Jewish Identity and Civil Rights in America

This book examines the legal and policy issues behind the ambiguity involved with civil rights protections for Jewish students.

Kenneth L. Marcus (Author)

9780521127455, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 August 2010

224 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.31 kg

'… will be of considerable help to scholars of legal decisions regarding 'whiteness' and discrimination. The review of decisions is very helpful, and his criticism of the various approaches to defining discrimination is balanced, cogent, and useful.' Patricia Roberts-Miller, Human Rights Review

Given jurisdiction over race and national origin but not religion, federal agents have had to determine whether Jewish Americans constitute a race or national origin group. They have been unable to do so. This has led to enforcement paralysis, as well as explosive internal confrontations and recriminations within the federal government. This book examines the legal and policy issues behind the ambiguity involved with civil rights protections for Jewish students. Written by a former senior government official, this book reveals the extent of this problem and presents a workable legal solution.

1. The dilemma of Jewish difference
2. The Jewish question in civil rights enforcement
3. The nature of the new campus anti-Semitism
4. Criticisms
5. First Amendment issues
6. Misunderstanding Jews and Jew-hatred
7. Institutional resistance
8. The originalist approach
9. Scientific theories
10. Social perception
11. The subjective approach
12. Anti-Semitism as harm to racial identity.

Subject Areas: Laws of Specific jurisdictions [LN], Civil rights & citizenship [JPVH1], Human rights [JPVH], Jewish studies [JFSR1]