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
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