The Disturbing Rise of Anti-Semitism Among Black Celebs
Nick Cannon and Ice Cube promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Diddy broadcasting Farrakhan. Anti-Semitism has no place in any anti-racist movement, writes Cassie da Costa.
Cassie da Costa
Entertainment Writer
Published Jul. 15, 2020 11:01PM ET
Often, we discuss conspiracy theories as if they are kooky yet benign tales spun by our neighbors, acquaintances, and even friends. But in America’s current political and cultural configuration, prejudice combined with ignorance often masquerades as legitimate thought and leads to devastating outcomes (just see how Floridian COVID-19 deniers are doing now). And in a society marked by incessant high-speed information and spin, anecdotal and instinctual bias becomes the basis of bad-faith arguments about free speech and a “marketplace of ideas.†As much as social media has brought us smart thinking by typically marginalized voices, it’s also allowed careless people with big platforms to speak more loudly—and without the immediate intervention of the wiser and better-informed people who may (or may not) surround them.
Recently, big-name Black entertainers like Ice Cube, Nick Cannon, Diddy, the Jacksons (Stephen and DeSean), and even beloved Black author Alice Walker, have spouted age-old anti-Semitic talking points—usually by quoting known bigot Louis Farrakhan—insisting that “the Jews†run everything, and locating Black liberation in anti-Jewish suspicion.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-disturbing-rise-of-anti-semitism-among-black-celebs-from-diddy-and-nick-cannon-to-ice-cube?source=articles&via=rss
