As prominent Black Americans continue their calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip — widespread accusations of antisemitism have been hurled at the Black community. Notably, The Morning Show actress Julianna Margulies said that Black people were “brainwashed to hate Jews.”
A recent YouGov/Economist poll, which found among other things that 13% of Black Americans believe the Holocaust is a myth, added fuel to that fire. However, it’s worth noting that the results were nearly identical to those of Hispanic Americans.
The Root spoke to experts on Black history about the poll, who shared that there’s much more going on here than a single survey can explain.
Ohio State University History Professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries says he’s surprised by the findings but adds that this could easily be chalked up to people not knowing the history.
“I’ve met plenty of students who have a vague idea of what it was, but when I tell them 6 million Jews were murdered, they’re like ‘no way, that’s impossible,” he said in a statement. “That’s being incredulous because of the sheer size and scope of the atrocity, and [not] really learning about it before, meaning that failure is on us as educators, and not a result of ill intent on their part.”
Jeffries added that this doesn’t mean Holocaust denial doesn’t happen. “I’m not saying Holocaust denialism isn’t real. It most certainly is,” he said. “I’m just saying there’s a difference between purposeful denial in the face of facts, and ignorance in the absence of facts.”
Black historical cartoonist and Boston University Professor Joel Christian Gill says he isn’t surprised by the findings. “I think it’s about misinformation and conspiracy theories,” says Gill, not antisemitism.
“Specifically, in the Black community, when you start thinking about conspiracy theories in general... some of that stuff just turned out to be real,” Gill noted. For example, the conspiracy theory that Black bodies were being stolen from morgues and cemeteries did turn out to be true in some high-profile cases. Black Americans are more likely to believe conspiracy theories because, in far too many cases, they’ve been confirmed, says Gill, noting that that is separate from issues of antisemitism.
Gill says he’s hopeful that the connection between Black Americans and Jewish people remains intact, even in this moment where many Black people have chosen to speak up in defense of the Palestinians. “I think the media is sensationalist, and so they see something like this and run with the idea that the Black community is antisemitic,” he says.