don't
wear halos; we must show them
(the Panthers) the facts . ."
Mrs. Douglas suggests that "a
sincere desire to help" is the an-
swer to what she terms the "com-
plete breakdown of communication
between Black and Jew."
She was unaware of several
tutorial projects conducted by Jev:-
ish young adults, or the assistance
offered by Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion agencies, but responded to the
information with some enthusiasm.
"If I didn't know about it, you
can imagine that ghetto blacks
don't know about it. Publicize it.
Tutorial programs are needed m

FRANK PAUL

EL 7-1799

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the ghetto. Or camping experi-
"The rest of us are dragging
ences. If you want to help them
along the dead weight of our past
as people, you can get some-
in our relationships. The only hope
where.
is in the young."
"It's difficult for a suburban
white to approach the ghetto
YOUR CANDID COLOR
black," she continued. "How can
it be done without being patroniz-
ing? The answer is something you
have to feel. Poor people are hon-
WILL BE
est. They can tell when you're sin-
cere."
Mrs. Douglas expressed some
sympathy for the Jewish shop
WHEN PHOTOGRAPHED BY
owner who has met with hostility
—or worse—in the ghetto. "But the
BIG BANDS or
black shop owner faces the same
SMALL COMBOS
problems. Alost of the stores are
AND ASSOCIATES
not owned by Jews; they seem to
642-5520
1-8196
be owned by Italians and some
Arab group .. . The small neigh-
borhood grocery is needed in the
ghetto, an dI don't want to see
them go because they can't get
protection. Perhaps the answer lies
the latest in
in the cooperative."
• Sportswear
Looking back on the riot, which
• Pant Suits
provided the backdrop for her
• Jewelry
novel, Mrs. Douglas finds it dif-
• Bridesmaid Dresses
ficult to see any good that came
• Dresses & Gowns
of the violence and terror. "We're
• Accessories
merely more aware of the polariza-
tion between black and white .. .
Let's remember the big promises
354-3554
Southfield, Mich.
after the riot. So few were kept.
Lots
Sylvia
26571 W. 12 Mile Rd.
Ekehnan
Alpert
Twelve parks were promised; only
( 1/2 Block West of Northwestern Hwy.)
two have been organized. Ghetto
people see this. How can they be
lieve the establishment?
MENTION THIS AD FOR
"I know that preference is
SPECIAL GROUP RATES (5 ROOMS OR MORE)
given to the white, middle-class
school. Perhaps they have strong-
er parent groups; ghetto parents
REGISTER TOUR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS AT THE BEAUTIFUL
are not as aware. Bussing a
ghetto child out to Greenfield is
no answer. Integration is okay,
but first upgrade every ghetto
Ideally Locted Vs Mile From Northland
school ..."
COLOR TV - Heated Pool - Hi-Fi - Restaurant
Mrs. Douglas suggests that one
Airport Transportation Available
Ben Helpern, co - owner
way of reaching young blacks is
14380 W. 8 MILE, OAK PARK
LI 8-1822
through street schools, supported
NEXT TO VIC TANNY HEALTH CLUB
by private funds, which have had
some success in New York.
In her novel, which has drawn
good reviews m some leading news-
papers (but not a word in Detroit
dailies), Mrs. Douglas concentrates
on showing the white reader what
it's like to be black. For example,
"I'm deathly afraid of police. I
lived in ghetto housing for the first
MADE TO ORDER REMADE and REPROCESSED
12 years of my marriage . . I'm
still nervous when they're around.
"Perhaps rai-' their educa-
tional level will help. It's been
shown that people with more edu-
cation are less prejudiced."
15144 W.7 Mile Rd. 3 Blocks E. of Greenfield 342-9448
Airs. Douglas isn't heartened by
the fact that the myths of an older
Open 9 to 5:30, Sat. by Appointment
generation of Blacks do in some
degree continue among young peo-
ple. However, "I'm glad to see that
black college students are working
closely with young white radicals,
demanding changes in college, de-
manding an end to the war, and so
on.

ALBUM
FINER
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Dropouts Continue
Education Aided

An "underwriting advance" of
funds to insure the continuation of
an educational project sponsored
by the Mayor's Committee for Hu-
man Resources Development
(MCHRD) was assumed by the
Jewish Community Council on be-
half of its affiliated organizations.
The advance will help the
AICHRD centers carry on a pro-
gram for high school dropouts.
The program makes it possible
for students to complete their
studies under AICHRD supervision
and to qualify for a high school
equivalency certificate.
Judge Lawrence Gubow, presi-
dent of the Jewish Community
Council, and Lewis Grossman,
chairman of the Council's urban
affairs subcommitee, stated that
the funds advanced to MCHRD
would allow MCHRD to purchase
educational kits necessary- for
the program.
Many students could not afford
I to buy their own kits, and as a
result, the project was in jeopardy
for lack of funds. AICHRD now
will be able to purchase the kits
and lend' them to students for the
duration of their studies.

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