Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz wants every Jew to take a look at their skin and appreciate the fact that one’s religious heritage will always supercede it – a fact that should, but often doesn’t, connect all Jewish people together.

The writer and longtime social justice activist spoke last night in Gifford Auditorium about her thesis and upcoming book, ‘The Color of Jews.’ In the book, Kaye/Kantrowitz said she believes all Jewish people, on a basic level, share an overall feeling of ‘Diasporasism,’ or the longing to connect by culture and traditions with other Jews outside of Israel. This term refers to all people, and not just white Jews in America, Kaye/Kantrowitz said.

‘Jews are multi-racial and multi-colored people, and what’s ‘white’ anyway?’ she said. ‘The shorthand of white doesn’t work for us, and I’m sure it doesn’t work for a lot of people.’

Kaye/Kantrowitz started the night with a collection of her own stories that directly connected to matters of race and culture. Tales included those of a black schoolgirl who was taught to hate white people by her father – but had never actually met one since people like Kaye/Kantrowitz were clearly ‘pink’ – to an immigrant who hated being grouped with other immigrants. The night was a collection of multiple topics, yet the message was clear: We are people first and colors second.

At the onset, it was clear that the night’s subject was going to hit upon some controversial subjects. Kaye/Kantrowitz even went through ‘normal stereotypes’ of minorities, finishing last with Jews. Jews are harder to place because they are not typically one color, but instead are associated with specific traits, Kaye/Kantrowitz said.

‘Jews are often put between white and color; they are mongrels to white supremacists,’ Kaye/Kantrowitz said. ‘These people feel Jews should be killed first because they confuse things.’

The audience consisted of mostly students visiting from the Introduction to Women’s Studies class, and they were intrigued by the message. It was something that is not often spoken about, said Amy Williams, an undecided freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences.

‘It was kind of a lot to take in, but it was extremely interesting,’ Williams said. ‘It makes you think about how many problems there really are with racial identity. It opens your eyes and changes your perspective of the world and what you thought was normal.’

The speech included the history of anti-Semitism, as well as the present state of Jews. These days, Jews are a force in all different areas of life, but if history has taught anything, it’s that this can change at any minute, especially with Christian fundamentalism in the White House, Kaye/Kantrowitz said.

‘Class and race is definitely a big thing and certainly with the way it’s been brought to light with our country under the Bush administration,’ said Brent Blyer, a member of Syracuse Jews for Peace. ‘It has been something that has recently been brought out more into the open in terms of ‘the has’ versus ‘the has not.”

Kaye/Kantrowitz finished her speech and took questions from audience members, many of whom seemed to only reiterate her point about the need for a closer culture of Jews, as well as thinking of a bigger picture when it comes to opinions on the same subject.

‘It was a very interesting talk, and it reminded me that I haven’t dealt with that aspect of class and race as much in the last few years,’ Blyer said. ‘It’s good to see the contrast between what the academic community grapples with and those who are a smaller part of the community as well as in our heads. It’s good to have our minds stimulated looking at something larger than our own concerns.’

Published on October 11, 2005 at 12:00 pm