Template:Did you know nominations/Ben Burns

Ben Burns

 * ... that Ben Burns, a pioneering editor of black publications, was once asked by a printing salesman if he were "Negro or white", and he answered "Neither, I'm Jewish."?
 * Comment: Not a self-nom. --PFHLai (talk) 01:48, 26 August 2012 (UTC)

Created/expanded by Bernie44 (talk). Nominated by PFHLai (talk) at 01:48, 26 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Symbol question.svg interesting article on an unusual person, well sourced. The hook: it is a bit complicated, and I don't find it on the page given (63). I suggest to word something about him working in black publications early on - while he was white and Jewish, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:17, 2 September 2012 (UTC)
 * I found it on page 136, rather than page 63. Typo? Please let me check with the author. --PFHLai (talk) 21:57, 3 September 2012 (UTC)
 * You are correct, it is on page 136. My mistake. I have made the correction to the article. Thank you. --Bernie44 (talk) 00:58, 4 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Thank you, both! That leaves the question how to mention in the hook that he is white, - I think that would make it "hookier", --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:58, 4 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Could it just be something like: ... that Ben Burns, a pioneering white editor of black publications, was once asked if he were "Negro or white," and he answered, "Neither, I'm Jewish"? --Bernie44 (talk) 14:16, 4 September 2012 (UTC)
 * playing with it, simpler (perhaps no need to link Jewish):
 * ALT2: ... that Ben Burns, a pioneering white editor of black publications, answered if he was "Negro or white" saying: "Neither, I'm Jewish"? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:24, 4 September 2012 (UTC)
 * ALT3 (slight tweak): ... that Ben Burns, a pioneering white editor of black publications, answered if he was "Negro or white" by saying: "Neither, I'm Jewish"? And I agree, probably no need to link Jewish. Is there a need to link white and black?--Bernie44 (talk) 14:46, 4 September 2012 (UTC)
 * Symbol confirmed.svg ALT3 (delinked white, but black makes sense to me) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:26, 4 September 2012 (UTC)