In honor of Black History Month, CJC reflects on our Jewish values of justice (tzedek), human dignity (b’tzelem Elohim), and responsibility to one another. We honor the history, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans and commit ourselves to continued learning and allyship.
Throughout February, PBS will be airing a four-part series Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History The series, which will air on Tuesdays, is hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Episode descriptions from the website are below:
· Tuesday, February 3, at 9/8c – “Let My People Go”
Episode 1 explores the core differences at the start of the Black and Jewish American stories, as well as overlapping struggle, faith, resilience, and early civic partnerships by the 1920s.
· Tuesday, February 10, at 9/8c – “Strange Fruit”
Episode 2 spotlights how Black and Jewish communities collaborated in the early 20th century on music, movies, and the universal fight against fascism, navigating tensions while shaping culture, confronting injustice, and leaving a lasting social impact.
· Tuesday, February 17, at 9/8c – “The ‘Grand Alliance’”
Episode 3 traces the 1960s’ “Grand Alliance” as Black and Jewish communities fought for civil rights in a transformative interracial coalition, and the imbalances that quickly tested their alliance.
· Tuesday, February 24, at 9/8c – “Crossroads”
Episode 4 examines the shifting Black and Jewish relationship from the 1970s onward, exploring political gains, global tensions, rising hate, and the enduring lessons of coalition building and solidarity.
Following the series, the Standing for Racial Justice Committee will host an online discussion on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 PM to reflect on the series. All are welcome to attend, whether you watched an episode or the whole series, or are interested in learning more. Please register in advance to receive the link.
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