Are Jewish Lives More Important than Black Lives?

The Kanye Debacle and Other Related News Seem to Point toward Yes

Kanye West’s antisemitic rants cost him his billion-dollar status. Recently, basketball star, Kyrie Irving, came out defending his involvement in a movie that is viewed as antisemitic. The backlash against Kanye and Kyrie has been fast and furious.

Jewish historians will point to the Holocaust, one of the worst examples of human hatred and violence, as to why antisemitism needs to end. But why has there been a difference in outrage when it comes to the Jewish community and the Black community?

When Kanye made his idiotic comments about George Floyd’s death, he still had a relationship with Adidas, Balenciaga, and other brands. Of course, people were upset by his comments, but Kanye didn’t lose brand support. However, when he made idiotic comments about Jews, brands dropped Kanye like a hot potato. Do the lives of Jewish people matter more than the lives of Black people?

Let’s look at the facts — the Jewish community has a huge influence and impact on the American economy. Many CEOs and major business owners are Jewish. It is said (and I don’t know this as a fact) that Hollywood, the bastion of entertainment, is owned and operated by Jewish people. That would mean movie studios, production companies, and advertising agencies. Let’s not forget the music industry, either. Besides Tyler Perry Studios and Oprah’s OWN, what other major industries have Black leadership and ownership?

Despite the horrors of the Holocaust, the Jewish community has been able to thrive in the United States. Meanwhile, the Black community continues to deal with racism, bigotry, and stereotypes. We’re used as comedy props and Halloween costumes (check out the viral video on Instagram and Tik Tok of Utah teens dressing up in Black face pretending to be on a chain gang — not good). Black people still have issues with equal access to housing, education, jobs, and health care. When it comes to health issues such as asthma, heart disease, and cancer, Black people are stricken at a higher rate than any other racial group. And our survival rates are lower than any other racial group. After nearly 500 years of enslavement, segregation, and discrimination, trauma is in our DNA. Jewish people don’t have those problems.

Jewish people may or may not consider themselves to be White, but they are white-passing. If a Jewish person walks into a room full of White people, no one would bat an eyelash. No one would even know if the person were Jewish unless the person shared that information. If a Black or Brown person walked into the same room, the entire atmosphere would change. People would stare. People would become tense. Black and Brown people can’t hide the fact that they’re Black or Brown (and we shouldn’t have to), but our mere presence causes issues.

The Black economic impact in this country isn’t anything to sneeze at. We contribute hundreds of millions to the economy every year. But we’re enriching other groups and not our own. We don’t spend a lot of money in our own communities and when we do shop in our communities we go to businesses owned by other racial groups. But again, that goes back to discrimination. How many small business loans are given to Black communities? How much do banks contribute to communities of color?

What has happened to Black people and Jewish people in this country and around the world has been tragic. However, Jewish people will be ok. They have resources. They support each other. Their money helps them overcome the issues they face. However, Black people are still trolled in every aspect of American life. We’re told to forget about enslavement and Jim Crow. Jewish people aren’t told to forget about the Holocaust.

Black people have to deal with their ideas, identities, and ideals being either stolen or vilified. No one does “Jewish face” for Halloween. But “Black face” still happens in 2022. Jewish people can blend into the American mainstream. Black people are always on the outside of the mainstream. Despite Black contributions to this country, many more contributions remain hidden or whitewashed. When we speak out against injustice, we’re scorned. When Jewish people speak out, everyone wants to help and support them.

The bottom line is this — Jewish lives are more important to White lives than Black lives are to White lives. Kanye and Kyrie were wrong in their statements. But America is wrong for its ongoing mistreatment of Black people. But despite the oppression of my people, I know we are survivors and thrivers. As Issa Rae stated, “I'm rooting for everybody Black.”