During the semester we read a lot of texts by different authors. There were a lot of questions that we raised in class about race, gender, identity and religion. We found out that there was a lot of prejudice on both the Black and the Jewish side. It was important for me to know whether it is possible to unite both black and Jewish parts of one’s identity or one has to give up one part of his or her heritage in favour of the other.
In my paper I would like to try to find out if there is a contradiction in being both black and Jewish from the point of view of Jewish religion. I want to try to show that there is no contradiction to be found and that the prejudice against people of colour does not come from the Jewish tradition.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Defining an identity.
- II.1 Who is Jewish
- II.2 Who is 'black'
- II.3 Choosing an identity – Elena Khanga, Rebecca Walker and Ruth BcBride.
- III Antisemitism: Black and white.
- IV Your people – my people?
- V. Conversion in Judaism.
- V.1 Definition.
- V.2.Historical overview.
- VI Ethiopian Jewry..
- VI.1. History
- VI.2. The origin........
- VII. “Juden aller Länder- vereinigt euch!
- VI Bibliography.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The paper explores the potential contradiction between being both Black and Jewish, specifically from a Jewish religious perspective. The author aims to demonstrate that there is no inherent contradiction and that prejudice against people of color does not stem from Jewish tradition. The paper further investigates the experiences of individuals navigating interracial relationships and the challenges they face in reconciling their dual identities.
- Defining Jewish and Black identities
- The complexities of interracial relationships within Jewish communities
- The impact of anti-Semitism and racism on personal identity
- The role of conversion in Judaism
- The experience of Black converts to Judaism
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage for the discussion by outlining the research question: is there a contradiction in being both Black and Jewish? The paper explores the concept of identity, particularly in the context of Jewish and Black identities in the United States. Chapter II.1 delves into the definition of Jewish identity, examining different perspectives including religious, national, cultural, and legal. Chapter II.2 discusses the construction of Black identity in America, emphasizing the automatic racial categorization based on ancestry. Chapter II.3 analyzes the experiences of individuals navigating a dual Black and Jewish identity, focusing on the narratives of Elena Khanga, Rebecca Walker, and Ruth BcBride. The paper explores the challenges they faced in identifying with both parts of their heritage and the pressures they experienced to choose one identity over the other.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics include interracial relationships, Black identity, Jewish identity, anti-Semitism, conversion to Judaism, and dual heritage. The paper examines the intersection of race, religion, and identity, focusing on the experiences of individuals navigating these complex realities.
- Quote paper
- Alina Polyak (Author), 2003, Black, jewish, interracial - a contradiction?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/36549
