In 1909, Black and Jewish leaders co-founded the NAACP. Decades later, they marched together in Selma. When Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed in 1964, he sent a telegram specifically asking for rabbis to come get arrested with him. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said of that march: "I felt like my legs were praying." Why it matters: This wasn't just political; it was a moral covenant based on shared struggles against oppression. Both communities understood what it meant to be targeted for their identity. But history isn't a straight line of progress. The relationship has faced severe fractures since the 1960s.What do you think? Was this alliance ever real, or just a temporary convenience?By the late 1960s, the alliance fractured. The breaking point is often cited as the 1968 Ocean Hill-Brownsville school strike in NYC. A clash over community control of schools pitted Black parents against a predominantly Jewish teachers' union (UFT). The union went on strike for 36 days, shutting down schools. The result: Deep wounds over labor rights vs. self-determination. It shifted the relationship from "natural allies" to complex neighbors. Many Black leaders felt the union prioritized job security over Black children's education, while many Jewish leaders felt their safety and livelihoods were under attack by the very community they had supported. This era introduced a narrative of conflict that still lingers in political discourse today. Do you think this split was inevitable, or could it have been handled differently?
In 2026, the gap feels wider than ever. While both communities still face rising hate crimes (antisemitism and anti-Black racism are both surging), political priorities have diverged sharply. Key Tension: Differing views on Zionism, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and approaches to DEI have turned former partners into debaters. Some scholars now call the historic alliance a "myth" that ignored class differences and was mostly driven by elites. On imageboards and social media, this often devolves into "oppression olympics" rather than solidarity. Is it possible to maintain an alliance when you fundamentally disagree on international issues like Israel/Palestine?Or does domestic justice require total alignment on foreign policy?Yet, the "Breakup" isn't the whole story. New movements are rising from the ashes. Initiatives like "Rekindle" and the "Exodus Leadership Forum" (led by Van Jones) are moving beyond "dialogue dinners" to actionable partnership. Recent Win: In late May 2026, over 100 leaders gathered in Miami for the first national convening of the Black-Jewish Alliance in 25 years. Hosted by Van Jones and Shari Redstone, the focus was on shared security and economic justice rather than just nostalgia.They produced a draft national strategy organized around five areas: historical education, trust-building, public narratives, coordination among organizations, and expanded collective advocacy. This represents institutional and strategic coalition-building, not simply ceremonial friendship.Are you aware of any local efforts like this in your city, or does it all seem top-down?
It's no longer about assuming we agree on everything. It's about "strategic convergence." Shared Safety: Protecting each other's houses of worship. When one community is threatened, the other shows up physically.Economic Bridges: Connecting Black entrepreneurs with Jewish investment networks. Honest Friction: Agreeing to disagree on foreign policy while uniting on domestic justice (voting rights, poverty, police reform). The old model required uniformity. The new model requires resilience in the face of disagreement. Van Jones described the relationship as a "double helix of hope"—intertwined but distinct.Which of these three pillars do you think is most realistic to achieve right now?Rabbi Heschel once warned: "To act in the spirit of race is to sunder, to slash, to dismember the flesh of living humanity." Dr. King reminded us: "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." Their friendship wasn't built on uniformity, but on a shared belief that no one is free until everyone is free. King once said, "The whole future of America will depend upon the influence of [the Jewish people]."These quotes are often used ceremonially, but they represent a radical commitment to interdependence that is rare today.Do these quotes still resonate, or do they feel outdated in the current political climate?
We often see the extremes in the news, but what's happening on the ground?Have you seen successful Black-Jewish collaboration in your city?Is it possible to maintain an alliance when you fundamentally disagree on international issues?What's one step we can take to move from "coexistence" to "active partnership"?This thread is not about scoring points or debating who has suffered more. It's about figuring out if coalition is still possible in 2026.Drop your thoughts below. Let's keep this respectful, real, and constructive. No name-calling, just honest takes.The "Grand Alliance" of the 1960s might be gone, but the need for coalition is greater than ever. Hate groups today target both communities with similar rhetoric and tactics.Whether you are skeptical of the past or hopeful for the future, the conversation starts with listening.If we can't find a way to work together on the issues where we agree (like fighting domestic extremism), we risk losing ground on everything.Thanks for reading. If you have resources, local stories, or historical corrections, please share them.
