You Can Not Win

From my inbox, some concern over my classification of racist Jews as racist whites:

I was reading your comments in the story 'Feel the hate'. According to the article you said "For what it's worth, on a very visceral level, what I see is a bunch of drunk racist white kids, doing what I'd expect a bunch of drunk racist white kids to do."

I take offense at your comment. Jews are not White. Why are you blaming "white kids" for this racial hatred when no white kids were involved? When Jews do good things they're Jews, and when they do bad things they're white?

I guess. For what it's worth Michael Schewner and Andrew Goodman were always as white to me as, say, John Brown. But somehow, in this instance, I don't think that helps.

That said, I know there are plenty of Jewish people who don't believe they are white. I have no idea what percentage of Jews hold that opinion, though I suspect it's a minority. I don't really know what to do with that information, besides acknowledging it, and offering deference when I'm made aware of such a case.

UPDATE: Sorry guys I botched that "plenty of Jewish people who believe they are white." There should have been a don't in there. Fixt now.