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Engage in Racial Justice

 

Bigotry takes many forms. As Jews we have experienced it for centuries. Now, we need to better understand the racial struggles across America. Together, we can make a difference, but we need to start by listening and learning. This resource list is just a beginning. But every journey must begin somewhere.

Our sages taught “the day is short, the work is long. We are not required to finish the task but neither are we free to desist from it.” (Pirke Avot, 2:21).

 

We approach this work with both humility and determination. We can learn to do better. And we will.

 

Here’s a great place to start your learning.

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Articles to Read

21 Racial Microaggressions You Hear on a Daily Basis, (by Heben Nigatu, Buzzfeed)

Black, Jewish Leaders: We are Standing Together to Fight Bigotry in America (USA Today)

Bryan Stevenson on How America Can Heal: A Conversation About Truth and Reconciliation in the U.S. (Vox)

The Case for Reparations (by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic)

Confronting Philanthropy's Uncomfortable Truths (Philanthropy.com)

From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America (loc.gov)

Guide to Allyship (by Amélie Lamont)

A History of Race and Racism in America, in 24 Chapters (Harvard University)

I'm Jewish and Don't Identify as White. Why Must I Check That Box? (The New York Times)

I'm Not White, I'm Jewish (1998)

Intersectionality and Israel (Israel Action Network)

Jewish Federation Statements on the Death of George Floyd

The Jewish Heart of #BlackLivesMatter (The Forward)

Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Address at the Conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery March (Martin Luther King, Jr., 1965)

A Majority Minority: When America Turns Mostly Non-White (The New York Times, 2015)

A Primer on Making the Jewish Community Inclusive (eJewish Philanthropy, 2015)

The Problem with Being Colorblind (Oprah Magazine)

Pursuing Racial Justice, Fighting Antisemitism (by Jonathan Greenblatt, Medium.com)

Stop Being Shocked (Tablet)

Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups (developed by Craig Elliott, Ph.D.)

What We in the Black Community Need From Jews Right Now (Anthony Johnson, The Forward)

White Jews – Wake Up. We're Part of the Problem. (eJewish Philanthropy)


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Books to Read

Between the World and Me (Ta-Nehisi Coates)

Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment (Patricia Hill Collins)

Black Power, Jewish Politics: Reinventing the Alliance in the 1960s (Dr. Marc Dollinger)

The Broken Heart of America: St. Louis and the Violent History of the United States (Walter Johnson)

Colorblind Racism (Meghan Burke)

The Color of Law (Richard Rothstein)

A History of the Jews (Paul Johnson)
 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou)

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (Brian Stevenson)

My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (Resmaa Menakem)

The New Jim Crow (Michelle Alexander)

The Price of Whiteness: Jews, Race and American Identity (Dr. Eric L. Goldstein)

The Racial Contract (Charles W. Mills)

Slavery By Another Name (Douglas Blackmon)

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America (Ibram X. Kendi)

Strength to Love (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color (edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa)

Why We Can't Wait (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Witnessing Whiteness: The Need to Talk About Race and How to Do It (Shelly Tochluk)


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Podcasts to Listen To

The Edge Effect (NPR)

Identity Crisis Podcast No. 14: American Jewish Communities After George Floyd (Shalom Hartman Institute)

Is It Time to Say RIP to "POC" (NPR's Code Switch)

Member of Whose Tribe? (NPR, hosted by Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji)

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast (hosted by Chevon and Hiba)

Scene on Radio: Seeing White Series (hosted by John Biewen and collaborator Chenjerai Kumanyika)

Wholly Jewish Podcast (hosted by April Baskin)


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Short Videos & Webinars to Watch

The Danger of a Single Story (TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

How Racial Bias Works and How to Disrupt It (TED Talk by Jennifer L. Eberhardt)

I Am Not Black and You Are Not White (Prince EA, 2015)

POV: Implicit Bias – Peanut Butter, Jelly and Racism (PBS)

Recording and Resources from Supporting the Social Safety Net and Advancing Racial Equity Webinar (August 6, 2020)

Slavery: A Crash Course U.S. History (John Green)

The Two Little Words That Can Change a Life (Pamela Schuller)

Video Messages from Deitra Reiser, Yolanda Savage-Narva and Evan Traylor, and a Discussion Guide for the Videos (Union for Reform Judaism)

What is Systemic Racism? (Dr. Tony Evans)

Webinar Recording: How Should We Be "Talking About Race?" (July 13, 2020)

Webinar Recording: Juneteenth – What's It All About? (June 19, 2020)

Webinar Recording: The Price of Whiteness – Jews, Race and American Identity (Aug. 26, 2020)

Webinar Recording: Racial Diversity and Inclusiveness in the Jewish Community (Jewish Theological Seminary, 2020)


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Resources for Parents & Educators

Black Oppression and Resistance (Tolerance.org)

Community Racial Justice Checklist and Racial Justice Resource List (Union for Reform Judaism)

Culturally Responsive Curriculum Scorecard (NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development)

Fighting in the Face of Racism (iWitness at USC)

George Floyd, Racism and Law Enforcement Table Talk (ADL)

Social Identities and Systems of Oppression (National Museum of African American History & Culture)

Talking About Race (National Museum of African American History & Culture)

Talking Race With Young Children (NPR)


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Resources Focused on Jews of Color

Be'chol Lashon (GlobalJews.org)

'Believe Us': Black Jews Respond to George Floyd Protests, in Their Own Words (Times of Israel)

Black (and Jewish): Braving the Pitfalls, Jews of Color Find Inner and Outer Peace (JNS)

Building the Field for Jews of Color (eJewish Philanthropy)

Color Erases, Color Paints by Rabbi Isaiah Rothstein (Tablet)

First Black Jew as Head of Canada's Federal Green Party (JTA)

How One Black Orthodox Woman is Opening Minds in Her Brooklyn Community (Vogue)

I Helped Coin the Term 'Jews of Color.' It’s Time for a History Lesson (JTA)

I'm Jewish and Don't Identify as White. Why Must I Check that Box? (The New York Times)

In Light of Rising Anti-Semitism, Rethinking Black-Jewish Relations (Tablet)

Jewish Word: Jews of Color (Moment Magazine)

Michael Twitty on the Connection Between Jewish Food and Soul Food (MyJewishLearning)

My Mom is White and My Dad is Black. Don't Call me a 'Jew of Color.' (Times of Israel)

New Program for Jews of Color Aims to Diversify U.S. Jewish Organizations (Times of Israel)

Our True Colors (Tablet)

To Accurately Count Jews of Color, We Need to Change Our Assumptions About Jews (JWeekly)

Writings (Tema Smith)


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"Racism is man's gravest threat to man — the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason."

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

We Are In This Together

These are not simple issues. But we will do whatever is needed until these battles are won. We will educate ourselves. We will ensure the security of all. We will come together with people of all races and religions to do the hard work that has to be done. Hineni. We are here.