Negroes' Animosity Towards
Jews Traced to Many Roots
Negroes and they are therefore
By STEVEN PRYSTOWSKY
identified with oppression and are
(Copyright, 1964, JTA, Inc.)
Anti-Semitism among Negroes hated for it. I remember meeting
in the United States is principally no Negro in the years of growing
an urban phenomenon. As an ac- up who would really trust a Jew,
tive element -it is virtually un- and few who did not, indeed, ex-
known in .rural regions. It is the hibit for them the blackest con-
close relationship between these tempt."
two minorities in the urban areas,
Traditional Christian bias that
especially in economic matters, the Jews killed Jesus is another
that spawn Negro anti-Semitism. contributor to anti-Jewish feeling.
These ties include: 1. landlord- "All of us black people," states
tenant; 2. merchant-consumer; 3. Richard Wright, "who lived in the
professional competition; and 4. neighborhood, hated Jews, not be-
competitiOn between Negro and cause they exploited us, but be-
Jewish businessmen.
cause we had been taught in Sun-
The closest relationship found day School that Jews were 'Christ
between Negroes and Jews in Ne- Killers' . . . To hold an attitude
gro communities and a main cause of antagonism towards Jews was
of anti-Jewish feeling is that of bred in us from childhood, it was
not merely racial prejudice, it was
landlord to tenant.
Houses in Negro neighborhoods part of our cultural heritage."
Negro anti-Semitism is increas-
are usually in need, of repair. Des-
pite such deplorable conditions— ing with the growing tide of Negro
buildings are overcrowded, un- militancy. The Black Muslim move-
sanitary, and dilapidated—Negroes ment, a Negro cult emphasizing
pay comparatively higher rents separation, is openly anti-Jewish
tfian whites. Consequently, the and incites the latent anti-Semi-
landlords. of these buildings are tism of its followers. The danger
regarded with great. contempt by of the Muslims lies not so much
the Negro populace. But it is the in their extreme hatred for Jews
Jelif who is blamed. Because these but in that their hatred is being
communities were formerly Jew- spewed forth by thousands of Ne-
ish neighborhoods plus the fact groes not associated with the
that many apartment houses are movement. Should the Muslims be-
owned by Jews, Negroes tend to come a major force there is no
identify all landlords as Jewish doubt that anti-Semitism will in-
and attribute all housing ills to crease greatly.
the "gouging Jewish landlord."
The reasons for Negro anti-
Many Negroes state that they Semitism are paradoxical; they
are anti-Semitic because "Jews . are the result of both truth and
own everything in sight." One Ne- fiction. The fictional part is corn-
gro described his plight: "I pawn, posed of traditional stereotypes
my watch at a Jewish store, I and faulty generalizations lodged
buy my food at a Jewish store, I , in the minds of Negroes by anti-
go into a Jewish place of amuse- Semitic propaganda.
ment, and I buy my clothes from ; Negroes refuse to judge each in-
a Jew." Tills is the economic sit- di vid ual Jew by his deeds but
uation Negroes have to cope with.' rather lump all Jews into one
Since these stores (grocery, hard- category characterized by the per-
ware, liquor, etc.) are the only formances staged by a small
ones that will extend him credit, minority. He sees one deceitful
the Negro has no alternative but Jewish merchant . and concludes
to shop there though the prices that all Jewish merchants are de-
are generally higher than similar ceitful. He believes that all land-
stores in white communities. As a lords in Negro neighborhoods are
result, Negro anti-Jewish feeling 1 Jewish because of the popular
is generated. belief that Jews own most of the
Intense resentment is expressed property in the area. Even when
by Negro professionals against Jews are collectors for Gentile
their Jewish counterparts. The firms resentment is still directed
feeling is that Jewish profession- , against them. It is seldom real-
als are of service to Negro clients i ized by Negroes that most land-
and patients who rightfully belong lords, irrespective or the racial
to them. They also ch ge that group to which they belong are
Jewish firms refuse to ire them, guilty of the same practices.
and instead, give employment to
The stereotype of the Jewish
members of their own religion.
store owner as an "exploiter" is
In governmental jobs there is common among Negroes. What
much Negro antagonism towards Negroes refuse to consider is that
Jews. Jews, because they have wherever small businessmen exist
worked longer, are often found prices are high. And the small
in superior positions, while Ne- buSinessmen in Harlem are no
groes are in inferior positions. It exception. They must charge
is not unusual to find Negro I higher prices if they are to make
school teachers working under any profit. Their small-scale buy-
Jewish principals , or Negro social j ing forces them to pay higher
workers taking orders from Jew- wholesale prices.
ish supervisors.-
James Baldwin has written that
The fourth cause of Negro anti- "as society must have a scapegoat,
Semitism is the competition or so hatred must have a symbol.
lack of it between Negro and Jew- Georgia has the Negro and Har-
ish businessmen in Negro commu- lem has the Jew." Jews are sin-
nities. Convinced that Jews can gled out becduse they are more
always outdo rival Negro business- easily identified as a group than.
men, Negroes demand that Jews Gentile landlords and merchants.
leave their neighborhood.
The latter belong to many reli-
In 1962, a group of Negroes gios denominations and are more
picketed in f r o n t of Harlem's difficult to blame. As Whitney
Apollo Theater (owned by a Jew), Young, head of the Urban League,
and chanted "Black man must pointed out: "What is mistaken for
stay; Jew must go." The purpose anti-Semitism is anti-white feel-
of the picketing was to protest ing."
white ownership of storesi in Har-
Finally, many Negroes misin-
lem. A two-block stretchknown terpert the Jewish attitude of sep-
as the Gold Coast-125th street aration as prejudice. Jews have
between Lenox and Eighth ave- always lived in ghettos or corn-
nues—had only one store owned munities that have had a large
by a Negro.
' proportion of Jews. They have al-
In each of the above encounters, ways been opposed to integra-
Jews have played the dominant tion. This is a sociological truth
role. Negroes object to this pat- and should not be construed as
tern and seek to break it. outright 'discrimination. The same
James Baldwin, in Notes of a reasoning follows for businessmen
Native Son, describes the Negro and firms who hire only Jews.
view of the Jews of Harlem: "Jews
On the other hand, there are
in Harlem are small tradesmen, many Jews—too many—who, in
rent collectors, real estate agents fact, exploit Negroes. Jews own
and pawnbrokers; they operate in
accordance with the American THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
business tradition of exploiting 30 Friday, September 4, 1964
Why a Jewish Home?
By Dr. Emanuel Gamoran
Children in homes where Jew-
ishness is accepted as a fact and
associated with many pleasurable
experiences are, on the whole, bet-
ter adjusted to face the world in
which they live than those in
homes that are bereft of Judaism
and of Jewish customs, and are
conscious of their Jewishness only
because of the problem of anti-
Semitism or of drives to collect
funds for Jewish causes. Once this
thought is brought home to a Jew-
ish parent he may seek to obtain
the knowledge -.vhich will help him
to give his child the inner re-
sources, the wholesome pride and
courage which he needs.
slum houses, and over charge Ne-
gro tenants. This unfortunately,
is true. This type of behavior does
more damage to the Jewish image
than one thousand Jewish freedom
riders or one-thousand Jewish
members of the NAACP do to
promote it. One Negro woman
told the following to a newspaper
reporter: "I don't care how many
rabbis march on the picket lines
. . . If I go to a Jewish real estate
agent—well, I better not go to
one. It wouldn't help." Negroes
living in slums are not interested
in the fact that Jewish organiza-
tions are fighting for them while
they are shivering for lack of
heat in their rat-infested apart-
ments.
EDW. C. LEVY
SLAG CO.
Wishes
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
A HEALTHY AND HAPPY
ROSH HASHANAH - YOM KIPPUR
A YOMTOV WITH SHALOM
Jews are also guilty of dis-
crimination and hypocrisy. Mas-
querading as friends of Negroes,
they always talk about helping
them improve their lot. But they
only give Negroes token equality.
They speak of equality, but do
not practice it.
When Jewish realtors 'refuse to
allow Negroes to move into their
apartment houses for fear of los-
ing their white tenants, they are
guilty of discrimination. When
Jews move out of attractive neigh-
borhoods en masse as a few Ne-
groes move in they are guilty of
discrimination. This sight becomes
too difficult for the Negro to for-
get and understandably so. Who
can blame Negroes for anti-Jewish
feelings?
,
Relationships between Jews and
Negroes will undergo difficult
tests in the future. There will be
many areas of conflict between the
two minorities. Negroes will be
moving into Jewish neighbor-
hoods; Negro and Jewish business-
men will be competing for Negro
consumers; and aspiring Negro
politicians will challenge Jewish
politicians for control in minor-
ity areas.
If the Jews want to reduce Ne-
gro anti-Semitism, or at least want
to be sure that they are innocent
victims, they must practcie equal-
ity in deeds and actions, and not
in platitudes. If not, they have
only themselves to blame far
fostering anti-Semitism among Ne-
groes.
1150 GRISWOLD STREET, DETROIT-963-7626
The Officers and Workers of the
ISRAEL HISTADRUT CAMPAIGN
Extend Sincerest Good Wishes for a Year of Health and
Happiness to All Their Friends and to the Michigan
Community at Large and Call for the Continued Support
of Histadrut in Its Program of Cultural, Educational and
Medical Aid to the People of Israel.
DETROIT COMMITTEE
Harry Schumer, Honorary Chairman; Morris Lieberman, Chairman; Sidney Shevitz, 1st Vice-
Chairman; Irving Pokempner, Chairman Executive Board; Norman Cottler, Treasurer; Isadore
L. Shrodeck, Financial Secretary; Mrs. Milton Weiss, Secretary; Alfred Michaels, Executive
Director.