Blacks, Jews Share History and Hopes

Preceding last night's long-awaited viewing of "The Liberators," the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson urged Blacks and Jews to find common ground and work together.

At a press conference at the Faculty Club Jackson called today's America a "civilization in crisis" because of racism, economic difficulties and other social dilemmas.

"African-Americans and Jews have an obligation to come together. Our survival is at stake, and we share common values, dreams, and hopes," Jackson said.

Jackson helped to organize the screening of "The Liberators," a film chronicling the role of Black troops in the Allied capture of Nazi death camps, at Sanders Theatre last night.

Jackson stressed the importance of including all people in this "coalition" so that cultural diversity can prevail over the Nazis' "cultural cleansing."

Jackson said the Black and Jewish communities are largely ignorant of the important role Blacks played during World War II.

He said they are also unaware that Black soldiers had to fight for their right to serve in the military, "which was a thoroughly racist institution."

"There's not much appreciation of our being together at the moment of the most agony of the Jewish people," Jackson said. "We fought to free each other and the nation....we shared blood and graves."

"Eli Wiesel said that the first thing he saw upon being liberated was a Black soldier weeping," he added.

Recently, Jackson has been active in contract negotiations for the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers, and last week he met with President Clinton to discuss the lack of democracy in Haiti.

Paul Parks, who is Black, participated in the liberation of Dachau as a soldier and is now chair of the Boston School Committee, and Rabbi Sally Finestone, acting director of Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel were also at the press conference.

In concluding his talk, Jackson said hope should prevail over fear, and negotiation should prevail over confrontation in Black-Jewish relations.

"If we will turn to each other, not on each other, we will be able to make it happen," Jackson said.

"Students here should be a great part in spreading this message around the nation," he added

Jackson said the Black and Jewish communities are largely ignorant of the important role Blacks played during World War II.

He said they are also unaware that Black soldiers had to fight for their right to serve in the military, "which was a thoroughly racist institution."

"There's not much appreciation of our being together at the moment of the most agony of the Jewish people," Jackson said. "We fought to free each other and the nation....we shared blood and graves."

"Eli Wiesel said that the first thing he saw upon being liberated was a Black soldier weeping," he added.

Recently, Jackson has been active in contract negotiations for the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers, and last week he met with President Clinton to discuss the lack of democracy in Haiti.

Paul Parks, who is Black, participated in the liberation of Dachau as a soldier and is now chair of the Boston School Committee, and Rabbi Sally Finestone, acting director of Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel were also at the press conference.

In concluding his talk, Jackson said hope should prevail over fear, and negotiation should prevail over confrontation in Black-Jewish relations.

"If we will turn to each other, not on each other, we will be able to make it happen," Jackson said.

"Students here should be a great part in spreading this message around the nation," he added