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Marian Wright Edelman: Still Hungry in America
Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan has written to the leaders of several major U.S. Jewish institutions asking that they work to repair the damage he says they have done to black people for centuries.
The request is a return to Farrakhan's past public condemnations of Jewish people for what he has calls long-standing crimes against black people.
But by writing to leading Jewish groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League, which released copies of the letter to the news media, Farrakhan has turned up the volume in his decades-long crusade to confront Jewish leaders.
My question is exactly is Farrakhan hoping to accomplish with this latest move? He can't expect to win reparations for what he believes are legitimate grievances against Jewish people.
Farrakhan also can't be looking to open any meaningful dialogue with Jewish leaders, who dismissed him as a raving anti-Semite a long time ago.
Perhaps Farrakhan, 77, who has been out of the mainstream media spotlight for years, simply felt the itch to galvanize his supporters and again confront a truth he believes has gone untold for too long.
Farrakhan has long ago cemented his place in our history as an intelligent, complex, fascinating and divisive leader of black people. His uncompromising messages of self-help and self-reliance are exactly the tonic for what ills black America. He is also right to point out that white racism has laid the groundwork for much of our suffering.
But every time he singles out and targets the Jewish community for his wrath, it leaves me screaming "WHY?"
Even if you accept every word of Farrakhan's version of how Jewish people have treated blacks, have no other people of the world treated blacks poorly? And don't we as black people bear some responsibility for our condition today?
Please excuse me if I choose to tune out. Anyone who has observed American race relations to any degree in the past years has seen this show before.
Farrakhan makes a statement attacking Jewish treatment of blacks; Jewish leaders angrily react and denounce Farrakhan as anti-Semitic. Then, after a brief stare-down, both sides return to their corners until the next outbreak of hostilities.
Nothing accomplished; nothing gained.
Comments: (116)
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By: T. Johnson on 7/01/2010 3:17AM
Maybe he's merely complicating the fact that Black folks ONLY talk about White racism...and maybe the fact that we don't discuss other groups and our history is somewhat in need of revision.
PS- And TRUST, Farrakhan has NO problem talking about what Black people do to each other...
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By: mswll4 on 7/01/2010 6:39AM
Now the jews hurt black people. First the whites, then the mexicans, then the italians, then the ACT. The only people i see hurting COLOREDS is COLOREDS.
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By: selfish people on 7/02/2010 7:52PM
All muslims are anti-Christ.
Muslims hate Jewish people because Ishmael didnt get the promise although he was Abrahams first born. The promise and inheritance went to Isaac, the first born of promise by God.
Jewish people are anti-Christ too.
I wonder if Black folks are anti-Christ?
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By: shad on 7/03/2010 4:58PM
@selfish..you are wrong all muslims arent anti-christ...go read a history book...learn before yapping your mouth
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By: JAY on 7/12/2010 10:52PM
Hey T. Johnson you are exactly right. And to that blind MF that wrote the article thats why the JEWS are successful at what the minister was talking about. Just look at hollywood and the music industry and the misrepresentation and the untold stories their.
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By: Josh on 7/01/2010 7:50AM
The only duty the Minister has, is to deliver a clear message. It is not up to him what people choose to do with the clear message. Even if noone takes heed to what he says, they will not be able to say he did not tell them. Jesus had the same confrontation with the Jews in his day.
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By: BG on 7/01/2010 1:58AM
First, I hold Mr. Farrakhan to my highest esteem for what he stands for. We have to have a voice, and if this man is the epitome of the voice, my regards to him.
I don't know about the Jews and the damage inflicted on the black people but I want to call our attention and Mr. Farrakhan to one of the news here on this web: CALIFORNIA NAACP BACKS POT LEGALIZATION. Read.
While I understand their path of reasoning, I think their solution to the problem facing blacks sounds illogical.
Let's face it, blacks are self destructive, and the NAACP's position is an incendiary to our demise and redemption will not come easy from the Jews or reparation thereof.
To hold the Jews responsible for our desolation, will be to hold the slave traders in Africa responsible for selling their blood brothers, sisters, and children into slavery to begin with.
I believe Obama should have met Farrakhan and shun the stigma attached to him. I don't see anything wrong in somebody standing up to say "FREE MY PEOPLE FROM ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL OPPRESSION" in the first place.
Our remaining black leaders and elders and politicians and scholars and the insignificant, do-nothing NAACP should devote energy in fighting the system and let Obama know that the blacks have not made any improvement under this administration. Infact, we faired better under Clinton than under Obama. It's getting worse.
Tell Obama: It's looking like you are going to be a one term president and we may never have another black president in generation to come. Before your time is up , see to it that we black people are freed from OPPRESSION, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL RESTRAINT. These we want BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY.
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By: bobbie on 7/01/2010 2:47AM
LOL. I'm cracking my side thinking of the "Black leaders" you say we have. Surely, Sharpton is not counted among them. Jesse too. Embarrassing.
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By: GDaniels on 7/01/2010 2:05AM
Wow, what an ignorant post. Since when did we as a people be limited to addressing one or more of the oppressors of our people. Please, I hope you tune out. And at the same time if you tune out then stop conversing on matters such as this one; you obviously have a limited knowledge of the history between the two people. Perhaps you should read the book... I am sure that from your response you have not read the first. I have. And from that premise I know that this is a conversation that MUST be had. Are you telling our leaders who are pushing for reperations from the American government to fall back? I doubt it, and if you are then that furthers my point. I thank God for the Ministers works, as he is out doing and saying the things that most journalists, and so called-leaders don't even have the heart to think. Peace
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By: bobbie j on 7/01/2010 2:39AM
He bought out some very good points in this message. In the end though, it left me wondering if he's referring to himself and Elijah Muhammid as the Messiah. He didn't give any gound breaking info. Seems like he believes he did. One need only google "Black Hebrews/Israelites." He's an old man now. I pray he truly find ...Jesus the Christ before he exit this world. And, if he already knows Him...Praise God.
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