The Crown Heights Riots: Race Vs. Religion

*For my second blog post this weekend i will write about the Crown Heights riots because i neglected to write thoroughly about it yesterday.

This past week in class we watched a 90's film entitled Raising the Heights. This movie was inspired by the Crown Heights riots but instead of showing a dramatization of the riots, it had an entirely separate plot line that focused on the social tensions between the African American and Jewish residents at that time. It was interesting to see it in this way because it effectively showed how both sides applied the common stereotypes to the each other: the same stereotypes that made them a target for oppression. The Crown Heights riots wasn't directly caused by the authority, like it sometimes was in the past, but instead indirectly. Though Jewish people aren't AS oppressed as black people are in terms of the economy, it still isn't socially easy for them. They came to this country and settled in various places, and in the case of this subject throughout Brooklyn and the Lower East Side. They were able to situate themselves and build themselves up to the point that they have their own private establishments. In this country we get Christianity shoved down our throats no matter what by the right wing, so despite all the wealth that Jews inherit they still face some hate. What I also find to be interesting is that Jewish people were slaves once too so i think its crazy to see how people with similar roots can be at war with each other. You always have to take into account the religious prejudices that plague many religious groups.You can even see this referenced in music today.

Not the best example of music
 (Say Anything-Jesus Died a Jew lyrics)
You say you hate the shade of my face for my father's share crops
My people were slaves before yours invented hip-hop
Apologize but I'm in on the joke
Another brother to scoff at the dancing patterns of white folk

I think it should be understood to many that the safest person to be when it comes to being an American citizen would be a Conservative white republican (not just any white person). A perfect example that illustrates this would be in the film Raising the Heights when one of the African American characters confronted the female Jewish news anchor (who was ashamed to identify herself as a Jew) and  basically told her something along the lines of it being easy to hide your religion but not the color of your skin. You see that this affects the Jewish community as well especially when you have Conservative political pundits on television such as Pat Buchanan (who was recently fired from MSNBC because of this) who is a Nazi sympathizer and still believes that segregation should be in effect. This spewing of hatred can easily be found on television today and you see how much it is consumed daily because statistically Fox News is the most watched news network. It's impossible to erase this bigoted mindset from America when all we have to do is turn on the television.