Enchantment and the Black-Jewish Divide

Key Findings:

This essay explores the complex relationship between Black and Jewish communities in the United States, offering insights into their shared history, contributions, and divisions. Both groups have significant cultural, artistic, political, and civil rights contributions to American society. However, historical tensions and divides have strained their relationship.

Understanding the psychological roots of the responses to historical trauma within each community is imperative to the ability to move forward toward healing and unity: 

(1) The traumatic experience of Malcolm X, whose father's death was caused by white supremacists, shaped his views and led him to join the Nation of Islam. The anti-Jewish sentiments that he (and the rest of NOI) espoused are rooted in competition for chosenness. This competition is presented as a source of tension between the two communities.

(2) The Jewish Defense League (JDL), founded by Meir Kahane, is argued to be a parallel extremist group within the Jewish community that mirrored some of the Nation of Islam's sentiments. Kahane's radicalism led to the demonization of other groups, including Black and Arab communities, showing how extremist tendencies can escalate within marginalized communities.

The author emphasizes that these extremist groups are not representative of the entire Black or Jewish communities but rather extreme manifestations of anger, bigotry, and victim mentalities that hinder progress.

The concept of the "Theory of Enchantment" is introduced as an alternative to the current wave of divisive anti-racism. This theory promotes curiosity, mindfulness, and an appreciation of diversity. It encourages individuals to recognize that everyone is multi-dimensional and cannot be reduced to a single identity, be it racial or ethnic.

Enchantment is presented as a way of fostering better relationships, seeing the complexity in others, and moving away from divisive stereotypes. The current trend of anti-racism often perpetuates divisions by equating skin color with morality, which can lead to frustration, resentment, and a scarcity mentality.

The path forward involves recognizing and celebrating the multifaceted nature of individuals and striving to understand and appreciate each other's differences. The relationship between racial and ethnic groups must be reimagined, moving from a focus on appearances and identity politics to one of curiosity and empathy.

The author proposes various ways in which Black and Jewish communities can come together, such as through book clubs, reading circles, cultural exchanges, educational trips, and shared experiences that emphasize their common struggles and shared humanity.

The monumental moonshot of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who aimed to transform national consciousness across racial lines, is highlighted. A similar effort to heal the historical divide between Black and Jewish communities is viewed as crucial not only for these communities, but for the moral and civic health of the entire United States.