Well yet another interesting trailer on YouTube of a movie that I may or may not see. But the trailer has some great editing. In fact maybe the trailer is all you need to see. Lacey is apparently a halachaic Jew; fathered by a Black man she did not grow up knowing. I will (with great hesitation) not comment on the damages caused by the parents who did not tell her the truth about her true ethnic heritage. But to each their own. So in addition to the social and cultural issues bi-racial Americans face, Lacey invariably has a tough time finding a comfortable spot in the Jewish community as well.
It seems as if this film would be a useful one to see; especially from the viewpoint of seeing different specimens from the American social quilt and hearing the myriad of stories present within. But it is situations like this where you can really see the fallacy apparent in placing an importance on "Jewish" culture, and forgetting about Judaism the religion. If Lacey's family lived a Torah lifestyle, then there were be no ambivalence about Lacey's status; she would be a Jew, no questions asked. Now how she would be treated...that would be a whole different story. But if you come to know Black Orthodox Jews, you will often times see that they do not feel at odds with their Jewish identity; just mainly frustrated at being socially marginalized.
Last week, I attended a meeting of a group here at California University of Pennsylvania for Jewish students, faculty and staff (it's called "Yachad"; so apparently they did not get the memo about the special needs organization of the same name). Despite it's deep Mon-Valley location, there is still apparently a Jewish population here as there were 7 students, 1 faculty, and 3 staff members (including myself) at this meeting. Due to not being able to find the meeting location, I was about 10 minutes late...yet I could see the questioning quiet glances directed my way when I walked in. So I prepared myself for the questions that for sure would follow; the first which was along the lines of "What brings you here?". I then just casually remarked that I was Jewish, and I wanted to meet other Jews on campus. Of course that sort of just ignited the interest more, and more questions ensued. Therefore after our official meeting had long ended; several people were still hanging around to either hear "my story" or just sort of marvel at the fact that there is a Black Jew on campus here; and a religious one at that.
In spite of the questions (and the strange way some of the staff needed to justify to me that while they are not Orthodox, they do "live Jewishly"), I did not for a moment feel as if I did not belong in this group. In fact I feel that Jews of all ethnicities make it a point to be involved with Jewish organizations and groups so that we can be visible and not seem like anomalies. It would have been very easy for me not to go to this meeting. I could see many personality types not be up to the constant questioning about your involvement and interest. The only food I could eat there were the grapes, and the baby carrots (the one staff member told me the ranch dip and hummus were kosher, but I had no way to verify that information). Several of then events they discussed I would not be able to participate in anyway because they are on the weekends. But again, I feel it is still important for me to be involved; and help show many of these Jews that there is more bonding the Jewish people than a collection of last names and an affinity for matzah ball soup.
If we get back to the basics, than so many people would no longer be confused...and many times pained...over their Jewish identities.
Posts
9 comments:
One thing I disagree with you on is that there was "damage" done to the girl who was raised by white parents BECAUSE they did not tell her that her biological father was black. Just think - what damage is there? She is normal and goes to college, now of course you could see that eventually people will recognize that she is not white or she herself will figure out that she is half black, but what do you think would have changed the fact that she would have known the fact that her biological father is black when she is in the kindergarten? If you can, please answer. My wife always knew she is Hispanic, but what if not until 20, what would it change? In her opinion also nothing.
Another problem is that why is she in limbo? OK may be because she only leaves on Jewish culture but not on Judaism, in that you are most probably right.
I think this is type of movie that could be shown in trailer format, so yes this trailer interesting and informative but if I don't see the movie, now that I watched the trailer, what am I missing? Some details - I can live with that.
When you hide certain information from your children you send the latent message that their is either something wrong with the information, or something wrong with the situation; even if that is not really the case. Think of it this way, when someone in our family marries a rich or a famous person, that is remarked and talked about openly and everyone beams. But if someone marries interracially, many times getting some families to talk about it is like getting them to go get a root canal. They will speak on it if only absolutely necessary.
Just because someone goes to college, does not have clear psychological damage, and goes on to have a relatively successful life, does not mean they are happy with their position in their community. If Lacy were not affected by her situation, then why would she even bother to sign on to make this film? If someone approached me about being in a film on a topic that did not affect me personally I would decline in a second. Lacy obviously felt that her story and experiences were poignant enough to need to be shown to others. This is a huge clue that she is not ok with how she was brought up.
No one should be made to feel ashamed over what they are; what their natural background is; or how G-d made them. We don't come into the world this way (except for those who are clinically depressed) -- instead other people send us messages that we should be feeling bad about ourselves because of these things (i.e. our race). Also it is a big deal that someone is of Black ancestry. I am sorry, but Hispanics just do not have the stigmas that Black people have in this country. Most Americans understand that Hispanics are not a homogeneous group; while this concept is totally lost when it comes to the Black community [where many White Americans do feel the Black American community is homogeneous]. Also Hispanics are not a race; you have plenty of White Hispanics that can blend in seamlessly socially (and many Black Hispanics who do not). Many Hispanics can walk away from that label while the majority of Black people cannot walk away from their label. Therefore I think it is misguided to compare the experience of being Hispanic to the experience of being Black.
Oh, I should also add that the reason why Lacy and other Black Jews are in "limbo" is because the Jewish community does not always have a place for them and in many cases we are distinct from the Black community. There is a lot of talk among Black Jews of forming our own communities, but geographically (outside of NYC at least) we are too scattered about to actually make that happen. Not to mention not all of us (myself included) would even be interested in such a thing [in that it is more important I be in an Orthodox Jewish community than a Black Jewish community].
Shalom
This is my first time at your blog, and I want to say “yasher koach” on reaching out to the greater Jewish community. I am also a Jewish person of color my mother is Ashkenazi Eastern European descent and my father is American black. Sometimes I feel integration fatigue and just rather not be bothered. But it would be a shanda that I deny myself the privilege and duty to acknowledge the Jewish religion, heritage, and traditions because of others ignorance. In response to jewpublic, your lack of enthusiasm about something you clearly have very little understanding of (ie: minority experience inside a very race conscious and divided nation) to me is representative of the greater Jewish community at large. Yes, anecdotally they know non-white Jews exists, but that does not affect them or need to be representative of the whole community; Like that’s cute, but what’s the big deal...back to yr regularly scheduled program.
In response to Miss S. It seems to me that this girl's problem is that she was not prepared for stigma that some people will try to attach to her appearance in her early life - OK may be this is true.
I just don't have a time to respond to Keyanna, so tonight I just might and she touched a very interesting subject. And I do know at least four other black Jews and it is something that requires time to write, so i'll 'see' you later.
Ok, I pose this question not to sound snarky, but to get some honest feedback -- What does "knowing Black Jews" do to help one's understanding of the experiences of Black Jews of Color? Sure, you may get to hear them remark about their experiences. If that is the case, then you are fortunate. I can only speak for myself, but very rarely do I confide in non-Black Jews my feelings about racism and being marginalized in the Jewish community (in spite of the fact that I often tackle this subject on my blog). There are maybe only 3 really close Jewish friends that I have that I can really speak about these issues too; and one of them is also an "ethnically exotic" Jew, so she can really relate (albeight not totally though...since her children are White Jews).
I am a person who likes analogies; so in this instance, would a man be taken seriously if he said, "I can understand the struggles of being a woman; I know many women personally". Of course this 'could' be true. A man can spend time studying women, observe particular social struggles they have, become experts on the scientific particulars of being a female. He can even socially surround himself with all females (I went to school with a guy like this, he was not a homosexual; but very in tune with what makes women click; he had 3 sisters and was raised by his mother and grandmother). However this is not usually the case; and may women would feel pretty miffed at a man who would imply that he "understands" women because he knows many women.
I hope I do not sound as if I am putting you down; simply because you are not Black and because you hold a particular opinion. Look, one of the best books I read on American perspectives on racism was "White Lies" written by Maurice Berger; a gay White Jewish man. I loved how he was able to isolate the feelings of racial predjudices in both himself and others. For example, a fascinating question was posed to people - how much money would they want compensated/paid for changing their race. So you ask this to White people...how much money would it take for them to become Black people. $200? $2000? $20,000? $2 million? Or perhaps no amount of money! On the other hand how much money would you have to pay a Black person to become White? Or maybe the question should be "How much would a Black person pay to become White?" (Shame...we can no longer ask Michael Jackson what he paid...).
It is questions and proposed situations like these that while they are fantasy, they force you out of your comfort zone. It makes people who feel that they believe that "everyone is equal" admit that while the "others" are equal...they do not, by no means, wish to be those "others". And if you get them to answer the question "why", then it will be displayed that they are hypocrites. And I am not saying that this is you. I guess what I am saying is that I personally do not mind it at all when people can admit that they perpetuate stereotypes; that they really don't know what it is like to be a "brown" person; and even that they are racist. At least then, there can be some discussion. When people feel that everything is ok and they are not going to acknowledge otherwise, that is when we all hit a brick wall.
It seems to me that on the one hand side you want eventual integration with whites, Hispanics etc. While thinking that they will never integrate with you because they would never share your feelings 100%, then what is the point of integration if you can never be integrated? Hey, many Chinese are never concerned with that and while some never succeed most do.
I think that this is what the problem is - even for Michael Jackson, African Americans, who indulge in the fact of their suppressive past of slavery and never willing to move from their past labels of degradation, by themselves mind you, are themselves part of the problem too.
Well just in case if I am not intelligent enough to understand your problem - may Mr. Douglas and B. Washington former black slaves did.
What follows is NOT exact quote, just part of their speech that might be of your interest.
Booker T. Blacks must adapt to their ways, we must try hard in the face of prejudice to go on into the world until there is no more difference, and no more room for prejudice. Republican Convention of 1889.
Frederich Douglas (right after the amendment of abolition of slavery by US government in 1865) We must be careful of some [corrupt] political scams from some of our politicians, who will turn our unfortunate past and road to integration to EXPLOIT, NOT HEAL the wounds of Black man's wrath, by pointing out who we are and divide us from the rest (note there was no segregation yet people did not know it until 1883! so he can not be referring to it but some other divide and conquer) and use those wounds to perpetuate their power, while appearing on the good side. Later, before he died he said that it is understanding of this principle that is important for a black man to understand for eventual end of prejudice and yes by that time legalized segregation.
Well, unfortunately we don't teach those principals to our children, while we are dedicating the entire time for pointing out our differences in the way we look like and therefore we will never understand each other, and THEREFORE integration is apparently not possible. Well it looks like our government officials did succeed in divide and conquer us after all and that is why Jackson paid so much money to look like white, because it really is strange for millions of Americans still feeling wounded and not healed from the wounds of past.
Now, by the way please do not take any offense in what I just wrote, it was written with a great thirst for understanding and knowledge of this particular issue. And if we are not going to touch every sensitive point, we'll never get anywhere.
Jewpublic, it is all too easy to say that Black people are a part of the problem. While I do feel they are, I actually do not feel that most American Black people are stuck on "past labels of degradation"; but quite the opposite. I think they are hopelessly apathetic for the most part. A bit too comfortable with their current position of American society; satisfied with not having their diverse culture taken seriously. Yes, many Black people continue to just sit and tolerate these gross stereotypes about themselves because hey, at least we are "cool".
But the [White] majority culture still carries the larger responsibility of perpetuating the problem. They are the offenders of the problem. If the members of the majority culture would open their eyes to the gross misrepresentations they are making about Black people in their midst, than the situation would improve considerably. Why should I be the victim of the ignorance of others? I don't go up to White women and ask them things like, "Oh what did you do to your hair?" like White women have said to me. Even though I know good and well probably 70% of White women dye their hair, and the way it looks is sure not the way it grows out of their head. Yet it is "highlighted" that Black women "modify" their hair. I want to really tell these women - there is nothing stopping you from walking into a Black hair salon...if you are really curious about it. Go see how its all done yourself. G-d knows I have forced myself into all sorts of strange cultural situations because I wanted to learn. My goodness, I was born into a foreign culture surrounded by people who were not like me ethnically so I had no choice but to learn.
To address your first paragraph, I feel that Black Americans are already integrated from a physical standpoint. The next step of integration is from a psychological standpoint. I feel that victory will be made when I can walk into a room, and my skin color will be considered by most people, item #6 or #7 of the list of characteristics that I am initially judged by; instead of being items #1-#6. I am sorry, but I have heard too many times in my life some sort of statement that starts or ends with the statement "...for a Black girl, you are..." How ignorant would I sound if I went up to someone and said, "Wow, I never met a White man like you!". So that is what I hear when I hear such things said to me. Just this past Shabbos in shul, I guy comes up to me saying that he met a Black woman in the casino in WV who said she was Jewish. Ok; I am not quite sure what that has to do with me. I do not need to know about the existence of every single Black Jew out there. Now if she wishes to contact me in someway and we can establish a sort of kinship, that is fine. That is also on her. But from the way she was described, it doesn't seem as if we would have much in common anyway. Which is another common mistake I endure all the time from non-minorities - they think that just because I am Black and someone else is Black, that we should be instant best friends. Problem, problem, problem.
I don't desire anyone to feel just like I do; no matter what their race. That would lead to a very boring world. All I ask is that others embrace the fact that they "just don't know" and should come to a spot where they wish to learn -- like you have. I am very quick to list my gripes with the Black community and how they can improve in regards to race relations in this country. It is quite frustrating to see that the majority of White people are not willing to do the same. And it is beyond frustrating to discredit racism as a problem; when they are not the victims of the problem, NOR are they familiar with and/or close to any of these victims.
Post a Comment