Students treating themselves to a spread of kosher fried chicken, cornbread and sweet potatoes last night at DuBois College House mixed more than Jewish and soul food.
They discussed the relationship between the Jewish and black communities on campus and in the world, taking the expression "food for thought" to a new level.
The event, which boasted nearly 75 attendees from Penn's campus and the West Philadelphia area, featured a panel discussion with students and Penn Law alumnus Sharif Street, son of Philadelphia Mayor John Street. The event was organized by the Penn Israel Coalition as part of Israel Week.
"The Jewish and black communities share commonalities born out of shared oppression," Street said. "Racism and anti-Semitism are real and connected."
The discussion coincided with the 37th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, and much of the dialogue centered on the collaboration between blacks and Jews during the civil rights movement. The political views shared among many blacks and Jews regarding domestic issues were also discussed.
Street told the audience that just because the oppression of the two groups in American society has dissipated over time does not mean that they should give up on social activism and collaboration.
"Back [during the civil rights movement] there was a sense of being in a foxhole together," he said in an interview after the event. "Thank goodness neither of our communities needs to feel that we are still in foxholes, but we should realize there is a lot to be gained by working together."
The event began with short statements from each of the panelists.
College junior Pierre Gooding talked about his experiences working with underprivileged students from West Philadelphia, while College junior Lauren Zeitels discussed her volunteer work in an impoverished Israeli immigrant community.
Engineering junior Bruce Trammell talked about an organized trip that he took with Penn Israel Coalition President and College senior Alexander Chester, in which they traveled to Georgia and Alabama to learn about the civil rights movement and Jewish involvement in the struggle.
Audience members asked many questions, such as whether cultural centers keep students from meeting people of other backgrounds.
College sophomore Ruben Brosbe, an audience member, called for greater social activism from his generation.
"In a few years, we're going to lose our connection with the generations that went through the Jim Crow laws and the Holocaust," he said. "We need to renew our sense of urgency and remind ourselves of what we are fighting for."
At the end of the discussion, Chester urged the participants to continue the conversation they had started.
"Right now it's 8 o'clock and it's not the end of the dialogue," he said. "It doesn't have to be something with free kosher soul food to get these communities together."
Chester said that community service in West Philadelphia and political lobbying and mobilizing are the best ways to put what was discussed last night into action. Organizers also hope to make the event annual.
Wharton sophomore Denise Sarkor, a native of Africa, said that she found the event very beneficial and that she would like to know members of the Jewish community better personally.
"There needs to be more events like these on a social level before talking about binding together to solve the major issues in our cultures," she said.
