What AARC members are reading about Charlottesville

Most of us read a lot, and we’ve probably read plenty about Charlottesville. But we don’t all have the opportunity to think about these things with others in our Jewish community. As a beginning, I asked several AARC members what they have read this week that they found thoughtful, representative of what they are thinking, or want others in our Jewish community to read. Many of the pieces below were new to me and I’m grateful to have read them. Please add your own links in the comments.

Greg Saltzman contributed an 2016 article with background to the President’s connection to the Klan:  In 1927, Donald Trump’s Father was Arrested after a Klan Riot In Queens

Sarai Brachman Shoup suggested the The VICE video Charlottesville: Race and Terror

Margo Schlanger says she learned from these two articles

• The Monuments Must Go: An open letter from great-great-grandsons of Stonewall Jackson.
• In Charlottesville, the Local Jewish Community Presses On 

Kira Berman brought  Hymn: A New Poem by Sherman Alexie

[excerpt]

I will silently sit and carefully listen to new stories
About other people’s tragedies and glories.

I will not assume my pain and joy are better.
I will not claim my people invented gravity or weather.

And, oh, I know I will still feel my rage and rage and rage
But I won’t act like I’m the only person onstage.

I am one more citizen marching against hatred.
Alone, we are defenseless. Collected, we are sacred.

We will march by the millions. We will tremble and grieve.
We will praise and weep and laugh. We will believe.

We will be courageous with our love. We will risk danger
As we sing and sing and sing to welcome strangers.

Marcy Epstein wanted to make sure LGBTQ perspectives are included such as this piece by Michael Twitty: I’m Black, Jewish and Gay and Food is my Weapon Against Bigotry 

Deborah Fisch found this both informative and hopeful: Life After Hate: Trump Admin Stops Funding Former Neo-Nazis Who Now Fight White Supremacy

For a long read and deep analysis on racism and antisemitism, Eric Ward’s Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism is a must read.

If you have any thoughts on these pieces, or additional suggestions, please add in the comments section.