Speech #960277541

He number of Soviet citizens. opened his studio in Harlem in 1916. The letter follows: and his photographs document black JULY 18. 1980. life in the 1920s and 1930s. principalTo President LEoiNI BRz=HNEv: ly life in Harlem during this era. His Emigration policy is one of the important images had been seen in the general criteria in measuring the humanity of the press for many years. but he was never Soviet Union. The subject of liberalizing nationally recognized until 1969. after emigration policy has been brought to the he had been taking pictures for almost attention of the Soviet leaders many times 70 years. A ajor exhiit was put toas well as to social and religious activists in ....... ... .. ... other nations. Now. just before the Moscow gether in 1969 at the Metropolitan Olympics it is extremely important toelimi- Museum of Art * * * "Harlem On My nate circumstances which can cause a cool- Mind". $ * * James Van Der Zee was ing of the international climate. the principal exhibitor. Therefore. we think that showing human- Van Der Zee. who continues to lecity and good will to those who are in prisons ture on photography. was the subject and in exile who were trying to emigrate of a segment of the television show. and also to those waiting many years to Join "Black Journal." and. in 1979. received their families in Israel will better the atmosphere in international affairs and will help the Living Legacy Award from Presito avoid concerns for the participants in the dent Carter. There are 125 of his phoMoscow Olympics. tographs currently on exhibit at the At this unstable time we demand: Oakland Museum. depicting black life Release those imprisoned and exiled for in every major U.S. city during the applying to emigrate from the Soviet Union. period of 1926 to 1940. All of the phoGrant exit visas to families who are wait- tographs are black and white. Ing to Join their relatives in Israel for more Mr. Van Der Zee has brought than 5 years. Har rena e to ak t Maximum waiting time for exit visas not Harlem renaissance to Oakland to to exceed 5 years. share the history and culture of blacks There is no doubt that when these de- through his photographs. and I am exmands are realzed. they will contribute to a tremely proud and pleased.* CXXVI1203Part 15