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Black Caucus Ties
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New York (JTA) — New ties
between the Congressional
Black Caucus and the con-
troversial Black Muslim
leader Louis Farrakhan
have cast a shadow on the
future of black-Jewish coop-
eration 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
extent of the warming rela-
tionship between the caucus
and Farrakhan, who is
viewed as anti-Semitic by
many in the Jewish com-
munity.
Jewish groups and legis-
lators have long worked
closely with the caucus on
such issues as civil rights,
aid to cities, public edu-
cation and the fight against
poverty. And the caucus,
which currently comprises
39 members of the House of
Representatives 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 Mr. Far-
rakhan, leader of the Nation
of Islam, to participate in a
panel discussion as part of
its annual Legislative
Weekend.
During a panel discussion
on "Race in America," the
caucus chairman, Rep.
Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., said
the group would "enter a
sacred covenant" with the
Nation of Islam, among
other groups, on legislative
concerns.
In a statement issued after
meeting subsequently with
Jewish groups, Mr. Mfume
reiterated the caucus's in-
tention of forging ahead
with a relationship with Mr.
Farrakhan and any others
who "we feel are as com-
mitted as we are to real and
meaningful social change for
our people."
Their new cooperation is
the latest evidence of a grow-
ing acceptance Mr. Far-
rakhan 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, Mr. Farrakhan is
considered by Jews across
the political spectrum to _be

David Saperstein:
Works on behalf of civil rights.

anti Semitic and one of the
most divisive forces in race
relations in America. All
representatives of main-
stream Jewish organizations
refuse to be part of any coali-
tion that includes him.
The caucus's embrace of
Mr. Farrakhan "signals the
declining importance of the
Jewish community to black
community interests," said
one senior Jewish organiza-
tional official who met with
Mr. Mfume.
"The implications of this
could be a serious rift with
the Jewish community. If it
does mean that, then we
have to seriously assess
what we will do," he said.
Jewish groups and legis-
lators, concerned at the
direction the Congressional
Black Caucus was taking
after its gathering last mon-
th, quickly sought private
meetings with black mem-
bers of Congress and, soon
afterward, with Mr. Mfume
himself.
Two such meetings were
held in Washington last
week: one with represent-
atives of the Anti-
Defamation League and an-
other with representatives of
other national agencies.
Several participants in the
broader group meeting, held
on Sept. 28, came away feel-
ing reassured by Mr. Mfume.
The caucus chairman told
them that he had been
quoted out of context and
that he had spoken of a
covenant with Mr. Far-
rakhan, as well as with
churches, mosques and syn-
agogues.
During the meeting, Mr.
Mfume "clarified w1 iat had
actually happened. The
caucus did not embrace Far-
rakhan," said Arthur

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