headquarters in Crown Heights, chanting "Heil Hitler." He said that people who charge him with anti- Semitism cheapen the mean- ing of the word. He also said that he's not convinced that Yankel Rosenbaum, who was stabb- ed by a group of black youths in the first hours of the Crown Heights violence, was killed in revenge. "No one has established that that was a revenge killing," he said. In the aftermath of the Crown Heights violence, the Rev. Sharpton is unapologetic about his role. He says he had no part in the bottle-throwing and looting that went on in Crown Heights. He says he has always preached non- violence, and that he even allowed a multi-ethnic pa- rade to occur without inci- dent. After all, he says, Martin Luther King Jr. was his hero "Sharpton is successful in his own circle because he knows how to use a tragedy to promote his brand of progress, which is to instill hate." Kenneth Stern and mentor. And the part- record promoter, part- political activist wants to put a 1990s twist on non- violence. In his version, civil rights is a football game between blacks and whites, not the arm-in-arm marches of Montgomery and Selma. At times, he softened his often caustic style. Before the 45-minute interview, while eating a plate of Chinese food, he joked about plane travel, Morton Downey Jr. and even his own gregariousness. He expressed hope that the cause is not lost, that Jews and blacks can work together despite last summer's violence. But, he warned, Jews can not pre- tend that he's not there. "I think the tension started when blacks began the fight for power. When you fight for power, you might be taking some power away from your allies," he said. "I should be able to do what I have to do. We have to protect each other's rights, even if we're not go- ing to be in bed loving each other." Blacks and Jews, he said, will be friends only if they share an agenda of fighting police brutality and racism. "If the David Dukes take over the country, they may lynch me first, but you're just around the corner," he said. But the Rev. Sharpton is no romantic. He sees the Ab- raham Joshua Heschel - Martin Luther King alli- ance of the 1960s as historically important, but no longer relevant. "We need to have defined goals," he said. "Ceremonial harmony sessions — it's bandage treatment. What we need is an operation." He said Jewish leaders are not responding to the call for dialogue. It is unclear just whom he feels he can talk to. After all, earlier this month, he said New York City Council President Andrew Stein's presence "turns the clock back to the days of Ed Koch and his Zionist control of New York City." In 1990, he suggested that New York Mayor David Dinkins "gather all the Jew- ish leadership that he was meeting with in the base- ment of Gracie Mansion and commence to beat the hell out them" for not delivering more Jewish voters to Mr. Dinkins' camp in his mayoral race. In the same speech during a black-Jewish "dialogue," he said Israel "is really not created for Jews; it is a military base for the United States." In Arm Arbor on Tuesday night, he said there is a "double standard" in giving billions of dollars of aid to Israel while denying thousands of dollars for black speakers on U.S. cam- puses. In the interview, he said if Jews continue to deny him a role in the dialogue process, no dialogue will occur. "I don't have the right to tell you who should repre- sent you. I don't think you should tell me who should represent me," he said. "I don't want to be co-opted. I don't want people paying my bills. I don't want some- one writing my speeches." What Crown Heights did, he said, is make people real- ize that he has to be involved in the process. "I went from 1990, in Ben- sonhurst, when the mayor, who is black, was saying, `Why are you talking to Al Sharpton,' to Crown Heights, where he started- talking to me. I guess that's progress." ❑ Whether you're outfitting your own home or a whole subdivision you'll find plumbing, hardware and electrical supplies. KOHLER • DELTA • MOEN • ARTISTIC BRASS • KWIKSET • FRANKLIN BRASS • ■ ,— SCHLAGE • BROA.N 2800 W. 11 Mile Rd. Berkley, MI 48072 A Division of "OUST Management Specialties (313) 548 5656 - Between Greenfield and Coolidge ttc : - $25 00 OFF i • Storm Doors • Mirrored Walls • Tub & Shower Enclosures • Bi-Fold Mirrored Doors L GLASS COMING SOON! SOUTHFIELD 24055 W. 10 Mile Rd. 353-1500 BERKLEY 2109 N. Woodward 543-4046 FARMINGTON 31205 Grand River 476-0730 W. BLOOMFIELD 5731 W. Maple 855-3400 Coupon good for any or all products. One coupon per purchase. Not valid with other offers. Expires 11-15-91 JEWELRY APPRAISALS At Very Reasonable Prices. Call For An Appointment 4 "-ellee X. established 1919 FINE JEWELERS Lawrence M. Allan, Pres. GEM/DIAMOND SPECIALIST AWARDED CERTIFICATE BY GIA IN GRADING AND EVALUATION 30400 Telegraph Road Suite 134 Bingham Farms, MI 48010 (313) 642-5575 DAILY 10-5:30 THURS. 10-7 SAT. 10-3 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 25