Why HBCUs Are Key to Fighting Antisemitism

Key Findings:

This article examines the history of Black-Jewish relations at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and how these relationships changed over time. 

The author compares her parent’s experiences at HBCUs in the 60’s to those of her brothers, 25 years later in the 80’s. She notes a shift towards antisemitism in those formative decades, and examines the factors contributing to this regression. 

When the author’s parents attended HBCUs, Jewish and Black students shared common values and fought together against discrimination. Jewish students often attended HBCUs due to exclusionary practices against them in White schools. However, by the time her brother graduated, attitudes and beliefs towards Jews had shifted significantly. Her parents’ positive experiences with the Jewish community are compared to her brother's negative view of Jews as oppressors and his skepticism towards Zionism. 

Desegregation further strained relations as both groups moved to new neighborhoods and attended different schools, leading to their growing separation. 

After Lyndon B. Johnson's administration, Black communities became more vulnerable in several respects – especially financially. This period saw the rise to prominence of groups such as the Nation of Islam and Black Liberation Army, which recruited from vulnerable populations in the Black community, and even at HBCUs. While HBCUs demonstrated Black excellence in the 80’s, they also became breeding grounds for antisemitic vitriol as well as contempt for America and capitalism. This shift was influenced by the Nation of Islam ideology that penetrated HBCUs, and is similar to antisemitic rhetoric that appears on college campuses today. 

The author asks how HBCUs can help fight against antisemitism and whether it is possible to repair the bond between these two communities. She argues that most individuals under 70 are unaware of the history of this relationship, including the contribution of Jews and Jewish values to the abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. She advocates for education through an integrated civil rights curriculum that highlights Jewish allies, as well as scholarships and fellowships in their names. She emphasizes that Jews should educate Black people on the Jewish way of life, especially addressing the distinction between being Jewish and being White. 

The lack of opposition at HBCUs to narratives such as “Jews are White” and anti-Zionism over the past 30 years has prevented meaningful encounters between the communities. Education and the rebuilding of these connections is essential for healing. Initiatives such as hiring more Jewish professors at HBCUs and implementing opportunities for students from these two communities could help them connect and socialize with one another. The need for proper funding is necessary to implement such initiatives.