The Blogs: As a Black mother of a Jewish son, I know solidarity is not simple | LaNitra Berger

LaNitra Berger, a Black Christian mother of a patrilineal Black-Jewish son and a tenured professor at George Mason University, reflects on the complexity of solidarity across communities. She draws on historical Black-Jewish alliances and her own experiences to argue that genuine allyship requires ongoing effort, not just a label.

LaNitra Berger, a Black Christian mother of a patrilineal Black-Jewish son and a tenured professor at George Mason University, reflects on the discipline required for genuine solidarity across communities. She describes her multiple identities and the challenges of advocating for her son in Jewish spaces where he is not always fully accepted. Berger draws on historical examples of Black-Jewish alliances, such as Jewish refugee scholars who taught at HBCUs and Georg Iggers, who faced antisemitism for supporting Black causes. She recounts a Paul Robeson birthday celebration with kosher food co-hosted with Mason Hillel as a practical act of solidarity. Berger acknowledges that communities can disagree on issues like the war in Gaza while still uniting against antisemitism, and she urges young activists to ground their passion in historical understanding.