May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a celebration of the contributions of Jewish Americans to American history. The intertwined experiences of Jews and Black Americans are highlighted by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1958 address to the American Jewish Congress: “My people were brought to America in chains. Your people were driven here to escape the chains fashioned for them in Europe. Our unity is born of our common struggle for centuries, not only to rid ourselves of bondage but to make oppression of any people by others an impossibility.”
An example of this unity is seen in the actions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which hired Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany as professors. Founded after the Civil War, HBCUs aimed to educate newly-emancipated Black individuals in the South, offering education otherwise inaccessible due to pervasive discrimination.
When Hitler came to power in 1933, he swiftly excluded Jews from German society through antisemitic legislation inspired by Jim Crow laws in the Southern United States. Jews were removed from civil service positions and barred from influential roles in arts, broadcasting, and academia. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 revoked their citizenship, leading to further persecution and eventual deportation to death camps.
Jewish scholars sought refuge abroad but faced significant barriers due to rampant antisemitism in academic institutions worldwide. Many universities had quotas limiting Jewish students and faculty members. However, HBCUs saw an opportunity amidst prejudice and welcomed these scholars, providing them with jobs that allowed them to emigrate and save their lives.
Nineteen HBCUs offered positions to 53 Jewish professors fleeing Nazi terror. Ernst Manasse, who found refuge at North Carolina Central University, reflected on his experience: “If I had not found a refuge at the time, I would have been arrested, deported to a Nazi concentration camp, tortured, and eventually killed.” Instead, he taught there until 1973.
The new faculty members and their students faced cultural shocks; many had never encountered someone from such different backgrounds before. Despite language barriers and unfamiliarity with each other's cultures, they found common ground through shared experiences of discrimination.
These interactions broadened perspectives on both sides. Georg Iggers at Philander Smith College noted that racial segregation reminded him of Nazi Germany but emphasized that it was Black Americans who suffered under it. John Herz at Howard University stated that mutual sympathy united Jewish refugees with Black Americans against persecution.
Notable relationships formed during this period include Viktor Lowenfeld mentoring muralist John Biggers at Hampton College and Ernst Borinski organizing meetings between white and Black groups at Tougaloo College despite segregation rules.
Prominent figures like former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders credit their success partly due to mentorship from Jewish professors at HBCUs.
Reflecting on these historical connections underscores the importance of civil rights progress today. The Civil Rights Division has prosecuted over 110 hate crimes since January 2021 involving more than 120 defendants while securing convictions against those committing racially motivated violence or violating constitutional rights.
Efforts also include recovering $120 million through initiatives combating lending discrimination alongside ongoing work protecting voting rights and advancing equal opportunities across various sectors nationwide — particularly within underserved communities including HBCUs across multiple states.
Elie Wiesel's words resonate deeply amid rising antisemitism: “We must always take sides... Neutrality helps the oppressor...” Good people across diverse backgrounds continue resisting oppression even during dark times—a legacy honored by continued efforts within organizations like the Civil Rights Division.