Beyond Whiteness: Revisiting Jews in Ethnic America

The concept of ethnicity has been replaced by models of assimilation focused on the construction of whiteness and white supremacy in social science. Beyond Whiteness: Revisiting Jews in Ethnic America explores the benefits of reconfiguring the ethnic concept to analyze the experiences of twentieth-century American Jews in relation to other white groups, African Americans, and Asian Americans, offering fresh insights into Jewish life in the modern United States.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Purdue University Press

The notion of ethnicity, once a popular concept among social scientists in the twenty-first century, has largely faded out of fashion, giving way to models of assimilation that revolve around the construction of whiteness and white supremacy. However, there is a growing interest in reexamining the ethnic concept and its potential to shed light on the experiences of twentieth-century American Jews. In his book, Beyond Whiteness: Revisiting Jews in Ethnic America, Professor Michael Berenbaum explores the advantages of reconfiguring the ethnic concept as a tool to analyze the diverse experiences of American Jews throughout the twentieth century. This book goes beyond the traditional Eurocentric frame and examines the interactions between Jews and other white groups, such as European Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans, among others.

The essays presented in this book cover a wide range of topics, from comparative studies of Jews and Asians as model minorities to the examination of postethnic Jews of color. These essays demonstrate that expanding the ethnic concept beyond its traditional boundaries can provide fresh insights into the character of Jewish life in the modern United States.

One of the key arguments put forth by Professor Berenbaum is that the traditional Eurocentric frame of ethnicity overlooks the diverse experiences and contributions of Jewish immigrants and their descendants. By expanding the ethnic concept to include other groups, we can better understand the complex interplay of identities and cultures that have shaped Jewish life in America.

For example, the book explores the ways in which Jews have been both marginalized and privileged within different ethnic communities. It examines the experiences of Jews in African American communities, where they have faced discrimination and segregation but have also made significant contributions to the civil rights movement. Similarly, it looks at the experiences of Jews in Asian American communities, where they have faced discrimination and marginalization but have also achieved economic success and cultural prominence.

Beyond Whiteness also challenges the notion that ethnicity is a fixed and immutable identity. It argues that ethnicity is a dynamic and fluid concept that can change over time as individuals and communities engage with different cultures and identities. This book demonstrates that the experiences of twentieth-century American Jews can be understood through the lens of ethnicity, but that the concept itself needs to be reimagined and reconfigured to better reflect the diverse and complex experiences of modern Jewish life.

In conclusion, Beyond Whiteness: Revisiting Jews in Ethnic America is a valuable contribution to the field of ethnic studies. By expanding the ethnic concept beyond its traditional boundaries and examining the diverse experiences of American Jews, this book provides fresh insights into the character of Jewish life in the modern United States. It challenges the notion of ethnicity as a fixed and immutable identity and argues that it is a dynamic and fluid concept that can change over time as individuals and communities engage with different cultures and identities. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and multifaceted nature of Jewish life in America.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781612499192