
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 18, 1994                   TAG: 9404190020
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By AJENE QUILLIN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RACIAL STRUGGLE

AS A Southern-born African-American, I have become deeply disturbed at the ever-widening schism between African-Americans and Jews.

While it may be true that "one who forgets his history is condemned to relive it," it is incumbent on us to clearly know what that past was. The recent unfortunate controversy between the B'nai B'rith and the Nation of Islam is not only a case in point, it also involves two populations with long histories of struggle and oppression: Jews and African-Americans.

While there is little doubt about Jewish involvement in the African slave trade, there is equally little doubt about the involvement of Islamic Arabs in this despicable enterprise.

Let us not forget that Jewish involvement has been varied and deep in assisting African-Americans on our long, torturous road to freedom and equality. Many were involved in the abolitionist movement. Jews played a pivotal role in the founding of the NAACP. Many gave generously to the bare civil-rights coffers when funds were desperately needed to keep many of its organizations afloat.

I have not forgotten the three young men - African-American James Chaney and the Jews Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwer-ner - found murdered in a cold Neshoba County, Miss., grave.

Some in the African-American community will argue that many of the Jews' contributions were rooted in their wish to "piggyback" the civil-rights movement to further their own agenda. While this may be true in some instances, history has shown that many an alliance has been based on a common history of struggling to overcome herculean odds, at least in the main. (Remember the alliances forged between runaway slaves and Native Americans?)

The fact is that huge contributions in spirit and blood were made by many non-African-Americans to the civil human-rights struggle. Whatever strides were made could not have been made through our efforts alone.

The stark and shadowy existence of "institutional racism" continues to hover over and permeate its stench into America's premier institutions. Its entertainment industry continues to thrive on sardonic stereotypes. "Red-lining" continues to be a staple in the housing industry. The "glass ceiling" syndrome continues to predominate in the executive suites of America's commerce and industry.

Institutional racism must be rooted out if this nation is to go forward.

Let's not, however, issue any blanket condemnations. We probably have more friends (and allies) than we think we have.

Ajene Quillin of Lexington is a youth worker with the Department of Youth and Family Services at the Natural Bridge Learning Center.

by CNB