Rothenberg, Ch.4 How Jews Became White Folks

“Jews and other white ethnics’ upward mobility was due to programs that allowed us to float on a rising economic tied. To African Americans, the government offered the cement boots of segregation, redlining, urban renewal, and discrimination.” (50)

“Conventional wisdom has it that the United States has always been an affluent land of opportunity. But the truth is that affluence has been the exception and that real upward mobility has required massive affirmative action programs…” (50) The author’s argument here is to point out that the social and economic rise of the Jews was hardly brought on by hard work and education but rather that of the segregation of black and the ability for them to capitalize on their whiteness. This closely relates to Takakis reading on Irish immigrants who were also able to assimilate into America easier due to the color of their skin. Like many immigrants from the 19th century the Jews had to fight the anti-Semitism of daily life. Yet as the next generation of Jews came to pass, society focused more on segregation of blacks and the Jews took full advantage of this opportunity like many other white Europeans. The next two quotes describe how the privileged majority moved from Semitism to racial inequality based on color. “By the 1920s, scientific racism sanctified the notion that real Americans were white and that real whites came from Northwest Europe.” (41) Then post WWII “With the federal government behind them, virtually all developers refused to sell to African Americans.” (47) The author explains this transaction during the 1940s is largely due to theories of nature and biology were being replaced by nurture and culture. (43)

This documentation largely relates to the affirmative action we see apparent in today’s society. It is no longer action against a race but to compensate for denial of social structure in the past. Even though this is a large step for an entire country to transform from segregation to equality it will take much more to balance the wrongdoings in America over the last few centuries. Rothenberg states, “But think what you might have been without the racism and with some affirmative action!” (42)

It is evident in the past few readings that there has always been anti-Semitism across many cultures of white Europeans. But due to racism based on the color of skin it has enable those to adapt much easier into the privileged society. “African Americans were totally shut out of the suburban boom.” “The myth that Jews pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps ignores the fact that it took federal programs to create the conditions whereby the abilities of Jews and other European immigrants could be recognized and rewarded rather than denigrated and denied.” Only now that we realize our privilege can we begin to construct and develop equality.