Questions on Whiteness, White Identity and White Culture

submitted by Fonched from self.debatealtright

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[–]Jackalope 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Although, what about their classification in America

I am not sure if they were documented as White or as to how they would get in if they weren't.

Yeah...you bring up an interesting issue here as Whoopi Goldberg found out recently, lol. I think this issue is complicated by the fact that Jews often look somewhat white i.e. can pass for it. Even consider an 'Octaroon' like Megan Markle: you can tell she isn't 100% white. I don't think you would be able to identify an 'Octajew' by sight the same way.

The genetic origins of the Jews are somewhat contested, but I do have some thoughts. I don't particularly buy the Khazar origins theory, it doesn't seem well substantiated. The theory that seems most likely to me is supported by studies that looked at different Jewish groups. Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, and Sephardic. While these groups are heterogenous, they all have some common heritage that appears to derive from ancient Iranian peoples, but mixed with different groups as the migrated. This seems plausible, and explains the Middle Eastern origins, as well as the light skin coloring (Persians from Iran can also be extremely light skinned). From what I recall, the Ashkenazi Jews also have a good deal of Southern European (Presumable Italian) ancestry as well, but can't remember the composition of the other groups. I think today's Jews are very likely 'whiter' than the Jews of the past, but I would still categorize them as Middle Eastern, as this is the cultural, religious, and genetic legacy that still defines this group of people today.

[–]Fonched[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Great ideas. But there is still a question about the converts, those mixed with other races, or even other default categories such as Ethiopian Jews which can make Jewishness less easily definable.

Meanwhile, about their White status. I heard that Jews were switched over to being deemed White in 1930, while the general American public began seeing them as White following World War II and suburbanization, where they shared communities with Whites. They also often assert that they are considered White because of 'white privilege'.