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Sunday signaled the start of Black History Month in the United States, and Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) African-American Alliance Manager Dazia Wallerson marked the occasion by joining a Black-Jewish unity luncheon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The “Combating Hate Together: Black and Jewish Communities Uniting Through Dialogue and Action” forum was hosted by CAM in partnership with the Leap Forward Interfaith Unity Series and Lower Merion community activist Jill Altshuler.
Nearly 40 members of the Black and Jewish communities from across the Philadelphia area participated in the event.
The purpose of the gathering was for attendees to learn from each other through meaningful conversations, build understanding and unity, and explore ways to combat racism and antisemitism through collective action.
A similar meeting was held last May, and the plan is to create ongoing opportunities to revitalize and deepen Black-Jewish relations.
The program included icebreakers, a video presentation, and small and large discussion groups. The dialogue focused on the history of Black-Jewish allyship, rooted in common experiences and shared values, and the tests these ties have faced over time, including today.
“We need to be able to see people with all of their layers and find connection in complexity,” Wallerson said. “Being human is that dynamic and this time calls for us to be relational.”
