Gauging Racism and Greed in Hollywood

Thank you for Mathews’ dispassionate article concerning racism in Hollywood. As one who attended the workshop on “Blacks in the Entertainment Industry” at the NAACP convention, I was stunned by the charges of anti-Semitism hurled at panelists Legrand H. Clegg II and Marla Gibbs. Both speakers devoted the bulk of their presentations to urging African-Americans in the film industry to become more self-sufficient and responsible to the needs of the black community.

The remarks made by both panelists about Jewish people were altogether moderate in tone and appropriate in the context of discussing the entertainment industry. Neither panelist claimed that Jewish people are the only movie moguls, but both cited the prominent role of Jews in Hollywood.

KELMAR BOWDEN

Long Beach