In a powerful journey of solidarity and understanding, Cydney Wallace, a Black Jewish community activist, embarked on a trip to Israel and the West Bank at the invitation of a Palestinian American community organizer. Alongside two dozen other Black Americans and faith leaders from different backgrounds, Wallace sought to learn more about the struggles of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation. The trip began on September 26, but tragically, it was abruptly cut short on October 7 due to devastating attacks by Hamas militants on Israel.

During her time in Israel and the West Bank, Wallace witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by Palestinians and gained a deeper understanding of their plight. This experience further solidified her commitment to addressing anti-Black sentiment within the American Jewish community and dismantling white supremacy in the United States. However, the shocking images of destruction and death resulting from Israel's subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip have galvanized activists around the world, including a growing number of Black Americans, who now see parallels between the Palestinian struggle and their own fight for racial equality and civil rights.

The recent surge of protest movements against police brutality in the U.S., fueled by the pervasive structural racism in American society, has forged a common cause between Black and Palestinian activists. However, this newfound kinship has strained the long-standing alliance between Black and Jewish activists. While some Black American groups have denounced the U.S. support for Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory and protested for the Palestinians' right to self-determination, some Jewish Americans fear that this support may escalate antisemitism and weaken the Jewish-Black ties that were fortified during the Civil Rights Movement.

The concerns raised by Jewish Americans about the lack of understanding regarding Israel and the impact of the October 7 attacks on their community are valid. Bob Kaplan, the executive director of The Center for Shared Society at the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, emphasized that antisemitism must be denounced as any form of hate, just as racism causes trauma and fear in the Black community. However, he also acknowledged that many Jews in the U.S. recognize that supporting the Palestinian cause does not necessarily conflict with their regard for Israel.

A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that Black adults were more likely than white and Hispanic adults to believe that the U.S. is too supportive of Israel. However, Black Americans were not significantly more likely than others to believe that the U.S. is not supportive enough of the Palestinians. Generational divides were also evident, with younger Americans more inclined to criticize the level of U.S. support for Israel.

The support of Black Americans for the Palestinian cause dates back to the Civil Rights Movement and has been championed by various prominent figures, including Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Angela Davis. Recent acts of violence, such as the 2021 Israel-Hamas war and Israel's subsequent bombing campaign against Gaza, have further strengthened the ties between the Black and Palestinian movements. Ahmad Abuznaid, the director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, highlighted that the current generation is continuing the legacy of fighting for freedom and justice.

The parallels between the treatment of Palestinians under Israeli occupation and the experiences of Black Americans within the U.S. prison system have also contributed to the growing solidarity between the two communities. The release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners during a truce between Israel and Hamas highlighted the similarities between Israel's administrative detention policy, where detainees are held without trial, and the disproportionate incarceration of Black people in the U.S. for low-level offenses.

Rami Nashashibi, the executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, who organized the “Black Jerusalem” trip, emphasized the importance of supporting each other in the face of shared struggles. He believed that his Palestinian identity had been shaped by Black American history. The trip itself provided Wallace and the other participants with eye-opening experiences, such as witnessing the differential treatment at Israeli checkpoints and encountering symbols like the Palestinian key, which resonated with their own histories of oppression.

The trip, unfortunately, ended on a tragic note with the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants, leading to a devastating loss of life in Israel and a continuation of violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Back in Chicago, Wallace has faced the challenge of speaking out in support of Palestinians while also maintaining her Jewish identity and standing against antisemitism. She believes that these two aspects are not mutually exclusive and is determined to do what she believes is right, regardless of any potential alienation.

The journey of “Black Jerusalem” has shed light on the deepening solidarity between Black Americans and Palestinians, as they continue to fight for justice, freedom, and equality. While concerns about antisemitism and the strain on Black-Jewish relations exist, there is a growing recognition that supporting the Palestinian cause can coexist with a regard for Israel. As the struggle for racial equality and civil rights persists in both the U.S. and Palestine, the voices of Black and Palestinian activists united in their fight for justice provide a powerful reminder of the importance of solidarity and empathy in overcoming oppression.