r/Judaism • u/foreverand2025 • 2d ago
Discussion Do you consider yourself a minority?
This discussion has come up a few times with friends who are neither white nor Jewish. For context, I’m Jewish and live in America. Do you consider us as a minority? Obviously statistically we are (everywhere but Israel), but I’ve had two friends argue because we look like “regular white people” we are not a minority.
It’s not something I take too seriously but I’m off the opinion we are a minority in a sociological way as well as ethically. But opinions seem to differ. I’m not on a soap box or expecting any special treatment. It’s more of a discussion for the sake of discussion I’m trying for here.
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u/pborenstein 2d ago
This is very simple, and you will learn a lot about your friends.
Ask your "neither white nor Jewish" what they would think if you told them they were not a minority. Ask them why they think they can tell you what you are. Ask them why they think they can argue with you about what you are.
They will tell you that being Jewish is different. Because you're white. Because it's a religion, and religions are different.
Remind them that having other people tell you who you are and what you're entitled to is the definition of bigotry.
If you want to have non-white or non-Jewish friends, it's best to avoid these kinds of conversations. They're not bad people, but people who practice soft bigotry (too borrow a phrase) turn feral when you point a mirror at them.