Blacks, Jews and the Elephant in da house.

Growing up in urban Brooklyn in the post white-flight civil rights era, I was exposed to a plethora of contradictions regarding the Chasidic Jews and our African-American neighbors.  During my early childhood, my businessman/rabbinical father was heavily involved in community politics and began a group that promoted interaction, co-operation and harmony between the races.  I was fortunate enough to meet many important humanitarians activists and prominent members of congress, such as the late Shirley Chisolm, Jacob Javitz and Steven Solarz....all members of the democratic party.  Not only did they inspire me, but they epitomized the collective effort of Blacks and Jews to eliminate racism and xenophobia.  They DID overcome, but there was still a residual fear from the panic that caused the Beavers to load up their Chevy station wagons and flee to greener and whiter suburbs to explore their dysfunctional issues.  All that remained were the Black-hatted chasidim and Black-skinned African and West Indian-Americans. Both the Ultra right chasidim and the Brothas were known as "shvartzes", which is the yiddish word for "Black" and considered a derogatory word by most...except me.  When I was born dancing  like a "shvartze' I was thrilled and rode the Soul Train every week on our Magnavox TV...Yes I had one in my room and I am THAT old!

In a pre-politically-correct world. Stereotypes ruled. One integral one was that the Jews and Blacks were two minorities who had suffered immeasurably and had joined forces to fight racism.  In those days racism included anti-semitism and Zionism was NOT racism. Everyone had each other's backs and though the Chasidim kept themselves separate from their black neighbors, they kept themselves apart from everyone, including other jews.  In the ensuing years, something veered horribly off course, like a "PMS"ing woman off of her diet and now when you "google" Blacks and Jews, a vile and loathsome website appears as the number one search.  "The Secret Relationship between Blacks and Jews" deplorably depicts how Jews gained control of the Black Economy. I should not even be dignifying it by acknowledging it, but I think it is important to be aware of  the destructive myths that perpetuate hate and intolerance, including the one where Jewish women never complain and a few other ones that I can't mention here because my kids will kill me.

The key here is knowledge and enlightenment.  Most people are just not educated in the ACCURATE history of both people. In my lifetime, I have seen extreme changes  in both political and societal opinions and perspectives on this relationship. I think it is time for all of us to examine why we have these misconceptions and really address them.  I apologize for the seriousness of this post.  It was triggered by "Caingate".  The Black man being accused of molesting white women.  I don't think it is a racial one.  It is a sexist one.