antiracism — Blog — Rebel-Mouthed Books

Commentary: "The Provincials: A Personal History of Jews in the South" by Eli N. Evans

I opened Eli N. Evans’ book The Provincials: A Personal History of Jews in the South with one question in mind: How does Jewishness intersect with whiteness in America (through the lens of the South)? And I deeply appreciate the complex answer I was given by reading the oft-overlooked history of Jews in the American South, the homeland of Christian evangelism, and battleground between the old and new.

Ultimately, the answer to my question that I discovered in Eli N. Evans’ book was this: White Jews in America perform a balancing act— benefiting from whiteness to protect their families and to achieve prosperity while also taking risks when the opportunity arises to support Black communities.

Commentary: Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

What I want to say here is that for all of my White family and friends who don't think they would need to do something like this because they aren't racist, or because they "get it", you do need to do this. You (just like me) need to take antiracism and make it personal-- to question and challenge the version of yourself in your mind because I can guarantee there is someone else underneath. It doesn't make you a bad person or less deserving of love. But we have to reckon with the other self we hold inside or else we can't be fully invested in antiracism work-- or else we can't do much good. ⁣

Commentary, For ReadersChava PossumJuly 22, 2020me and white supremacy, layla f saad, white supremacy, journaling, antiracism, how to fight white supremacy, decolonize this book club, combat racism, change the world, become a good ancestor, good ancestor, Black Women writers, Black writers