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Blacks & Jews in Dialogue

Black-Jewish Dialogue Anniversary

By Rick Kardonne — July 5, 2001

TORONTO - Discussion of the infamous Kenya remark by Mayor Mel Lastman prior to a trip to Mombassa as part of the Toronto 2008 Olympics bid process dominated a candid yet friendly open forum at the B’nai Brith Canada-sponsored Black-Jewish Dialogue Anniversary meeting on June 26. This meeting was part of an ongoing program called Blacks and Jews in Dialogue (BJD) that was established to strengthen the ties between the two communities and to encourage support for one another in struggles for equality.

Opening formalities assured the audience that the friendship would last. BJD-co-chair Morley Wolfe described how he and his BJD-co-chair Arthur Downes grew up in Toronto’s west end in the 1940s and 1950s where Blacks and Jews worked together to successfully overcome racism and antisemitism in the areas of employment and housing discrimination. “Today, if we work together, Jews and Blacks can again come together for the common good,” he concluded.

Karen Mock, National Director of the League of Human Rights (LHR) then honoured people who have actively worked to promote Black-Jewish relations. Norman Epstein; Cassandra Fernandes, Canadian multicultural official for Ontario; human rights activist Jenny Ratanasi-Rodriquez, and Arnold Auguste, editor-publisher of Share Canada’s largest ethnic newspaper received awards.

Mock said, “as soon as Mayor Mel made these remarks, our phones at B’nai Brith began to ring.” The LHR issued a statement on June 22 saying:

“The LHR of BBC was relieved to note that Mayor Mel Lastman apologized immediately and repeatedly for the unfortunate remarks he made with respect to an African country, remarks that were hurtful to all Africans, African Descendants, and indeed to all Torontonians who are proud of our diversity.”

The statement also quoted LHR Ontario Chair Toni Silberman:

“Mayor Lastman’s record on human rights speaks for itself. He has a long history of respecting and promoting diversity within this city, not only on the basis of race but also with regard to other protected grounds such as gender, disability and sexual orientation.”

First to speak from the floor was Fred Poku-Bonsu from Ghana, who, after saying that he had received angry calls from West Africa, stated that Mayor Lastman’s comments negate any positive work he has done in the past.

Barbara Thompson responded by saying: “I am saddened to see the Black community so upset over one comment when we experience so much daily racism. Let us not allow the media to say that only when someone says something that he is racist. I don’t believe that this mayor is necessarily racist. Real racists don’t say that. Don’t lose sight of the goal.”

Wolfe, describing Lastman as a “naïve guy”, said: “Mel spoke from his lip: not his heart. For 20 years both as mayor of North York and then the Toronto megacity, Mel has been a strong advocate of good race relations. Just recently he formed the Toronto Racial Equality Program (TREP) to promote racial harmony. Its recommendation number nine prescribes racial sensitivity training for all city employees, and city councilors, including the mayor himself. It would be malicious to label Mel a racist due to one ignorant remark.”

Hashised Abdi’A, spokesperson for the Somali Canadian Community Club in northwest Toronto, seemed to summarize the feelings of the Black members of the audience, who comprised roughly half of those present: “I voted for Mel. I am deeply hurt by what he said.” But, most importantly, he also vowed that “Mel’s comments will not stop Black-Jewish dialogue.”

Norman Epstein advised that Blacks and Jews move on beyond the issue of Lastman by “not merely reacting to situations but also take on proactive issues” of common interest such as that of the ongoing genocidal war in the Sudan. Morley Wolfe said that in the past, attempts made by B’nai Brith to interest Toronto Black organizations to take action in the Sudan fell on deaf ears. Downes concluded the meeting by stating: “The important thing for us as a (BJD) committee is to keep talking. We will not allow racist remarks to divert us.”

Power Breakfast — December 5, 2000

To contact the Blacks & Jews in Dialogue, League for Human Rights,
consult the B'nai Brith Staff Directory or
email us at bjd@bnaibrith.ca