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United against hate: Why Black and Jewish communities in America must stand together

From Jerusalem Post · (20h ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A renewed effort is underway to rekindle the historical alliance between Black and Jewish communities in America, forged during the Civil Rights Movement.
  • Civil rights veteran Rev. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr. and documentary filmmaker Dr. Shari Rogers are leading initiatives like the Spill the Honey organization and the film 'Shared Legacies' to bridge divides.
  • They emphasize the importance of shared memory and historical understanding to combat rising antisemitism and racism, warning that a loss of historical context weakens public morality.

In an era marked by a disturbing global resurgence of antisemitism and racism, a vital movement is gaining momentum to revive the powerful coalition that once united Black and Jewish communities in America. This alliance, forged in the crucible of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, was characterized by shared struggle, mutual support, and a collective fight for justice. Now, civil rights veteran Rev. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr. and documentary filmmaker Dr. Shari Rogers are spearheading efforts to ensure this legacy is not forgotten.

In the turbulent 1960s, an unbreakable bond was forged on the front lines of the American Civil Rights Movement. Black and Jewish activists didn’t just share a history of oppression and a fight for survival; they marched side-by-side, prayed together, and literally shed blood to transform the conscience of a nation.

— Felice FriedsonThe author sets the historical context of the Black-Jewish alliance during the Civil Rights Movement.

Through initiatives like the Spill the Honey organization and the documentary film 'Shared Legacies,' Chavis and Rogers are working to reconnect these communities. Their partnership, which began after the October 7th Hamas attack, is rooted in a deep understanding of shared history and the urgent need to combat misinformation and historical erasure. Chavis stresses the danger of becoming "ahistorical," arguing that a loss of collective memory weakens public morality and the ability to "speak truth to power." This perspective is crucial for understanding how contemporary challenges to both communities can be effectively addressed.

Yet today, amid a terrifying global resurgence of antisemitism and racism, the memory of that world-changing coalition is dangerously fading, threatened by a modern era of misinformation and deliberate historical erasure.

— Felice FriedsonThe author highlights the current threat to the historical Black-Jewish alliance.

Rogers' film, 'Shared Legacies,' serves as a powerful repository of firsthand accounts from leaders who lived through the Black-Jewish coalition. By preserving these voices before they fade, the project aims to educate the broader public about this significant chapter in American history. The urgency of this mission is underscored by the participation of figures like Congressman John Lewis and Harry Belafonte, who recognized the profound importance of documenting this shared history. As Chavis and Rogers argue, this shared memory is not just a historical artifact but a potent force for building solidarity and resilience against contemporary forms of hate, a message that resonates particularly strongly within our communities.

I met him in New York; we were staying at the same hotel.

— Dr. Shari RogersDr. Rogers recounts the chance meeting that initiated her collaboration with Rev. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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