Sacks-Anthro

How Did Jews Become White Folks?

1. Introduction

  • Karen Brodkin Sacks explores Jewish identity and whiteness in America, particularly post-World War II.

  • Discusses the idea of Jews transitioning from an ‘other’ status to being classified as white.

  • The narrative is intertwined with the patterns of post-war social mobility in the context of broader racism in America.

2. Historical Context

  • Late 19th and early 20th centuries characterized by warnings about the "mongrelization" of the Nordic or Anglo-Saxon race.

  • Immigrants, particularly from southern and eastern Europe, faced scrutiny and discrimination, not always deemed white.

  • Anti-Semitism was prevalent during the 1920s and 1930s, shaping Jews' experiences in America.

3. Jewish Immigrants’ Perspectives

  • Jews viewed success as a result of hard work and a culture valuing education.

  • This belief often led to a perception that Jews had overcome barriers themselves (Horatio Alger mentality).

  • Anti-Semitism affected the way Jews engaged with African Americans and affirmative action.

4. Post-World War II Changes

  • After WWII, attitudes shifted and Euro-origin immigrants began being viewed as model middle-class citizens.

  • The GI Bill (1944) represented a massive affirmative action program favoring white male veterans, heightening their economic mobility.

  • This program benefitted mainly U.S. citizens of European descent, particularly Jewish men, lending to the concept of ‘whiteness’ becoming more inclusive.

5. Racial Classification and Mobility

  • The transition from viewing Jews as ‘inferior’ to realizing their fit within white identity was linked to government programs post-war.

  • The 1940 census changed how groups were categorized, further solidifying Jews, and other Euroethnic groups, into the white category.

  • Education became more accessible for Jewish men, leading to a rise in professions and diminishing the number of small businesses.

6. Disparities in Access to Benefits

  • Brodkin Sacks juxtaposes Jewish experiences to African Americans who faced massive barriers in access to GI Bill benefits.

  • African American GIs were systematically denied opportunities that benefited their white counterparts, fostering long-term economic disparity.

  • The FHA’s redlining practices not only limited where African Americans could buy homes but also impacted their ability to accumulate wealth through property, fueling further inequality.

7. Conclusion

  • Brodkin Sacks concludes that the upward trajectory of Jews in America was facilitated by federal programs designed to create opportunities for white GIs, painting this as a form of affirmative action that excluded non-white groups.

  • The author emphasizes the intertwining of race, class, and institutional policies that shaped the movement into an expanded notion of whiteness for Jews and other Euroethnics.