Jews Talk Racial Justice - Ep 19: Jews Talk Black Lives Matter
QUICK EPISODE OVERVIEW
April and Tracie investigate the ways arguing against the adopted slogans of justice movements, for instance #BlackLivesMatter or #DefundThePolice, distracts us from the work of advancing justice, and often contains implicit or explicit racism.
CONTENT WARNING: ANTI-BLACK POLICE KILLINGS
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
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Reflecting on a past conversation, April shares with us a sentiment that is somewhat common among non-Black, particularly conservative, Jewish community members; the phrase “Black lives matter” is harder to accept because “‘all lives matter’ just sounds so nice.” What is your reaction when you hear these two phrases? What do they bring up for you?
Both April and Tracie share their immediate reactions of discomfort when they hear comments like those mentioned in the previous question. Can you recollect any moments when you’ve bristled at something someone had said, specifically in conversations of identity or social inequity? How did you handle your discomfort or anger and respond in that moment?
Tracie digs deeper into the idea that it’s often a distraction from the real issue at-hand when we hyperfocus on the language we use to describe human rights abuses, like the critiques of calling detention centers at the U.S.-Mexico border “concentration camps.” How do you find the balance between nuance that is vital in the language that we use and conversations that are simply a distraction from the real-life inequities? Can you think of any real-life examples?
April brings up an important and incredibly relevant idea - that “hurt people hurt people.” What does this bring up for you? How have you seen this play out in your actions or the actions of others?
According to April, “the level of entitlement” that people of privilege have “to come into a community and offer something about their culture or their liberation strategies is quite chutzpadik and is indicative of the positional power” they have. Is it ever the place of people of privilege to offer a critique of an oppressed group’s cultural practices or liberation strategies? Why or why not?
INSIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE
“I really adore and respect the minds of Black women and of People of Color. People feel comfortable making critiques of Black leadership and Black leadership decisions in a way that they don’t with other folk, particularly when the movement has been as powerfully successful as it has. To me, it’s interesting. Where are you placing the emphasis? On the movement’s efficacy and the huge strides it’s made in the last year, or on some of the holdouts within our community around embracing a very simple idea about the humanity of black people?”
“This conversation gets back to some of my fundamental friction points with people in certain facets of my community, where the level of privilege is as if this was some media campaign, as if it weren’t as organic and absolutely necessary. We have nothing else left to do or very few options remaining that are peaceful.”
“There’s a layer of racism around how ‘it’s the Black people’s job,’ as opposed to ‘it’s my people and my people are being racist and a part of a system.’ These amazing leaders have done this incredible work - and now it’s my job to do some work, especially someone who’s not getting targeted by the cops daily or has to worry about the welfare of their family members.”
“It’s uncomfortable and terrifying to directly confronting that early childhood programming that nearly all people in any society receive - that the state is looking out for our best interest. ‘We should simply be grateful,’ but it also leaves out the ways in which the state can systemically hurt and endanger and damage people.”
“So what’s my response when someone asks for a more palatable phrase? ‘You know what? Let’s figure that out later. Right now, let’s do what we need to do to dismantle the structures that are allowing Black people to be endangered on our streets.’”
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