
Rochelle Wilner President	Frank Dimant Chief Executive Officer	Prof. Stephen Scheinberg National Chair

Blacks & Jews in Dialogue

Racism and Reparations in Durban

By Norman L. Epstein

We have had three months to digest the controversial conference at Durban. Three days after its conclusion, we absorbed the dramatic events of September 11^th. Black and Jews in Dialogue on November 27^th have revisited the Durban conference with a post hoc analysis of two of the most conspicuous issues — Reparations of Black Slaves and the climate of hate against Jews by Arab and Islamic countries. Dr. Karen Mock, Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and an active participant at the NGO (non-government organizations) segment of the conference and Mr. Lennox Farrell, an educator and long-time community activist, spoke eloquently about the intricacies of these issues.

Dr. Mock spoke first explaining the background to the conference. There were regional meetings prior to the official conference which would raise issues that could be part of the final draft of declarations. Out of the African bloc and the Organization of American States (Canada and U.S. excluded) the issue of reparations evolved. In Tehran, Feb./01 the Islamic and Asian Bloc met and rekindled the "Zionism is Racism" long rescinded by the U.N. in 1991. Even Kofi Annan, the U.N. secretary said at the time that this resolution was a “blotch” and a “dark time” on the world body. But that never stopped the extreme and pernicious language to re-emerge such as ‘genocide’ ‘ethnic cleansing’ and ‘apartheid’ to isolate Israel and vilify Zionism. These issues were to presented at NGO portion at Durban in advance of the government members who would ratify the final draft. Canada , as well as the U.S. were part of WEOG (Western Europe and other Governments).

Mr. Farrell spoke about Reparations as one of the salient principles of Durban — acknowledging and redressing past wrongs and appropriate compensation. Just as Japanese were wrongfully interned and compensated during WWII , ancestors of Black Slaves merit similar compensation. Farrell’s thesis is that reparations not only would acknowledge African enslavement but achieve European rehabilitation to bring resolution to this stain on world history. African slavery not only caused the transplantation of a people to Europe and the Americas, the summary executions of many, and the plundering of a continent but left a legacy of racism and poverty . Not only the obvious, denial of civil rights in the U.S. and apartheid in South Africa; but European conquerors assured that most African intellectuals and leaders were exterminated. As a consequence, when African independence was won in the mid 20^th century, the continent was left with thugs and brutal dictators who were concerned only with power and self- interest sending Africa into a further abyss.

Questions will be raised such as “who will pay” and “who will receive”? Just as African Slavery started through economic motives, so the stonewalling of reparations shares the same motives. There are legal arguments which contend that African Slavery occurred at a time when slavery was legal so these countries are, therefore, not liable now. But there is an issue that transcends the law and that is morality — it is the right thing to do and that according to Mr. Farrell necessitates “healing”.

Karen Mock spoke again, of the environment that permeated the conference. The intimidation of Jewish groups who were shouted down when trying to speak. Posters and pamphlets were disseminated depicting Jews with stereotypical hooked noses with swastikas superimposed over Star of David’s dripping blood. This was presented by the supposed respectable Union of Arab Lawyers. The mostly widely visible publication was The Protocols of the Elders of Zion the most virulent of antisemitic fabrications ever written. Every element of European anti-Semitism had been imported into Middle Eastern lexicon as the frontal assault on Jews and Israel was assiduously pursued at Durban. It was not unusual to hear verbal taunts such as “killers, killers” to “it is too bad Hitler did not finish the job.” Tragically, a conference that was dedicated to eradicating racial, religious and cultural hatred, spurned so much of it.

Blacks and Jews in Dialogue stand together to ensure that racism and Anti-Semitism is abominable and unacceptable in any form and BJD will work to eliminate it. Furthermore, the wounds of past wrongs, such as Black Slavery needs to be recognized unequivocally and appropriately compensated for the scars to heal.

BJD believes that the sum of these two groups working together is greater and stronger in reaching its goals of a better society.

Please join on Tuesday, December 18^th, 2001 for our annual "Holiday Sharing Celebration" at the B’nai Brith Building, 15 Hove Street at 7:00 p.m. The theme of this year’s get-together is: Learning, Games, Songs & Carols, and Food. We encouraged families and children to attend, and to celebrate and share their traditions and songs.

Report an Anti-Semitic/Racist Incident 1-800 892-BNAI

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