“Why Does Color Have to Matter?”: Color-Blind Racism and Political Polarization Among Jewish Americans

Abstract There is an appreciable divergence in views on racism among Jewish Americans based on their political affiliations, with Jewish Democrats being almost four times as likely as Jewish Republicans to perceive substantial discrimination against Black people. Through qualitative interviews with 30 Jewish adults across the political spectrum in the Philadelphia area, we analyze narratives surrounding George Floyd’s murder, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, and the ensuing 2020 racial justice protests. The findings reveal pronounced polarization: Politically conservative Jews, predominantly Orthodox, largely opposed the BLM movement, often employing “color-blind racism” to justify their stance. In contrast, politically liberal Jews supported the BLM movement, emphasizing its importance in addressing racial injustice. This study contributes to the literature on Black–Jewish relations by providing insights into the complex relationship between American Jews and race, highlighting the impact of both religious and political polarization within the Jewish community on matters of racial justice.