Jews and African Americans

December 13, 2013

Jewish Studies Question 9

Jews and African Americans in the 20th Century

Formed on the grounds of mutual oppression, the Black -Jewish relationship in 20th century America was an extremely complex and volatile one. Omitted by the American public from the concept of the land of opportunity, Blacks and Jews shared many similarities in their journey for freedom and acceptance. Although each focused on promoting their own self-interest, the shared values of these groups led the way to an interesting partnership that helped them reach their goals whilst at the same time this relationship internally perpetuated the stereotypes they were attempting to eradicate from white perceptions.

First established through the slave trade early African American and Jewish relations in the United States can be viewed almost identical to that of the Black White relationship. Northern Jews opposed slavery, as did most northern whites and southern Jews like their white neighbors supported the idea of slavery in America. Some Jews spoke out against slavery, aligning the American slave trade to their time of oppression in Egypt. However until the late 19th early 20th century Jewish relations with blacks were for the most part undistinguishable from the rest of the white population.( Adams, Maurianne,)

The beginning of African American and Jewish relations in regards to civil rights can be traced to the intersection of two major streams of migration. With the abolishment of slavery Blacks during the “Great Migration” (Greenberg, Cheryl. )traveled north hoping to find work in cities amongst a people that had been in support of their fight for freedom. At the same time Jews were fleeing Europe with similar aspirati...

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...one another and made much advancement for both groups. However eventually the self-interest of Jews and a reluctantly of the American people to accept equality for all, strained the relationship to a point where both parties fell victim to the same ignorance they had fought for so long.

Sources:

Franklin, Grant, Nancy, et. al. (eds.). African Americans and Jews in the Twentieth Century. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1999.

Adams, Maurianne, Strangers & neighbors: relations between Blacks & Jews in the United States, 2000.American Century. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010.

Kaufman, Jonathon, Broken alliance: the turbulent times between Blacks and Jews in America, 1995

Greenberg, Cheryl. "Black-Jewish Relations in the United States." Http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. N.p., 2008. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.