Prejudice in the United States

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Discussion… How do infants and small children learn social behavior? What are some of the positives and negatives of learning human behavior in this way? Is human behavior consistent in all societies?

Prejudice Prejudice is learned, not inherited. – A child learns their prejudices from their surroundings, his environment, the total situation in which s/he happens to learn.

“Negative Actions” that spring from prejudice Consider the following negative actions. What examples can you think of that fit into these categories? spoken abuse avoidance discrimination physical attacks on people/property genocide/extermination

Discussion… How might these examples of intolerance violate the founding principles of America?

Anti-Semitism What is Anti-Semitism? – Why is it a misnomer? Coined by German journalist Wilhelm Marr in 1870, it relates not to hatred of all Semites, but specifically to Jews while excluding Arabs who are also Semites.

Bias against Jews Jews have been accused of the characteristics of solidarity, exclusiveness, and superiority. In a society that systematically discriminated against Jews, Jewish solidarity was necessary from a physical and psychological point of view.

Contradictions in Common Anti-Semitic Beliefs Jews are seen as clannish; yet at the same time trying to push themselves into “where they are not wanted.” Jews are viewed as considering themselves as superior since they are God’s chosen people; yet they are seen as unscrupulous or guileless to gain control. Jews are seen as powerless; yet trying to control the world.

Treatment of Jews in America At the outset of the colonial experience, Jews were excluded as were other religious groups from participating fully in society. When large numbers of Jews began to arrive during the 19 th and early 20 th centuries, Jewish intolerance and the rejection of cultural & religious differences combined to lay the foundation for a pervasive anti-Semitism that became a national, well-entrenched phenomenon.

Historical Exclusion of the Jews Jews have been excluded historically since they were considered renegades from Christianity and the crucifiers of Christ. However: – Christ was a Jew – Romans crucified Jesus – Christian beliefs are based upon Judaism’s Ten Commandments and the Jewish Bible In modern times, anti-Semitism made a leap from religious hostility to racial anti-Semitism, excluding Jews from economic life and social status.