The Detroit News carries an op-ed by Glenn R. Plummer, co-chairman and chief executive of a new group called Fellowship of Israel and Black America, which is a partnership with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. It’s about why African-Americans and Jews should join forces and create friendships, and it’s a welcome voice of support amidst the many shrieks of anger towards Israel and Jews these days.
And it echoes almost exactly a conversation I had with a friend of mine while I was installing her hardware for her new Vonage phone. Her son got a football scholarship to whichever Florida school has the Hurricanes, and will be number 18. I told her that was chai, and what it meant, and that she could even get him a necklace for it, as I know it’s become fashionable for African-Americans to wear Stars of David. I didn’t get that, I said. “It’s about God,” she told me. She said many African-Americans have a great respect for the Jews. Then we started discussing our common roots, the Civil Rights movement, and how Jews sing “Let My People Go” on Passover. I mentioned Farrakhan and his anti-Semitism, and she made a scornful noise with a disgusted look on her face. (We’re in full agreement there.)
So it is a delight to see another African-American write these words:
As an African-American, I identify with Israel. Black America’s history has a wonderful, yet strange parallel with Jewish people. We were both slaves for hundreds of years. Many black American slaves likened the end of slavery to the biblical Exodus of the Jews. Some Negro spirituals like “Crossing over Jordan” and “Moses, Lead Your People Out” attested to that fact.
It is no surprise that blacks and Jews stood arm in arm during the civil rights struggle in the United States. Blacks and Jews together founded the NAACP, the Urban League and other civil rights organizations. Fifty percent of all attorneys representing the civil rights movement were Jewish. The deep friendship that existed 40 years ago between blacks and Jews is thankfully rekindling once again.
Unfortunately, the Presbyterian Church USA voted two years ago to explore phased, selective divestment from certain companies dealing with Israel. This summer, the Presbyterian Church USA meets in Birmingham, Ala., with the debate and profound disagreement over these policies intensifying.
The call for “disinvestment” of Israel is nothing more than a modern-day act of racism. Black America will see it for what it is and stand with Israel.
[…] In a day when Israel needs friends, I unapologetically declare my friendship and loyalty with Israel and the Jewish people. Shalom.
Read the whole thing.
If someone besides a black ever sings the real gut bucket blues, it’ll be a Jew. We both know what it’s like to be someone else’s footstool
“If someone besides a black ever sings the real gut bucket blues, it’ll be a Jew. We both know what it’s like to be someone else’s footstool”
Ray Charles
Unfortunately the civil rights movement since 1968 has become increasingly militant and tolerant of anti Semitic elements within. The original civil rights movement leaders – Martin Luther King, Whitney Young, Ralph Abernathy, Roy Wilkins, Bayard Rustin – were splendid allies. I cannot say the same of the Jesse Jackson’s, Al Sharpton’s, Louis Farrakhan’s, Joseph Lowrey’s, Cynthia McKinney’s.
On a related note: Check this guy out.
I know it’s become fashionable for African-Americans to wear Stars of David.
some black non-jewish wearers are part of the religious sect known as the “black hebrews” who argue that they are the true israelites or are a lost tribe of Israel. Other non-jewish wearers include members of the street gang “Black Gangster Disciples,” which uses the magen david as one of its emblems.
That is wonderful Meryl. Ezzie’s link is pretty good as well.
In 1985, following an incident called “Move” in Philadelphia, I served on a commission to improve race relations in the city (representing Jewish youth), and there we created the first inter-faith seder. The members of the African-American community and members of the Jewish community quickly found commonalities, but it was quite apparent that we may have been the first Jews many members of the African American community met. We were all encouraged by the effects of even two hours of speaking and seeing these commonalities, but recognized that such opportunities are few and far between, and need to occur more often.
One of the Jewish speakers at the April 30 Save Darfur rally on the mall in DC spoke of renewing the Black-Jewish political alliance. Unfortunately, it came off (to my ears) as whiny, superficial, and self-serving.
Especially in light of the most striking feature of that rally, which was that Jews in the crowd as well as on the podium far outnumbered blacks, notwithstanding the location and subject matter of the event.
I find far more hope for the future in small-scale people-to-people interactions such as yours.