Israel Matzav

'Martin Luther King would have faulted Farrakhan, Sharpton and Jackson'

Debbie Schlussel blogs a Wall Street Journal article on "What would Martin say," a new book written by Martin Luther King's former lawyer Clarence Jones.

I can say with absolute certainty that Martin abhorred anti-Semitism in all its forms, including anti-Zionism. "There isn't anyone in this country more likely to understand our struggle than Jews," Martin told me. "Whatever progress we've made so far as a people, their support has been essential."

Martin was disheartened that so many blacks could be swayed by Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam and other black separatists, rejecting his message of nonviolence, and grumbling about "Jew landlords" and "Jew interlopers" - even "Jew slave traders." The resentment and anger displayed toward people who offered so much support for civil rights was then nascent. But it has only festered and grown over four decades. Today, black-Jewish relations have arguably grown worse, not better.

For that, Martin would place fault principally on the shoulders of black leaders such as Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson - either for making anti-Semitic statements, inciting anti-Semitism (including violence), or failing to condemn overt anti-Semitism within the black community.

As Debbie points out, the people who need to read this the most are unfortunately the least likely to be reading the Wall Street Journal.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:38 AM