Can You Hear Me?

From: Claire Schoen
Series: ILLUMINATIONS: Jewish Culture in the Light of the World
Length: 59:00

"Can Your Hear Me?" is an hour-long audio documentary exploring the history of conflict and coalition between Blacks and Jews in America. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Promos

Playing: Can You Hear Me?
From: Claire Schoen

Canyouhearme_small Over the decades, the relationship between African Americans and Jewish Americans has been a push and pull of common interests and mutual recriminations. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's the Jewish concept of "Tikkun Olam" or Repairing the World was a driving force for young Jewish activists who went to the South to register Black voters and link arms with Black protesters. African Americans embraced these Jews as brothers and sisters from another oppressed group. However, with the rise of Black nationalism at home and increased turmoil in Israel, this hopeful period was followed by an angry break between the two groups, resulting in racism and anti-Semitism. "Can Your Hear Me" follows this saga and then looks at how these two cultures have worked towards reconciliation through a rediscovery of their common humanity. (Each of the 3 shows in this series can be broadcast as stand-alone programs.)

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Piece Description

Over the decades, the relationship between African Americans and Jewish Americans has been a push and pull of common interests and mutual recriminations. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's the Jewish concept of "Tikkun Olam" or Repairing the World was a driving force for young Jewish activists who went to the South to register Black voters and link arms with Black protesters. African Americans embraced these Jews as brothers and sisters from another oppressed group. However, with the rise of Black nationalism at home and increased turmoil in Israel, this hopeful period was followed by an angry break between the two groups, resulting in racism and anti-Semitism. "Can Your Hear Me" follows this saga and then looks at how these two cultures have worked towards reconciliation through a rediscovery of their common humanity. (Each of the 3 shows in this series can be broadcast as stand-alone programs.)

Broadcast History

The radio series, "Illuminations" was originally produced and distributed in 1992 under the title, "Heart of Wisdom." The current 3-hour series has been updated and reversioned for this release.

Transcript

Series Title: Illuminations Jewish Culture in the Light of the World
Program Title: Can You Hear Me?

Show Intro (Schoen):
Welcome to, "Illuminations: Jewish Culture in the Light of the World." This program, "Can You Hear Me," looks at the complex relationship between Blacks and Jews in America.

The psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, in his book Gandhi's Truth used the term "pseudo-speciation" to talk about how one group of people can see another group as less than human, as not of the same species. It's easy to disregard, to denigrate, even to oppress others who are viewed as fundamentally different from us.

This has been one aspect of the story between Blacks and Jews in the United States. But, there's another side to this relationship -- one of common interest, respect, even brotherhood as Jews and Blacks linked arms during the Civil Rights era in the hopes of forging a new soci...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

Series Title: "Illuminations: Jewish Culture in the Light of the World"
Program Title: "Can You Hear Me?"
Total Program Length 59:00

00:00:00 Incue:
(Music)
Narrator: "Welcome to, "Illuminations: Jewish Culture in the Light of the World." This program, "Can You Hear Me," looks at the complex relationship between Blacks and Jews in America..."

00:27:01 Outcue:
(Music)
Narrator: "You're listening to "Illuminations: Jewish Culture in the Light of the World." This program, "Can You Hear Me" explores the history of conflict and coalition between African Americans and Jews in the United States. We'll be back in a minute."

60 sec music bed for ID

00:28:01 Incue:
Dude: "You can't trust a Jew. They will turn White on you in a minute."
Urbie: "You people! You show no appreciation at all. Come on, have you..."

00:59:00 Outcue:
Narrator: "In Memory of Barbara Christian, formerly a professor of African American studies at the University of California, Berkeley, who has passed away since her interview was originally recorded. I'm Claire Schoen..."
(Music to the end)