16 | JUNE 11 • 2020 

DANIEL Y. HODGES, NOVI 
My rabbi was the first Jewish 
person to reach out and ask 
me how I am. There have 
been others who’
ve responded 
to my Facebook posts, but my 
rabbi called me.
For those protesting peace-
fully, I applaud and hold 
high. I struggle to hold myself 
among you. But my pain is 
real. I lost my father to racists 
just after my bar mitzvah. I 
have not burned. I have not 
broken. But my eyes flame, 
and my heart cracks.
In this interview, the first 
question was, “How do I feel 
about the protests?” This 
mirrors what has been asked 
of me by most other people 
with a few exceptions. It was 
not, “How do I feel about the 

death of George Floyd?” 
It’
s taken me a while, but 
I’
m crying a bit now for the 
first time at George’
s death. 
I’
m remembering my own 
father. I’
m also deathly afraid 
of my son suffering like I still 
do to this day because of the 
potential for someone to mur-
der me because I scared them 
with my blackness. I see my 
entire family under that cop’
s 
knee.
My message to the greater 
Detroit Jewish community 
is, “Get your priorities right. 
Also, be actively antiracist. 
Don’
t just say, ‘
I’
m not racist.’
”
As to what the Jewish com-
munity can do, publicly stand 
up and stand with George’
s 
family. Call or write elected 
officials and demand that 

there be immediate and effec-
tive actions to combat racism. 
Racism is not non-threat-
ening. These organizations 
practice hate and plot harm. 
They will not stop with black 
people.

ALIZA KLEIN, OAK PARK 
I’
ve had so many people reach 
out to me within the last few 
days, who provided me with 
empathy and support. I can’
t 
thank them enough. Their 
kind words helped me ease 
my pain and helped me feel 
like I’
m not alone. 
It’
s great that I see individ-
uals standing up for racism 
and hate on social media, but 
it takes a lot more than just 
that. However, it is a start in 
the right direction. We have 
to truly dig deeper and have 
more insight into ourselves. 
Ask yourself this question: 
If you were faced with a racial 
situation in person, beyond 
social media, would you be 
willing to have the courage to 
stand up to that person? We 
have to check our own uncon-
scious biases, get uncom-
fortable and learn about 
our neighbor, not just from 
media, but from real people.

ASHIRA SOLOMON, 
SOUTHFIELD
I have seen peaceful protest 
footage honoring the life of 
George Floyd from all over 
the world. The protests con-
tinue to exist and rightfully 
so. People around the globe 
are showing up to protest the 
injustices revolving around 
the countless murders com-
mitted by an array of police 
officers against people of 
color in America. 
I’
m paying attention. I’
m 
watching every country, every 
company, every industry. 
I’
m watching friends, and 
I’
m watching acquaintances. 
I’
m watching loudly, and I’
m 
watching silently. 

COURTESY OF ALIZA KLEIN

Aliza Klein

“If your biggest outrage in all
of this is rioting or looting, 
you’re not paying attention.”

— ASHIRA SOLOMON

Daniel Hodges and his son Jacob

COURTESY OF DANIEL HODGES

Jews in the D
jews and racial justice

continued from page 15

