1. Jewish Contributions to Civil
Rights in the United States
By Allison Schottenstein

2. Introduction
• A doctoral student in history, Allison Schottenstein has
conducted extensive research into the role of Jewish people in
the civil rights movement. Also a member of the Southern
Jewish Historical Society, Allison Schottenstein has presented
on her findings before this and other religious and cultural
organizations.
Throughout the history of the American South, Jewish
individuals have stood out as supportive of equal rights for all.
In the 19th century, Jewish store owners developed a
reputation for addressing black customers with respect and
allowing them to try clothing on for size. They had begun by
the early 20th century to speak out for racial equality and
even to support the cause financially, as evidenced by the
philanthropy of Sears Roebuck chairman Julius Rosenwald.

3. Civil Rights in the United States
• Jewish individuals also proved instrumental in the
founding of prominent civil rights societies, such as
the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) and the Leadership
Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Jewish
philanthropists enabled the founding of 20 black
colleges and more than 2,000 schools between 1910
and 1940, and such support continued into he
beginning of the civil rights movement.
Prominent Jewish individuals such as Edith Stern,
daughter of Julius Rosenwald, contributed
generously to civil rights initiatives.

4. Conclusion
• Jewish people also participated personally in such
initiatives; in fact, approximately half of the
participants in 1964's Mississippi Freedom Summer
were Jewish. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel stood
by Dr. King's side in his march on Selma, Alabama,
in 1965, and the Religious Action Center of Reform
Judaism hosted the drafting of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In
helping others achieve equal status, as they
themselves had worked to do, Jewish individuals in
the United States have played a key role in shaping
the country's cultural attitudes.