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Nationhood: Israel and Black America
Which way is safety and freedom?
What is the promised land?
The late law professor and civil rights lawyer Derrick Bell once wrote a parable called “Afrolantica” about discovering an island off the coast of America. Soldiers entered the land. Some of the soldiers, as soon as they stepped onto the island, got sick and could not stay on it. They had to leave lest they die. These individuals were white.
African-American soldiers stepped onto the island and did not get sick. They entered the island, and it was fine for them. Upon discovery of the existence of this island, Black Americans prepared themselves to move. Before they could get there, the island sank back into the ocean.
That’s Israel for the Jewish people today. They seized control of a piece of the earth for themselves at gunpoint. They can't relinquish control of it and place themselves in danger. History tells them otherwise.
What does Israel mean?
Yesterday, there was a march in D.C. for Israel. The call was for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas, against anti-semitism, and in support of Israel. Some of my students attended. They are Jewish students. They asked me in advance because they would need to miss class. I encouraged them to…
