Tracey Celebrates African-American History
Relations Between Blacks and Jews Focus of Assemblyman's Address

By JULES RUBENSTEIN

Two state assemblymen, one black, the other Jewish, reflected on the contributions of African-Americans through U.S. history at a recent brunch in Bedford Park's Tracey Towers.

For the fifth consecutive year, the networking committee of the predominantly black housing complex on West Mosholu Parkway South acknowledged Black History Month with an entertaining and informative affair the morning of Saturday, Feb. 27, with gospel music, poetry, a performance by the Bronx Dance Theatre, and addresses by local Assemblyman Jeff Klein and Harlem Assemblyman Keith Wright.

Klein used his remarks to address the rift that some see developing between the African-American and Jewish communities.

"Traditionally, the Jewish and African-American communities have depended on each other to serve as advocates [against] the social ills that plague our society," Klein said.

As examples, Klein reminisced about Jewish participation in the civil rights struggle and the key role of African-American GIs in liberating the concentration camps of Europe.

As a matter of fact," Klein said, "the Jews were one of the first groups to walk hand in hand with African-American civil rights leaders in the dangerous marches which helped to abolish the lingering era of hatred and inequality that exploded in the 1960s."

"Yet in the 1990s, every sound bite on your TV proclaims that this relationship has deteriorated into misunderstanding and apathy," he said. "What can be done to strengthen the relationship between these two communities?" Klein called for new alliances between the groups, both of which have suffered disproportionate prejudice.

Klein shared a story told to him by his grandfather Jack, who lost most of his family in the Holocaust. Jack's friend, Morrie Katz, was spared, however, by the American invasion of the Methusen concentration camp.

"He remembers the day when he mustered all of his courage and all of his strength and ran to the gates when the American soldiers were coming upon the camp," Klein said. "And he remembers grabbing hold, on to an American soldier -- he remembers looking into his eyes. Because what he saw in his eyes wasn't only an American soldier but truly a messenger of God."

Katz's savior was an African-American master-sergeant in the U.S. Army, Ernest Williams, part of the all-black 761st Tank Battalion.

"It must have been ironic when Sgt. Williams ... a man who was actually a grandson of a slave, experienced first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust," Klein said.

"Mr. Katz and Sgt. Williams can teach us a very valuable lesson," said the assemblyman. "It's a lesson that means that our communities should not look at each other in different ways, but accept and offer help, without regard to the color of our skin."

"We both together have suffered too many years to get caught up in a web of suspicion," he said. "We should go back to the relationship that we once had."

Guest speaker Keith Wright, Manhattan assemblyman and chairman of the African-American and Latino Legislative Caucus, sketched the biographies of several prominent figures in African-American history, then turned to the present.

"I see why Black History month is so important despite everything that is wrong, despite all the injustices and prejudice, despite all the adversities past, present and future," Wright said. "It's all good, because through it all, African-Americans continue to strive and continue to achieve."

"We continue to reach new heights," Wright said. "Look at May Jemison, the first black woman in space."

"We continue to set new records -- look at our sports heroes Michael Jordan, Florence Griffith Joyner, in track and field," he said. "We continue to be the conscience of people ... we continue to set the tone -- look at [hip-hop singer] Lauryn Hill ... who grabbed all the Grammys just this week."

"Black History Month is about people even in the face of adversity who soar. It is about remembering where we came from, being honest about where we are, and, Wright said, "figuring out where we need to be in the future."

Other public figures who participated in the Tracey celebration were Congressman Eliot Engel, State Sen. Eric Schneiderman, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, and School Board 10 President Charles Williams.

In addition, Assemblyman Klein presented New York State Assembly Awards to Tracey residents Brenda Caldwell, Cynthia O'Neal Riley and D'Ann St. Paul. The Assembly singled out Caldwell for her work in fighting recent bus stop changes that affected Tracey residents.

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