Thoughts, ideas, and suggestions about Jewish ways of combatting racism (under construction, suggestions welcome.)

I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." 

— MLK, Letter from a Birmingham Jail 

“The tragedy of this country now is that most of the people who say they care about it do not care. What they care about is their safety and their profits. What they care about is not rocking the boat. What they care about is the continuation of white supremacy, so that white liberals who are with you in principle will move out when you move in.” 

― James Baldwin, The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings

“Some are guilty; all are responsible.”

— Abraham Joshua Heschel

Actionable Steps

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Learn

Read MaNishtana, a Black orthodox Jew talking about racism in the wake of Eric Garner.

Read MLK’s letter to his fellow clergymen, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

Read Abraham Joshua Heschel’s “On Religion and Race.”  

Learn Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) and Repair the World’s source sheet for Jewish Perspective on Racial Justice.

Listen to Rabbi Joachim Pinz, who spoke at the March on Washington.

TED talks to help you understand racism

Jewish list of anti-racist reading for kids