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The Martyr Made Podcast
Sticky: #23 – Whose America?, pt. 2: Inner City Blues
Jun 26, 2023
06:41:53
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast explores the complex and evolving relationship between black and Jewish Americans, highlighting their historical background and initial attempts at solidarity.
- The Great Migration of black Americans from the South to the urban North and West caused tensions and conflicts with European immigrant groups, including Jews.
- Deep-seated prejudices and conflicting perceptions existed between black and Jewish communities, leading to mutual mistrust and resentment.
- The Great Migration led to overcrowded neighborhoods, strained resources, and a decline in urban areas, causing further racial divisions.
- The civil rights era saw a shift from nonviolent resistance to radical militancy, fueled by frustration and a rejection of existing social and political structures.
- Major riots during the 1960s changed public perception of the civil rights movement and paved the way for the rise of revolutionary ideologies and confrontations with authority.
Deep dives
The Complex Relationship Between Black and Jewish Americans
This podcast episode explores the complicated and evolving relationship between black and Jewish Americans. It highlights the historical background of the two communities, their experiences as groups facing discrimination and exclusion, and how they initially approached each other. The episode examines the early attempts at finding common ground and solidarity between the two groups as they faced similar struggles. However, it also delves into the tensions and conflicts that arose over time, with black intellectuals and activists questioning the legitimacy of Jewish claims to victimhood and representation. The podcast explores the changing dynamics and interactions between black and Jewish Americans in the 20th century, offering insights into the complex nature of their relationship.
The Great Migration and Friction in Urban Neighborhoods
One of the key factors influencing the relationship between black and Jewish Americans was the Great Migration, where millions of black Americans migrated from the rural South to the urban North and West. This mass influx of black migrants often caused friction and unease, as they settled in neighborhoods predominantly occupied by European immigrant groups, including Jews. The podcast episode emphasizes the challenges faced by both groups as they competed for resources, housing, and opportunities in their new urban environments. It explores the impact of this migration and the clash between these marginalized communities, shedding light on the tensions that arose during a period of rapid demographic change.
Conflicting Perceptions and Prejudices Within Black and Jewish Communities
The podcast delves into the deep-seated prejudices and conflicting perceptions that existed between black and Jewish communities. It discusses how experiences of discrimination and marginalization shaped the attitudes of individuals within each group. It explores the experiences of black individuals who felt resentment towards Jewish landlords, shopkeepers, and other figures in authority, perceiving them as exploitative. Similarly, it examines the experiences of Jews who faced hostility and violence from some black neighbors, leading to a mutual sense of fear and mistrust. Through personal anecdotes and historical analysis, the episode unravels the complexities and challenges that emerged within and between these two communities.
Impact of the Great Migration and Racial Tensions
The podcast episode discusses the impact of the Great Migration and the resulting racial tensions in urban areas. The influx of black migrants into cities like New York led to overcrowded neighborhoods and strained city resources. As a result, existing neighborhoods became neglected, and white people began to move out, further exacerbating racial divisions. The episode highlights the drastic changes and challenges faced by black communities during this period.
The Rise of Black Militancy and Student Activism
The podcast explores the rise of black militancy and student activism during the civil rights era. It discusses the shift from nonviolent resistance to a more confrontational approach advocated by leaders like Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. The episode suggests that the frustrations and anger resulting from years of discrimination and marginalization fueled a desire for radical change and a rejection of the existing social and political structures.
The Impact of Riots and the Spread of Radical Ideas
The podcast examines the impact of major riots like the Watts riots and the spread of radical ideas during the 1960s. It highlights how televised coverage of the riots shocked the nation and changed public perception of the civil rights movement. The episode suggests that the violence and destruction witnessed during these riots led to a shift in public sentiment and created an atmosphere conducive to the rise of revolutionary ideologies and further confrontations with authority.
SDS and black radicals in the 60s and 70s
The SDS, along with black radical groups, played a significant role in the radicalization of the 60s and 70s. They engaged in confrontational tactics and worked towards creating a revolution. Through community organizing, they sought to agitate and disrupt the existing systems of power, often receiving funding from the federal government and foundations. Newark became a focal point for their activities, with SDS taking over the war on poverty programs and inciting unrest. Their actions set conditions for the riots that eventually took place.
The rise of riots and violence
The podcast episode explores the reasons behind the rise of riots during the 60s and 70s, particularly in inner-city African American communities. Factors such as frustration, poverty, and a familiarity with violence contributed to the scale of the damage caused during these riots. The use of violence was seen as an expression of anger, a form of entertainment, and a way to challenge authority. The familiarization with violence among inner-city black youth contrasted with the often symbolic radicalism of white student radicals, leading to different outcomes in their respective movements.
The role of government and foundations
The federal government, through programs like the war on poverty, and foundations such as the Ford Foundation, channeled immense funding into urban communities during the 60s. The aim was to address poverty and inequality, but the funds were often misused or exploited by radical groups seeking to ferment unrest. The influx of money led to a cottage industry of community organizing, where organizations sought grants, sometimes advocating for radical goals like overburdening local governments or engaging in confrontational tactics. The failure to properly vet organizations and allocate funds resulted in the destruction of many cities.
Impact of Urban Violence on Communities
The podcast discusses the aftermath of urban violence and riots in cities like Newark and Detroit in the 1960s. The destruction and fear caused by these events led to mutual distrust and a breakdown of communities, both among black and white residents. The riots were fueled by various factors, including civil rights issues and the presence of extremist organizations. The violence resulted in significant damage to neighborhoods and businesses, leading to long-term consequences for the affected cities.
Shift from Ethnic to Racial Perspective
The podcast highlights a shift in perspective from ethnic to racial distinctions in urban areas. Previously, communities were organized along ethnic lines, with strong community ties and self-help mechanisms. However, the Great Migration and demographic changes disrupted these organized ethnic neighborhoods. As a result, the concept of a unified ethnic community began to fade, and people were increasingly viewed through a racial lens. This shift impacted social cohesion and collective action within neighborhoods.
Challenges in New York City Schools
The podcast delves into the challenges faced by New York City schools in the aftermath of urban violence and demographic shifts. The Kerner Commission and Mayor John Lindsay examined economic inequality, failed social services, police brutality, and media bias as factors exacerbating these challenges. Efforts to achieve racial integration faced obstacles as the definition of integration expanded, and the dispersion of black students was promoted based on racial proportions. These initiatives faced criticism and resistance from various stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and students.
Introduction and Background
The podcast episode delves into the challenges faced in achieving true integration in New York City's public schools. It explores the debates surrounding decentralized community control and the tensions between the teachers' union and black activists.
Controversies and Tensions
The episode highlights the controversies surrounding the Arthur A. Schomburg School (IS 201) and its brutalist design. It discusses the naming dispute and challenges faced by black activists advocating for integration. The tensions between white teachers and black militants, including physical altercations and threats, are also explored.
Decentralization and Union Opposition
The podcast outlines the Bundy panel's recommendation to decentralize the New York City school system, devolving control to local boards. However, the episode emphasizes the opposition from the teachers' union, citing concerns about racial hiring practices, intimidation, and erosion of standards. The episode concludes with a strike by the teachers' union and the troubles faced during the battle of Ocean Hill Brownsville.
Impact of School Strikes and Racial Tensions
The podcast episode delves into the consequences of school strikes and racial tensions in New York City during the late 1960s. The strikes were primarily driven by disagreements over community control and racial dynamics in the education system. At the heart of the conflict was the clash between the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), led by Al Shanker, and the Ocean Hill-Brownsville district, represented by activist Rody McCoy. The strikes resulted in violence, racial polarization, and a decline in educational standards, leading to a breakdown in relations between black and Jewish communities.
Escalation of Violence and Social Deterioration
As tensions escalated, violence and social deterioration plagued schools in the affected districts. Incidents included vandalism, assaults, sexual assault, and attacks on teachers. The deteriorating situation led to the flight of white students and experienced teachers, leading to a decline in academic standards and a lack of discipline. The podcast highlights the impact of these events on the community during the late 1960s, showcasing the breakdown of trust, rising crime rates, and the subsequent changes in societal attitudes towards the liberation movement.
The Great Migration of 1915-1960 saw over six million African Americans move from the rural South to the big cities of the North and West. It was one of the largest mass migrations in human history, and one whose consequences defined American domestic politics throughout the 20th century. But it wasn’t the first time the industrial cities of America had experienced massive demographic transformation, and the black migrants would run smack into the immigrants of previous generations. In the 1960s, frustration and anger turned to conflict, as race riots drove what was left of the white ethnics out of the inner cities. Today we tell the story of the battle for control of the Ocean Hill-Brownsville school district in New York City – a topic which might sound a bit dull, but was one of the most intense periods of racial conflict in recent American history. The conflict captured the attention of the country for months, and led to a split in the alliance between American blacks and American Jews that had powered the civil rights movement until the late 1960s.
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