#like we're part of the same tribe and if only one minchag is accepted as white that's pretty problematic

[hindahoney]

As an Ashkenazi with solely european ancestry, I do consider myself white because, while a couple of my family members are racially ambiguous, I think it's fair to acknowledge that, as far as the racial framework of the US where I live, I am viewed and treated as a white person. This in itself makes me white for all purposes. Therefore I consider myself a white ashkenazi, with the white label being most relevant to my position in society. It may be worth noting that I am not very visibly jewish.

I understand your point, however just because others view you as white doesn't mean you're white. There are plenty of people part of a racial or ethnic minority who are white-passing but this doesn't mean they are actually white. It's important to point out that it's only within the last 50 years or so that Jews are thought of as white (during Jim Crow we were classified as "yellow eurasians" and were also redlined, there's a reason why many jewish communities are right next to other minority communities in cities), and that idea is primarily an American one due to the prevalence of Ashkenazi immigration following the Shoah. The American racial divide is on a black/white binary, while much of the rest of the world is on an east/west divide. As is evident, Jews don't fit in the American binary and neither do plenty of other groups.

Some Jews who do not wear cultural identifiers and do not have stereotypical identifying features can pass as white, and thus benefit from the privileges that come with that. However, that is not the case for many Jews, so there are difficulties in categorizing us.

I'm not necessarily saying being Jewish is its own race, nor am I dismissing that idea (I'm fine with however individual Jews define themselves, I know plenty of people who believe either one), I'm just saying that Jews don't fit into the American concept of whiteness or the black/white binary, due mainly to the unique prejudices we face.

#ask Hinda #this is a big topic #again im not saying being jewish is a race #nor am i saying its not #i know people who believe both #and thats fine good for them #im less interested in categorizing our race than I am pointing out that whatever it is it isn't white #because that erases a ton of jews who don't fit that #esp mizrahi and sephardic jews #like we're part of the same tribe and if only one minchag is accepted as white that's pretty problematic #for a host of reasons