Jewish Self-interest in “Black Pluralism”

Abstract

resulted in various forms of conflict determined by the social situation. The critical force involved has been the group's peculiar resistance to social assimilation. Different social systems react differently to the persistence of this trait. The caste system of India, for example, would hardly notice it. But capitalist culture, which originated in the European medieval city, has constantly resisted it; that culture is basically assimilationist. American Negroes, in their opposition to racism, have relied mainly on the ideology of assimilation. These two divergent tendencies have come into collision recently. IN AN earlier paper I attempted to show that the term pluralism has become apparently new mystical concept in sociology-especially in the field of ethnic and race relations in the United States. It lacks consistent definition. It has been relied upon, however, even by theoretical sociologists, to answer major questions in the field. writer, for example, divides sociologists into assimilationists and pluralists and concludes that the reason for the recent void in significant race relations research is the widespread reliance among sociologists on 'Melting Pot view of American society. He advocates, therefore, a new perspective, which will involve a more balanced view of 'black pluralism' (Metzger, 1971). The argument goes beyond theory and is manifestly of considerable general importance. Anti-Semitism vs. Racism It has been recognized that anti-Semitism is an ancient social attitude probably coeval with the rise of Jewish tribalism.1 It is thus an immemorial trait identified with Jewish culture. Its positive basis, in other words, tends to inhere in the very tribal organization of the group (Hertzler, 1942:62; Berry, 1958:290). Anti-Semitism can thus have no repressive effects in communities where Jewish power is ascendant. Indeed, outsiders in organized Jewish communities, historical or current, must expect to incur such responses as ethnocentrism, nationalism, and group discrimination. Anti-Semitism has been identified with Jewish behavior in the sense that it is reacton of other groups to the Jews' determination to assert and perpetuate their identity. One definition of Jew, says Rabbi Alan W. Miller, might be someone who has to endure anti-Semitism' (Miller, 1969:81). In fact, peculiar cultural Reprints of this article may be obtained by writing Oliver C. Cox, 5440 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202.