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American Jews’ Experience between 1881 and the Mid-20th Century

People across generations shape their self-perceptions in the societal frameworks

according to their relationship with others in local communities and the greater national

community. The self-perception of individuals changes with time due to their interaction with

distinct factors in society. The increasing diversity of societies in the world due to immigration

has forced people to develop multiple personal identities. The increased immigration trend in the

United States in the 19th and 20th Centuries led to the formation of a diverse American society

(Goldstein 35). The general American society in the 19th and 20th Centuries comprised three

main groups, including Negroid (African Americans), Mongoloids (Asians), and Caucasians

(Whites). However, the racial identity of the American Jews changed greatly between 1881 and

1950 because of their interaction with various economic, social, and political factors. Notably,

the identity of American Jews alternated between racial and social class within this with respect

to the economic and socio-political environment in the USA.

In the 19th Century, Jew's self-definition changed with time, considering that their racial

identity was not considered significant by the larger American society. The general American

society, in this case, viewed Jews as a physically and morally distinct community whereby they

were not associative with the major African Americans, White Americans, and Asian races. Only

a small portion of the American Jewish population adopted aspects of the greater American
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culture, for example, lifestyle, language, and dress code. However, the Jewish population was

drawn more significantly into the American racial discourse at the beginning of the 20th Century

(Goldstein 36). The attempt of the Jews to identify with major U.S. races drew the attention of

the larger White American community. Furthermore, an increase in the population of American

Jews from approximately 200,000 to more than one million between 1870 and 1900 generated

debates regarding the Jewish position within the American racial groups.

The White American interest in the American Jews at the beginning of the 20th Century

also attracted other Jewish characteristics, including social characteristics and distinctive

histories. The examination of Jewish community characteristics depicted their involvement in

commercial activities and concentration in urban areas. The study linked them to important

socio-economic factors of the nation at that time, like commercialization, urbanization, and

industrialization. The general American society in the 1900s hence regarded American Jews as a

symbol of national transformation, which threatened many White Americans (Goldstein 36). The

increasing significance of the Jews in American society created mixed feelings among White

Americans, whereby they saw the minority community as a threat and hope for the economic

prosperity of the nation. Although Jews suddenly gained prominence in American society in the

1900s, the racial classification of the Jewish community was difficult among other communities.

Additionally, other communities in the United States recognized the Jewish community as a

neutral community in the country with regards to racial constellation issues.

The rise of Jewish community in the 1900s occurred at a time when the U.S. society was

divided in terms of racial groups. At this time, White Americans dominated Asian American and

African American minorities, whereby they intended to maintain the conventional racial

stratification dichotomy. White Americans wanted to retain their traditional position as a

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superior, and most significant race in the U.S. The superiority and confidence of the White

Americans was threatened the new American racial image. White Americans wanted society to

recognize the white complexion as a symbol of economic, physical, and moral strength

(Goldstein 42). The White Americans hence embarked on the process of categorizing Jews from

the perspective of black-white dichotomy. Some of the White Americans regarded African

Americans and Jewish Americans as “uncivilized” to lower their level of anxiety regarding the

issue of modernity. In 1908, for example, an article published in McClure’s magazine linked

African Americans and American Jews with the prostitution problem in Chicago. Many White

American commentators also extended African American stereotypes to the American Jews, for

example, “animal” jaw, “sensual” lips, and dark hair.

Although the black-white dichotomy placed American Jews and African Americans at

the same level, White Americans were still convinced that the community presented a unique

challenge to their superiority complex during the First World War period. The First World War

reduced the self-confidence of the White Americans destabilized the social and political aspects

of the United States (Goldstein 120). The White Americans were convinced that the adoption of

new cultural and social styles was an inevitable strategy of overcoming problems of modernity.

Immediately after the First World War, Jews became the center for debate and discussion

regarding the adoption of modernity (Goldstein 121). Jews retained their symbol of modernity in

the 1920s and the 1930s in terms of intellectuality, urban lifestyle, and business success. Jews

also accomplished success in urban politics and higher education in the United States. White

Americans developed a positive attitude towards the Jews and tried to hide hatred and fear

towards them. The majority group believed that Jews could be integrate with the white

community through acculturation.

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The Jewish Americans also realized that associating themselves with the white

community would offer them equal opportunities as White Americans. The dragging of Jewish

Americans into racial discourse enabled them to comprehend the social significance of

whiteness. The American Jewish community viewed acculturation as an effective strategy of

gaining acceptance in the White American community. Jews understood that their identification

as white within the American society would cushion them from the antisemitism problem

(Goldstein 138). Although Jews despised the intolerance of White Americans for colored people,

they still had a strong desire for acceptance in the white society. The acculturation of the Jews

forced them to see the American community in “black” and “white”. The acculturation, for

example, enabled the Jewish children to share facilities with the White Americans. Notably, the

Jim Crow laws of African Americans segregation divided the American resources among the

White Americans and African Americans. The laws of segregation gave White Americans high-

quality facilities, for example, schools, shopping malls, and residential areas. The development

of the film and radio industry in the United States enabled the citizens to realize the significance

of the black and white divide in American society. Jews, at this time, portrayed themselves as

important consumers of the new American culture, whereby they stressed on their whiteness.

The school curriculum also enabled Jewish children to understand the significance of associating

with the white community.

Notably, the Jim Crow laws gained prominence in the Northern regions of the USA after

1920. A study conducted in 1920, for example, indicated that Jim Crow Laws had not been

integrated with restaurants, the institution of learning, and transport system. The White

Americans avoided the Jim Crow laws to encourage African Americans to participate in

urbanization and industrialization. The increased immigration of African Americans to the

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Northern regions from the Southern regions created immense pressure on the available facilities

(Goldstein 140). The demand for housing grew, whites adopted the Jim Crow laws to block

African Americans from purchasing properties in their neighborhoods. However, acculturation of

the Jews and their identification as whites enabled them to live among the white American

communities. Jews also developed few of living in the African American neighborhoods due to

the fear of getting stigmatized because of their white identity. The Jews, for example, started

vacating their original homes in Near West Side and Harlem neighborhoods by 1927.

Considering that American Jews played a central role in the shaping of the U.S. urban

environment in the 1920s and the 1930s, they played a significant role in the implementation of

the Jim Crow segregation laws (Goldstein 142). The American Jews participated in the shaping

of the urban environment in “black” and “white” whereby they placed their residences on the

white side. However, Jews still experienced discrimination while living among White

Americans. Although Jews aspired to gain white privileges, they were still empathetic of the

sufferings of African Americans in the hands of their White American oppressors (Goldstein

147). Jews were continually drawn into the fight for black civil rights considered that White

American intolerance still angered them.

The racial identity for American Jews changed significantly between 1881 and 1950s

through the interaction with socio-economic and political factors in American society. Notably,

the American Jewish racial identity was not considered important before 1900. However, the

population of Jews in the United States increased tremendously where their economic and

cultural power became evident in the 1900s. At first, White Americans saw Jews as a potential

threat to their White supremacy, whereby they emphasized on the inferiority of their race. The

White Americans, therefore, equated the race of American Jews to that of African Americans.
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However, White Americans realized the significance of American Jews to the spirit of

modernity. Acculturation of enabled Jews to benefit from the priorities provided to the Whites

through the Jim Crow policies. Notably, American Jews still emphasized with African

Americans and supported their fight segregationally Jim Crows in the mid-20th Century.
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Works Cited

Goldstein, Eric L . The Price of Whiteness : Jews, Race, and American Identity. Princeton:

Princeton University Press, 2006.