This illustrated companion volume delves into the intricate and often fraught relationship between the African American and Jewish communities in the United States. It seeks to examine their shared history of suffering, persecution, and dedication to civil rights, while also acknowledging and exploring the present-day rifts that exist between them.
Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Luther King Jr. during the Selma to Montgomery march
A Shared History of Struggle
The book features contributions from a diverse group of black and Jewish scholars, journalists, and leaders. These voices offer a multifaceted perspective on the historical connections and points of convergence between the two communities.
In linked 1964 articles, Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Luther King Jr. commit themselves to the dual causes of civil rights and Soviet Jewry. Their words highlight a period of close collaboration and mutual support in the fight against injustice and oppression.
David Levering Lewis's 1984 piece focuses on the assimilationist strategies of black and Jewish elites from 1910 to the early 1930s. This essay sheds light on the ways in which both groups navigated the challenges of integration into American society, often employing similar tactics and facing similar obstacles.
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In a 1963 essay, then-liberal Norman Podhoretz exudes guilt over his hatred and fear of blacks. This candid reflection offers a glimpse into the complex and often uncomfortable dynamics of race relations in America during the Civil Rights era.
Growing Tensions and Fractures
While the book acknowledges the historical alliance between African Americans and Jews, it also addresses the growing tensions and fractures that have emerged in recent decades. A 1984 piece by Barbara Smith reveals how uncomfortable black feminists are with opposing anti-Semitism.
However, the book has shortcomings. For example, the absence of analyses of the 1991 murder of Yankel Rosenbaum in Brooklyn's Crown Heights and City College professor Leonard Jeffries's anti-Semitic remarks, also that year, is notable.
Taylor Branch's sharp 1989 dissection of black-Jewish tensions in Chicago is an anomaly here.
Historic Significance of Relationship Between Blacks and Jews (October 27, 2020)
Key Figures and Events
The book touches upon several key figures and events that have shaped the relationship between the two communities:
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- Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel: Their collaboration in the Civil Rights Movement symbolized a powerful alliance against injustice.
- The Crown Heights Riot (1991): This event marked a significant turning point in black-Jewish relations, exposing deep-seated tensions and resentments.
- Assimilationist Strategies: The book explores the ways in which black and Jewish elites sought to integrate into American society in the early 20th century.
Crown Heights Riot
A Milquetoast Approach?
Some critics argue that the book takes a somewhat cautious approach to the more recent and contentious aspects of black-Jewish relations. It busies itself with glorifying a black-Jewish common history of suffering, persecution and dedication to civil rights and with generally bemoaning the present rift between the two communities, but on the whole it pussyfoots around recent thornier displays of black-Jewish animosity.
Despite these criticisms, the book remains a valuable resource for understanding the complex and evolving relationship between African Americans and Jews in the United States. Salzman directs Columbia University's Center for American Culture Studies.
Summary of Key Events
| Event | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heschel and King's Joint Commitment | 1964 | Both leaders publicly supported civil rights and Soviet Jewry. |
| Crown Heights Riot | 1991 | Tensions escalated following the accidental death of a Black child by a Jewish driver. |
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