Remember
When • •
Message Of The Movement
NAACP's Julian Bond stresses continuing need
to stem racism and discrimination.
DON COHEN
Special to the Jewish News
inorities serve society like the canaries that
miners used to carry," said civil-rights advo-
cate Julian Bond, as his diverse audience of
about 400 listened attentively at Temple
Beth El. "But too many people want to put gas masks on
the canaries instead of eliminating the poison in the air."
And, while not discounting the substantial progress that
has been made in law and in practice, Bond's address,
"Justice and the American Dream," pointed out that there
is still too much poison in the air. He urged his listeners to
heed a civil rights "movement message" that "people move
forward fastest when they move forward together."
Now in his fifth term as board chairman of the National
Association for the
Advancement of
Colored People
(NAACP), Bond pre-
sented the Milton M.
Alexander Memorial lec-
ture May 10 at Beth El's
Friday night services in
Bloomfield Township.
Greeted with a stand-
ing ovation, Bond gave
a wide-ranging talk
grounded in his person-
al experiences. They
include his work as a
professor of government at American University and of his-
tory at the University of Virginia.
He quoted the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir,
saying, "Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew cannot allow him-
self," then declared himself as a kindred optimist.
Bond recounted how when his grandfather was born, "he
and his mother were property, like a horse or a chair." Even
now, he said all the gains have not been made, and that
racism and discrimination still require our personal and
communal attention.
"The [Bush] administration's two goals — retaliation
against terrorists abroad and promotion of tolerance at
home — are reminiscent of the Double V campaign blacks
waged during World War II: victory against fascism abroad
and racism at home.
"With the events of Sept. 11, we realize we have not yet
achieved either victory — not yet against tyranny abroad
— not yet against racism here at home."
While focusing on the rich history of black and Jewish
iff
5/17
2002
32
unity that has characterized the civil rights struggle, Bond •
also addressed the issue of "affirmative action" that has
caused some disunity.
He said, "Some argue that affirmative action carries a
stigma that attaches to all blacks — as if we never suffered
any stigma in the years before the phrase 'affirmative
action' was heard.
"Why isn't this same argument made about the millions
of whites got into college [through] a 'legacy' because dad
was an alumnus?" he asked.
"Since the nation was founded, all our elite professions
have been the special preserve of white men — and they
remain so today," Bond charged before musing, "I seriously
doubt if a single one of these men is suffering low self-esteem
because his race or gender helped him win his position."
• "It was truly -wonderful to listen to this man," said Beth El
"With the events of Sept. 11, we
realize we have not yet achieved
either victory — not yet against
tyranny abroad — not yet
against racism here at home."
— Julian Bond
member Elaine Schoenberger. "Bond spoke about the virtues I've
grown up with, that my father lived and instilled in his family."
Myrtice Macon of Bloomfield Hills attended the lecture
because Rabbi Daniel Syme extended an invitation to Rev.
Dr. Charles Adams and his congregation at Hartford
Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit. Macon, who had
been to Temple Beth El previously, was glad to see several
doctors she knew from when she was staff anesthesiologist
at Sinai Hospital of Detroit.
"It is wonderful to be a part of the lecture series," she
noted at a reception following the talk. "The whole experi-
ence reminds us of our commonalities."
Bond's talk made Jen Zeidman of Farmington Hills
think how much better things would be without racism.
"It was real interesting," she said. "It could change the
future if we eliminate prejudice."
Her friend April Crnovrsanin of Clinton Township
offered a way to do it. "We need to accept people as they
are," she said, "not judge by what race they are."
From the Jewish News pages this week
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years ago.
1992
A 425-year old Jewish cemetery in
Lipnik, Czechoslovakia, has been
restored 50 years after Nazis convert-
ed the sacred grounds into a park.
Temple Beth El adopts the
Woodward Malcolm X Academy in
Detroit, donating 600 preschool
and elementary books.
1982
Detroit Joseph Handleman, past
president of American Red Magen
David for Israel, is awarded an hon-
orary degree of law at Dropsie
University.
Young Israel of Oak-Woods holds
a mortgage-burning ceremony.
197.
A $40,000 Jewish Welfare Grant
provides for a Jewish history profes-
sor at the University of Michigan in
Ann Arbor.
Detroiter I. Murray Jacobs is
supervising the plans for the 43rd
annual convention of the National
Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs
to be held in Miami Beach.
1962
Igor Stravinsky will conduct the
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra dur-
ing the Second Israel Music Festival.
Young Israel of Northwest
Detroit will dedicate its new struc-
ture on Wyoming.
951
Rabbi B. Benedict Glazer of
Temple Beth El in Detroit unex-
pectedly dies. Funeral services will
be held at Temple Beth El. -
The Landsmanschaft Council
plans celebrations for Israel's fourth
anniversary.
19 2
The Jewish Welfare Board
announces kosher food will be
made available at army posts for
men in the military.
Mrs. J. E. Gould is elected presi-
dent of Detroit Chapter of
Hadassah.
— Compiled by Holly Teasdle,
CA Archivist,
Rabbi Leo M. Franklin Archives
Temple Beth El