Black Christian Broadcaster Urges Jewish-African American Alliance
by Chad Groening
March 10, 2005
(AgapePress) - A conservative pastor and Christian broadcaster is urging Israeli officials to pursue a closer relationship with the black community in America -- particularly, he observes, since Jews and blacks have much in common in terms of their cultural experiences: their traditions of struggle and deliverance.Glenn Plummer, the outgoing chairman and chief executive officer of the National Religious Broadcasters, recently spoke at this year's NRB Convention in Anaheim, where he addressed an audience that included members of the Israeli Knesset. In his talk, he drew out the many similarities he sees between the historical struggles of American citizens of African descent and people of Jewish heritage.
Plummer advised the Knesset members that many cultural commonalities exist which could serve as the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship between blacks and Jews. "I think they received it," he says, "and I think it's worth pursuing."
The similarities between the two diasporas are noteworthy. For instance, Plummer points out, the Jewish people were once enslaved, and saw their people delivered from captivity and oppression by the hand of God. "The black community here in America was also in bondage," the broadcaster says, "and God brought black Americans out of slavery."
And while black slaves' deliverance was not without bloodshed, Plummer notes that their ultimate liberation was accomplished largely by divine intervention, "without weapons of warfare." In other words, he asserts, "Blacks didn't rise up and fight their way out of slavery -- it was God all by Himself that brought them out, had the laws change, had other races of people -- whites and Jews and others -- standing for them."
And because blacks and Jews have so much in common, the outgoing NRB chairman says he thinks Jews should work towards developing the same kind of relationship with blacks that they currently have with the largely pro-Israel Evangelical Christian community.
"Because you have so much in common," Plummer says, "and because blacks in America are predominantly Christian and respect the Bible -- that's a great group of people that you all can pursue like you have Evangelicals and create a relationship with." He adds that by forging ties with black America, the Jewish community can have a sort of "second tier of friends" that will stand with Israel biblically and offer their support.
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
