FBT Discusses Jeffries

The Freshman Black Table (FBT) last night hosted a heated discussion on Black-Jewish relations at Harvard.

Alvin L. Bragg '95, president of the FBT, said the group chose the topic in the wake of controversy over last week's speech by City University of New York Professor Leonard Jeffries.

"This is not a BSA-Hillel official forum," Braggs said at the opening of the meeting in the Harvard Union, adding that all opinions were the personal reactions of the speakers.

The forum began with questions about the decision by the Black Students Association (BSA) to invite Jeffries to campus.

A white student expressed "disappointment" that the BSA "hadn't spoken to Jewish students on campus" about the invitation. Jeffries has made a number of statements that have been called anti-Semitic.

In response, a Black student asked, "Had Hillel or any other organization been informed, would it have stopped the protest?"

The issue of Black students' applauding Jeffries at the speech was also brought up.

"Just because you support some of what a person is saying doesn't mean you support everything," said one Black student.

A white speaker asked why, if there was only "selective applause" for Jeffries, there was not "selective condemnation" as well.

"Why haven't I seen denunciation of the President's Day celebration?" responded a Black student, noting that the nation's founders' status as slave owners is rarely brought up when they are lauded for their historical contributions.

The problems of sensitivity to bias and the nuances of language were brought up repeatedly.

"There are lots of code words that have been used to insult Jews that are part of my consciousness," said one white student, adding that perhaps not everyone would see these "code words" as biased.

"I think you have to take the Jewish community's word for it that Jeffries is extremely, extremely offensive," another white participant said.

One Black student asked for an unbiased demonstration of the inaccuracy in Jeffries' message.

"If you feel that what Jeffries says is bullshit, than prove to me what he says is bullshit," said a Black student.

Another commented that Black support for Jeffries' words was far from monolithic.

"I think it's time we gave each other a little credit," she said. "Just because it was said doesn't mean I'm going to believe it...I'm not a moron."

Many students expressed hope that Black-Jewish relations at Harvard will be improved through open discussion.

"I hope what comes out of this dialogue is a stronger connection," said a student.