An open letter to the Jewish community

Negative stereotypes, when spoken or written, build ill will. For years negative stereotypes have perpetuated racial friction and conflict. In a speech presented at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as pastor, President Barack Obama said: “…the scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community.” Further, Obama stated: “The division, the stereotypes, scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others — all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face — war and poverty; injustice and inequality.”

Unfortunately, that scourge and divisiveness showed up in our community when The Call’s Eric Wesson made anti-Semitic comments in an e-mail that was posted on Tony’s KC Blog in June. As a civil-rights organization, we at the Urban League were both saddened and angered by Mr. Wesson’s lack of professionalism, insensitivity, disrespect, intolerance and misunderstanding relative to the situation. Further, we were left speechless after reading Mr. Wesson’s apology on the aforementioned blog and his subsequent op-ed piece, “Let’s Talk About the Elephant In The Room,” published in The Call on June 19, 2009. Both writings failed to hit the mark in reconciling this matter.

A simple apology, unfettered with empty rhetoric and implausible claims of ignorance, would have sufficed.

Since its inception, the Urban League, nationally and locally, has worked side by side with the Jewish community to confront the systems and institutional practices that have impeded our progress as we work toward social and economic parity. Certainly, the strength of the ties that bind blacks and Jews will continue to sustain our relationships.

So rather than focus on the details of this unfortunate incident, let us continue to move forward in unity to strengthen African-American and Jewish relations through constructive, authentic dialogue. Let us continue our efforts to make race relations understandable, to debunk myths and stereotypes, to find common ground and goals, and to foster a climate of respect and appreciation between different races, cultures, and ethnicities in greater Kansas City. And where there is ignorance, let us continue to educate.

Earlier this year, U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder came under fire for remarks he made in a speech at the Department of Justice African-American History Month Program where he said: “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race.”

We, like Holder, believe that candid, substantive dialogue on race can lead to the development of authentic relationships. And we believe it is through authentic relationships bound by mutual respect and appreciation that we can take concerted action to create the change we want to see in our communities.

Together, we can make a world of difference.

In solidarity,

The staff of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City

Gwendolyn Grant, president & CEO
Melva Brownlee, vice president for resource & fund development & operations
Michelle Gines, director of outreach & marketing – Career Marketplace
Adrienne Harris, receptionist
Dawn Hickman, director of education programs and leadership development
Albert Nyakatura, senior vice president & CFO
Benita Ugoline, director – Career Marketplace Program

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