Friendship and Solidarity: The Grand Alliance for Civil Rights | Black and Jewish America

Explore the 1940s and the burgeoning “Grand Alliance” that Black and Jewish Americans forged in the lead-up to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Students will gain a better understanding of the tensions and triumphs between Black Americans and Jewish people in the United States. Despite their differences, Black Americans and Jewish Americans at all levels of society helped each other fight for their social and civil rights. This lesson highlights activism and shows how collaboration can span all corners of life, from the music studio to school reform to marches in the street. This lesson supports literacy, historical empathy, and critical analysis.