Black/Jewish Imaginary and Real 4/8/2025

One thing that stood out to me was how often people assume that being Black and being Jewish are two completely separate things. This is not necessarily true. There are many Black Jews around the world, especially in Ethiopia. This reminds me of a personal experience from two years ago. I always wear my Star of David necklace, and I was at work when a black man came up to me wearing a very similar necklace. He was just a maintenance worker stopping by, but we both noticed our matching necklaces and smiled at each other. I thought it was really fascinating to experience that moment of connection. It reminded me that being Jewish isn’t about how you look. It’s about your beliefs, your identity, and your heritage. Many times, people assume blacks can’t be Jewish and have to prove themselves, which is what Yavilah McCoy discusses. She talked about growing up in a Jewish school and being treated like an outsider even though she was just as Jewish as anyone else there. This is very sad to read because a Jew is a Jew no matter where you come from or what skin color you have. It was especially disappointing to read about how her classmates would make her prove herself that she is Jewish.