Written by Barbara Smith,
Blogger at Hamilton Wenham Liberals for Democracy
https://www.facebook.com/HWdemocrats/
Here is my response to those who demonize Whoopi Goldberg because she made what many consider a mistake…. Let me begin by saying that….. Whoopi Goldberg has nothing to apologize for…..
The Holocaust is about hate and genocide. Whether or not Jews are a race, religious group, white, an ethnicity or all or none is not important. What IS important is fighting HATE… My ancestors were from Eastern European heritage, grandpa could have been in FIDDLER ON THE Roof wearing a yamulka, and I was raised to practice Judaism. We are all a blank slate in terms of religion when born and become a member by choice . I became an atheist but I have the genetic look associated with being Jewish. I agree with Whoopi that hate is hate whether the exterminator calls Jewish people a race or not …Hitler does not get to define my heritage, values, nor ‘race”, but he defines what haters are…murderers and sociopaths.. Many people associate being Jewish with being white. It is not an unreasonable or hateful concept….
In fact, I grew up with the concept that African Americans and Jewish people were natural allies in fighting for social justice. Does not that imply that Jewish people are White? Isn’t race a confusing concept for peole of all ethnicities, origins, appearances, identities and life experiences?
However… It is a mistake to assume all Jews are white- since Sephardic jews look Arabic or Middle Eastern. My best friend growing up in NYC was Jewish, from Egypt and brown with an afro… and not understanding these things does not make Whoopi bad in my opinion. We are all on a journey to learn and whoopi is an entertainer, not a scholar. I have only watched the View once many years ago. I never watched again because it seemed created to create conflict and this little episode did exactly what right wing media aimed by crucifying a Black woman for her public mistep…
Whoopi’s apology-
I don’t think that Whoopi Goldberg needs anybody’s forgiveness, but she did apologize because she cares about the feelings of others, social justice and, of course…. her reputation….
Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, is author of “It Could Happen Here: Why America Is Tipping from Hate to the Unthinkable – And How We Can Stop It.”