Jews and Blacks: A Dialogue on Race, Religion, and Culture in America

by Michael Lerner and Cornel West

Book Overview

"Credible and important."--Kirkus Reviews

Examining the issues that have united Blacks and Jews in the past and now separate them, two long-time friends and leading intellectuals try to restore the special relationship between the two groups in a hard-hitting and worthwhile exchange.

Can Jews and Blacks be friends and allies once again? It's neither easy nor impossible, say Michael Lerner and Cornel West,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452275911
• ISBN13: 9780452275911
• Release Date: February 1996
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Hope for fighting Bigotry

It has been said that racism and bigotry are permanent in American culture. Not only is there not an ongoing public dialogue on issues of race and ehtnicity, but there's not even a common vocabulary for creating one. This is what West and Lerner try to change. While each maintains his own unique experience and perspective, the two of them solicit ideas and perspectives from each other, challenging each other's presuppositions, all in the atmosphere of a lasting, respectful, and genuine friendship.This book is required reading for every American who cares about the growing devides between us.

Common Struggles

Micheal Learner and Cornel West attempt to solve some of the problems and tentions that have turned Blacks against Jews, and Jews against Blacks. What ethnic and or religious group have suffered the most? Native Americans,Chinese,Japanese,Blacks, Jews? What ever your answer maybe, the truth is that Blacks and Jews have been the some of the most oppressed poeple in America and the world. It is that one factor that has linked these two groups as allies, and enemies. The Civil Rights Movement in America was centered around the coalition between Blacks and Jews. Jews and Blacks spent countless of hours, days, and years for the betterment and equality of African Americans. Blacks and Jews protested,fought, and died for the sake of the movement. The late Dr. Martian Luther King, and Rabbi. Abraham Joshua Heshual, Marched side by side in the March on Washington. Micheal Learner and Cornel West explore the relationship between the two groups, during and after the 1950's-1960's. Learner and West specifically address the bitter end of what seemed to be a good thing. Inspite of the awesome force that the Black-Jewish coalition has forged, like most things, it came to an end. But the ending was not romantic as it was hurtful. The murder of Dr. King declined the progress, and a new Black Nationalism emerged from the surface. The Black Nationalist believed that if "good Whites" were sincere they would, "go back to your own neighborhoods and teach there own people. We blacks have to solve our own problems"! The nationalist movement broke the partnership between the two groups. Micheal Learner and Cornel West dialog on current tentions, that includes Farrakhan and Crown Hieghts. There is no question that leaders from both sides added fuel to the fire between Blacks and Jews. When Jesse Jackson showed his favor Yassar Arafat, it disturbed the Jewish community. The American Jewish community layed out a full campain to murder the character of Jesse Jackson. They called themselves the "Jews against Jackson". There solgan was "ruien Jesse ruien". The Jewish attempt to destroy Jackson was an outrage to the Black community. No African American was more outraged than Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan couldn't believe that Jackson denounced, and dismissed his assistance. As a result, Louis Muhammed Farrakhan lead a huge cusade against the Jewish community. In an attempted to "break up the relationship between Blacks and Jews Farrakhan preached anit-semitism to anyone who would listen. He has distributed literature entitled "the secret relationship between Blacks and Jews, and the Protocals of the Elders of Zion". He has hosted lectures on the "international Jew, and the Jewish conspircy to destroy Black Leadership. Although there is no question of small elements of Black anitsemitism, Micheal Learner also responds to racism within the Jewish community. He has admitted that racism is a double edge knife that cuts b