How Jews Became White Folks

In “How Jews Became White Folks” Karen Brodkin outlines the progression of Jewish Americans through the strata of American society. Brodkin relates personal experiences growing up to the overall struggle of Jews to throw off the chains of religous and cultural bigotry.

One of the first important points Brodkin makes is that there was discrimination between the races of Europe. The Nordic races were considered to be the pure races of Europe, and the Alpine and Mediterranean races were considered inferior. Jews even though found among most of the sub sects were automatically considered inferior. Bodkin details her own experiences of living in a semi closed ethnic community as well as similar closed ethnic communities such as Irish and Italian communities. On page 44 Bodkin explains that public high schools and colleges were not welcoming Jews into their ranks for both structural and racist reasons. The cessation of hostilities and the GI Bill would change all that for the Jews. In post war America Jews were swept up into the rapidly expanding job force and were able to break out of their closed ethnic communities. They were able follow the waves of suburban migration, and take full advantage of government low cost housing loans. Bodkin explains the title of the piece by comparing the prosperity enjoyed by the Jews as well as other ethic groups was not being shared by the Blacks. Through what Bodkin claims that the government and in particular the Veterans Administration and the US Employment Services were actively excluding Blacks from enjoying the rights promised to them by the GI Bill (Bodkin 46).

I really enjoyed this article. It highlights a positive outcome for a minority group. The issue of affirmative action is one of real conflict for me. It is righteous to want to help the oppressed and propel them to their rightful place in society, but to do so by taking away opportunities of those who were not taking part in the oppression is not fair. Two wrongs never turn out to make a right, and affirmative action is just that. Also I ask the question that once affirmative action programs are started when does it become clear that they have achieved its goal. I put forth that government is not capable of making that judgment.