FOCUS

Historical Alliance

Photos by Glenn Triest

Blacks and Jews came together March 6 at Wayne
State to celebrate the opening of a historical exhibit
commemorating black-Jewish relations.

B

Shari Cohen and W. Jackson Wertz
go over the program.

lacks and Jews: The American Experience
1654-1991 at Wayne State is a pictorial
reminder of the important relationships
between two American minorities. A great deal of
the exhibit traced the close relationship between
blacks and Jews during the historic civil rights
marches of the 1960s and 70s when members of
both groups were ridiculed, beaten and even killed
for their beliefs. There are quotes from the past
showing outright support for one another, be it for
equal rights for blacks or even support for Israel's
right to exist. Perhaps, most importantly, there are
exhibit pieces covering the current efforts between
the two groups to work together. Included were
pictures of Sinai Hospital's program on lupus, a
disease that victimizes a large number of blacks.
And there were pictures covering the Jewish
community's effort to outreach to Detroit's inner-
city black community through Jewish Vocational
Service. The exhibit kicked off a month-long
program marking black and Jewish cooperation. ❑

Above left: Wally Williams, Judy
Cantor and Keith Braun check out
one of the displays at the photo
exhibit.
Above right: Wayne State's vice
president of community relations,
Arthur Johnson, addresses the
exhibit audience.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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