The Martyr Made Podcast: "Blacks and Jews (Complete Series)" Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Martyr Made Podcast
• Host/Author: Darryl Cooper
• Episode: Blacks and Jews (Complete Series)
• Release Date: November 30, 2023
• Description: An in-depth exploration of the historical and socio-political relationship between Black and Jewish Americans, examining the alliance's rise, its eventual fracture, and the enduring tensions that have shaped American society.

I. Introduction

Darryl Cooper opens the episode by contextualizing his six-part essay series, "Blacks and Jews," repurposed for the podcast in light of contemporary tensions within the Democratic Party over the Israel-Palestine conflict. He underscores the historical unity between Black and Jewish Americans— a collaboration that sustained the Civil Rights Movement until the late 1960s when ideological shifts led to animosity and antisemitism within the Black community.

[00:02] Darrell Cooper: "Black and Jewish Americans were uniquely united socially and politically until the late 1960s..."

II. Historical Alliance Between Black and Jewish Americans

Cooper delves into the early interactions between Black and Jewish communities in the United States, highlighting that prior to the Great Migration, these groups had limited direct engagement due to geographical separations—the rural South for Blacks and urban North for Jews. The shared experiences of persecution—Black slaves identifying with ancient Hebrews and Jewish immigrants fleeing pogroms—laid a foundation for mutual empathy and support.

III. The Great Migration and Urban Dynamics

Between 1915 and 1960, approximately 6 to 7 million Black Americans moved from the rural South to Northern and Western cities. This mass migration significantly altered urban landscapes, leading to overcrowded, ethnically diverse neighborhoods. While Jews maintained a distinct group identity and were relatively more tolerant of Black migrants compared to other European ethnicities, tensions began to emerge as demographic shifts intensified competition for housing, jobs, and resources.

[04:18] Darrell Cooper: "When the First World War began in 1914, all of the cities that became well known in the 20th century as hubs of African American life still had virtually no black people living in them."

IV. Shift in the Civil Rights Movement: From Legal Equality to Black Power and Third Worldism

The civil rights movement initially focused on dismantling legal segregation and achieving social equality, with strong backing from Jewish activists and financial support. However, by the late 1960s, the movement's focus shifted towards Black Power, identity, and global anti-imperialism—an ideology influenced by Third Worldism. This ideological pivot aligned African Americans with global liberation movements but distanced them from their Jewish allies.

V. Breakdown of the Black-Jewish Alliance: Key Events and Culprits

Several factors contributed to the erosion of Black-Jewish relations:

1. Third Worldism and Anti-Zionism: Influential Black leaders embraced Third Worldism, which often included anti-Zionist sentiments. This ideology framed Israel as an outpost of white imperialism, alienating Jewish supporters of the Civil Rights Movement.

2. Urban Conflicts and Riots: Events like the Watts riots (1965) and later riots in Detroit and Newark highlighted deep-seated frustrations within Black communities but also complicated alliances with Jewish Americans who were often seen as part of the establishment.

3. Ocean Hill Brownsville Strikes (1968): A pivotal moment where Black activists pushed for community control of schools, leading to conflicts with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), predominantly led by Jewish members. The strikes exposed rifts over control, educational reform, and underlying racial tensions.

[10:40] Darrell Cooper: "A strong strain of political radicalism told the same story to those Jews who were unmoved by Judaism."

VI. Ocean Hill Brownsville Strikes and Teachers Union Conflict

The Ocean Hill Brownsville school decentralization efforts aimed to give Black communities greater control over their local schools. Radical Black principal Rhodey McCoy's administration implemented curriculum changes promoting Black nationalism and anti-Semitic rhetoric, leading to the dismissal of teachers who resisted. The UFT supported the fired teachers, resulting in widespread strikes and escalating violence. This confrontation significantly strained Black-Jewish relations, as Jewish union leaders defended their members against what they perceived as racist attacks.

[136:02] Darrell Cooper: "The community control experiment began with a pilot program in three districts. Two of them came off without much trouble. The third was the Ocean Hill Brownsville School District in Brooklyn..."

VII. Rise of Black Nationalism and Anti-Semitism

Black nationalist movements, influenced by figures like Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, increasingly adopted anti-Semitic positions. Leaders like Louis Farrakhan propagated the notion that Jews controlled media, education, and civil rights organizations to the detriment of Black Americans. This rhetoric fostered environments where antisemitism could flourish within parts of the Black community.

[34:54] Darrell Cooper: "The racists are wrong, but I wish they were right, for I believe that the wholesale merging of the two races is the most desirable alternative..."

VIII. Urban Decay and Mass Violence in Inner Cities

The post-Civil Rights era saw significant urban decline, driven by white flight, deindustrialization, and the rise of the drug trade. Inner cities became plagued with poverty, crime, and violence, disproportionately affecting Black communities. Events like the Los Angeles riots (1992) underscored the volatile mix of economic hardship, racial tensions, and fractured alliances.

[66:01] Darrell Cooper: "In the aftermath, President Lyndon Johnson set up the National Advisory Committee on Civil Disturbances, better known as the Kerner Commission, to study the causes of the rise in urban violence."

IX. Long-term Consequences and Today's Political Realignment

The fracturing of the Black-Jewish alliance contributed to broader political realignments. The rise of mass incarceration, economic disenfranchisement, and continued racial segregation entrenched divisions. Modern political dynamics still reflect the historical tensions, with debates over policies related to Israel-Palestine often echoing past conflicts.

[157:25] Unknown: "...the Ocean Hill Brownsville strikes were an unlikely landmark at the end of an era."

[169:20] Darrell Cooper: "They were more alienated from the mainstream. Of American life and more isolated than ever in ghettos hollowed out by crime and racial violence."

X. Conclusion

Darryl Cooper concludes by reflecting on the enduring complexities of Black-Jewish relations in America. He emphasizes that the breakdown of their alliance was not merely a result of changing political ideologies but also stemmed from deeper psychological and sociocultural wounds. The legacy of mutual support turned to mutual suspicion, leaving both communities grappling with their intertwined histories.

[189:23] Darrell Cooper: "Jewish life in the Pale of Settlement hadn't been easy, but on average it was better than that of the Russian peasant and certainly better than the life of an American slave."

Cooper suggests that understanding this fraught history is crucial for addressing ongoing tensions and fostering genuine solidarity between Black and Jewish Americans in contemporary society.

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps

1. James Baldwin on Black-Jewish Relations:

   [12:04] Darrell Cooper: "We had to cope with all of them as best we could... The Jews... exploiting you... It is bitter to watch the Jewish storekeeper locking up his store... it is an American problem."

2. Norman Podhoritz on His Prejudices:

   [17:54] Darrell Cooper: "There thereafter ... may have stepped beyond the precincts of the black Jewish alliance."

3. Joe Wood on Norman Podhoritz:

   [28:00] Darrell Cooper: "Gentle reader, don't be afraid. Read the record and see for yourself... a profound self-hatred menaces in Podhoretz's essay."

4. Lyndon Johnson's Speech on Civil Rights:

   [75:17] Darrell Cooper: "And, stunningly, he raised his arms in the air and invoked the slogan of a movement that was not too long ago perceived as the preeminent irritant to America's national unity: 'And we shall overcome.'"

5. Paul Berman on the 1960s Political Shift:

   [90:20] Unknown: "At one point during negotiations at city hall, Shanker deeply offended Lindsay's sense of decorum... they were simply power brokers looking to put their own power ahead of the public good."

6. Fred Siegel on Racial Conflicts:

   [110:33] Unknown: "Racial activists and their elite liberal backers had swept aside the opposition of white ethnics trying to preserve their communities."

Final Thoughts

Darryl Cooper's comprehensive examination of Black-Jewish relations unveils a nuanced and often painful history of collaboration, betrayal, and ongoing strife. By tracing the evolution of their alliance and its disintegration, Cooper provides valuable insights into the complexities of racial and ethnic dynamics in America. This historical perspective is essential for understanding present-day challenges and striving towards a more unified and equitable society.