Black Charges of Jewish Racism in the Entertainment Industry

I was thunderstruck by The Times’ scathing and defamatory assault on me and my presentation before the NAACP convention (editorial, July 13). In an attempt to isolate and marginalize me and to trivialize my views, you stated that I was the only panelist who made reference to Jewish influence in Hollywood. Actress Marla Gibbs also spoke to this point and neither of us intended our views to be anti-Semitic.

Ninety-nine percent of my speech focused on the responsibility of black artists, directors and producers to improve the image of African-Americans in the movie industry. To facilitate this, I suggested many things, among which was a summit meeting between black and Jewish leaders centered on the elimination of Jewish racism in Hollywood. Contrary to your editorial, I presented no “anti-Semitic calumnies and conspiratorial innuendoes.”

For years a number of African-Americans have attempted to dialogue with Jews at the Westside Jewish Center, the Human Relations Commission and the Alliance of Black and Jewish Clergy about specific, stereotypical films that were produced, promoted and directed by Jews. Each time our complaints were ignored or dismissed as anti-Semitic.

People who are truly anti-Semitic would rather huddle in closets and whisper bitterly of a Jewish conspiracy against blacks in the film industry. I, on the other hand, sensing the smoldering discontent of African-Americans--and desiring interracial harmony--have called for a summit meeting between blacks and Jews to clear the air.

If The Times were as concerned about black stereotypes in films as it is prone to sound false alarms of anti-Semitism, my reputation might have been spared the smear of your editorial; because you, rather than I, would have had the fortitude to request a dialogue long before passions reached fever pitch.

LEGRAND H. CLEGG II, Chairman

Coalition Against Black Exploitation

Compton