Race and Religion Among the Chosen People of Crown Heights

Race and Religion Among the Chosen People of Crown Heights examines the complex relationships between Lubavitcher Hasidic Jews and their predominantly Black Caribbean neighbors in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. The book draws on extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the years following the 1991 Crown Heights riot. The author documents daily interactions, tensions, and parallel claims to chosen-ness between these two communities who share the same streets but often live in separate social worlds. Through interviews and observations, the text explores how both groups understand and construct their identities in relation to each other. The narrative focuses on specific spaces and moments where these communities intersect, from street corners to community meetings to public celebrations. Key episodes from Crown Heights' history provide context for contemporary dynamics between residents. This anthropological study raises fundamental questions about how race and religion shape urban American life and community belonging. The work challenges conventional categories used to analyze identity and difference in multicultural neighborhoods.

Readers describe this academic ethnography as dense but valuable for understanding the complex racial and religious dynamics in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Readers appreciated: - Detailed research and first-hand accounts from both Black and Jewish residents - Clear explanation of historical context behind tensions - Fair representation of different community perspectives - Useful insights for those studying urban anthropology Common criticisms: - Academic writing style can be dry and jargon-heavy - Some felt the theoretical framework sections were overly long - Limited broader applicability beyond Crown Heights Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available One academic reviewer noted it "brings nuance to a topic often reduced to simplistic narratives." A community member praised how it "captures the day-to-day reality of Crown Heights life rather than just focusing on conflicts." The book appears most referenced in academic circles, with few reviews from general readers.

Black and Jewish by Rebecca Walker An ethnographic exploration of the complex relationships between Black and Jewish communities in New York City through personal narratives and historical analysis.

Becoming Black Jews by John L. Jackson Jr. A study of African Hebrew Israelites in Harlem that examines the intersection of racial identity and religious conversion.

Living Together, Living Apart by Jonathan Boyarin An anthropological investigation of Jewish life in the Lower East Side that documents interfaith and intercultural dynamics in urban spaces.

Between Arab and White by Sarah Gualtieri A historical examination of Syrian immigrants' navigation of racial categories and religious identity in twentieth-century America.

Black Power, Jewish Politics by Marc Dollinger A historical account of Jewish involvement in the civil rights movement and the subsequent tensions between Black and Jewish communities in urban America.

🔷 Crown Heights in Brooklyn became a focal point of racial tensions in 1991 when a car in the Lubavitcher Rebbe's motorcade struck and killed a 7-year-old Black child, Gavin Cato, leading to three days of riots between Black and Jewish residents. 🔷 Henry Goldschmidt conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Crown Heights while living in the neighborhood, attending both synagogue services and Black church services to understand both communities' perspectives. 🔷 The Chabad-Lubavitch movement established its headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights in 1940, transforming the neighborhood into a significant center for Hasidic Jewish life. 🔷 The Caribbean immigrant population in Crown Heights began growing significantly in the 1960s and 1970s, creating a unique cultural intersection between Hasidic Jews and West Indian Americans. 🔷 The book explores how both Black and Jewish residents of Crown Heights use religious narratives and biblical interpretations to understand their identity as "chosen people" and their relationship to each other.