In reply to Tsai and Barkley: Irving’s Tweet about the 2018 movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America”
Irving was condemned last week by, among others, Nets owner Joe Tsai and the NBA for tweeting a link to the 2018 movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.”
“To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize,” Irving wrote. The healing of my Jewish Brothers and Sisters that were hurt from the anti-Semitic comments made in the documentary should have been the primary concern of my initial reaction.
“I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. The documentary doesn’t reflect my morals or principles, I don’t think so.
“I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. We wanted to be a beacon of truth and light for all of the people, regardless of race or religion.
Earlier this week, NBA analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said he thought the league “dropped the ball” on Irving and that he believed Irving should have been suspended.
On Tuesday, when asked why Irving had not been disciplined for his actions, Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters: “I think we are having these discussions behind the scenes.
The Brooklyn Nets’ First Game without Irving: Kanye Irving and the Anti-Defamation League in a World Without Hate
“At the same time, we will maintain our vigilance and call out the use of anti-Jewish stereotypes and tropes – whatever, whoever, or wherever the source – as we work toward a world without hate.”
At a time when antisemitism has reached historic levels, the best way to fight the oldest hatred is to confront it head-on and change hearts and minds, says Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.
Kanye West, who has been criticized following antisemitic remarks on social media and in interviews, showed his support for Irving, tweeting a picture of the guard on Thursday.
He told the media that his mental health issues had been misdiagnosed by a Jewish doctor, made reference to Jewish ownership of media, and compared women’s health clinics to the Holocaust.
The Brooklyn Nets will play their first game without Irving after he was suspended for making comments about an antisemitic documentary.
“I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate. Irving continued, ” I hope we can find understanding between ourselves and each other as a result of this unfortunate event.”
The Nets were dismayed when the player refused to say he doesn’t believe in antisemitic beliefs nor acknowledge specific racist material in the film.
Irving replied that he would repeat his responsibility for posting something on his social media sites that may have been false, but that he was surprised by the reaction.
He said that he wouldn’t be antisemitic if he knew where he came from.
When Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, learned of how the NBA star answered that question, he pointed out that Irving has “a lot of work to do.”
After Irving was suspended the ADL refused to accept a $500,000 donation that the Nets had previously announced. The ADL’s decision to decline the donation was before Irving apologized late Thursday.
Antisemitism, Blackness, and the Holocaust – a monologue for a 45-year-old comedian and an antisexisting comedian
The US has seen a rise in antisemitism over the past few years. At least 2,717 antisemitic incidents were reported in the US in 2021, an increase from 942 such incidents in 2015, according to the ADL.
On the topic of West, Chappelle said he typically approached the rapper when West was embroiled in a controversy – but this time, Chappelle said, he waited to observe the response to West’s antisemitic statements. Chappelle also joked that “Kanye got in so much trouble, Kyrie got in trouble,” referencing the NBA star suspended by the Brooklyn Nets for comments after sharing a link to an antisemitic movie on social media.
Chappelle seems to have a zero-sum understanding of discrimination. He railed against the LGBTQ community due to the fact that the world cared more about them than about Black people. He said things like, “Gay people are minorities until they need to be White again.”
Before he began his routine, he unfolded a small piece of paper and read from it: “‘I denounce antisemitism in all its forms. And I am with my Jewish friends. That’s how you buy yourself some time.
Chappelle said he could see if one had an issue, and that he could try to make a connection in Hollywood.
He stated that you can’t blame Black Americans for bad things that happen to Jewish people around the world. You can’t.
In an apparent nod to the backlash some comics receive when audiences find their jokes offensive, Chappelle ended the monologue by admitting to the audience he no longer enjoyed performing in front of large crowds, saying “it shouldn’t be this scary to talk about anything, it makes my job incredibly difficult.”
The special was nominated for two Primetime Emmys. Chappelle told his audience that he was willing to converse with trans critics, but was not bending to anyone’s demands, after the release of his special.
He joked about the suspension of the Brooklyn Nets star, who posted a link to an antisemitic film that asserts the Holocaust never happened. “Black a– was nowhere near the Holocaust,” said Chappelle.
A new segment featuring white anchors joking with a Black blues artist about the title of his album, until he tells them it was a hole slaves dug to hide their most valued possessions from plantation owners. But Chappelle’s monologue had already thrown me off balance; another moment when an artist who fans admire for illuminating issues in surprising ways chose a different path, letting us all down in the process.
Greenblatt said that DaveChappelle shouldn’t serve as society’s moral compass but that it was disturbing to see NBC popularizing antisemitism. Why do Jewish sensitivities get denied or diminished at almost every turn? Why does our trauma make people happy?
The controversial comic hosted the show and addressed the firestorm around Kanye West, who has legally changed his name to “Ye,” following his remarks about Jewish people.
“If they’re Black, then it’s a gang. Chappelle said if they are Italian, it is a mob. It is a coincidence that they are Jewish, and you should not speak about it.
Antisemitism, Homophobia, and Racism: The Case of the Irving-West Black Managment
Mark Goldfeder is the CEO and director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, a nonprofit group dedicated to ensuring equality and defending Jewish rights. His own views are expressed here. Read more opinion on CNN.
It is right and proper to be angry when people are openly antisemitic – even when those people happen to be Black. There is no way that anyone inside or outside the Jewish community who is upset at Irving and West are anti or blaming Black Americans as a group. Setting up that false dichotomy (you are either with every Black person always, even when they are antisemitic, or else you are against all Black Americans) is not only wrong it is also both dangerous and stupid. It is dangerous due to the fact that it continues to feed the fire of baseless hate and is stupid due to the fact that it is alienating long time allies from each other.
It’s possible for more than one group to be taken advantage of and that standing up for one group does not affect any other group. You can be against homophobia and against antisemitism and against racism all at the same time, without in any way cheapening any one of them. There are some things that are only black and white.