Mr. Farrakhan arrived at a private home this morning with members of his family and some very large bodyguards. Resplendent in a double-breasted suit, he talked of reconciliation with America's Jews and in terms that seemed, if not desperate, at least terribly urgent. The home was that of James Fowler, the business manager of The Winston-Salem Journal, an arts supporter and a tireless promoter of this event. Mr. Fowler is white.
Mr. Farrakhan acknowledged the symbolism in his playing of music by a European Jew, although he also said he had not known Mendelssohn was Jewish until two years ago. (The Mendelssohn family converted to Christianity.) He plans to repeat the Mendelssohn performance on May 17 in Chicago, both to acknowledge his 60th birthday and to send out more ecumenical messages. This concert is planned to be held in a Christian church and a cantor has been invited to take part. Mr. Farrakhan said the Mendelssohn might be repeated around the country "eight or ten times more." Speaking in a quiet but insistent voice, he said he would "try to do with music what cannot be done with words and try to undo with music what words have done."