Being Black or a Person of Color = ISRAELI SECURITY Threat?

Has being Black in America created a naivety of the non-censored world of racism?

I have always considered myself to be very fortunate in that I did not grow up confronted with a lot of discrimination or racism. Of course there were episodes of both but I’ve never known the harshness of the historical Jim Crow and its immediate aftermath. Overt racism was something that was not omnipresent, rather it was associated with “others” bad people, stupid people, immoral people. My parent’s generation and generations before them fought so that I would never truly experience this historical pain. However, more than ever, and due to a recent event here in Israel, I wonder- did the absence of confrontation and interactions with racism make me unsuitable to deal/ cope with it? Have I been sheltered from a reality that may be censored in the United States but is rampant around the world? Perhaps so. Perhaps, the lack of experience has made it harder for me to properly address and cope with it. (Regardless, thank G-d I do not have to experience of confront racism every day in the US. 

This past Thursday my friends and I went to the airport awaiting an exciting trip to Cairo. Well Cairo was amazing but airport security was not. All my white, Ashkenazi, Jewish friends went through security without any problems, but of course- not I, instead I was put through an extensive search. Here is the story.

My friend and I arrive to Ben Gurion airport and we are waiting in line. As is procedure, El Al always starts with a few questions. My friend was the first to be questioned and with short, very frank, and spoken with a slight but noticeable attitude, he answered the questions. Then it was my turn; I answered all the questions and was very thorough, polite and cooperative. Then came the usual question. Do you belong to a synagogue? I answered yes, Kol Emet. Usually, they stop at that but then came the question “what kind of synagogue is it”? Now the question and especially the wording of this question is important. Usually, they never ask for denomination because a Jew is a Jew is a Jew to them. However, if they were to ask, they would be more likely to ask for denomination… reform, orthodox etc. However, they did not ask me for my denomination- they asked me “what kind”. Which basically translates into- what type of Jew are you, implying a lack of jewishness or a partial denial of the fact. I’ve heard this question before the “How are/can you be Jewish” question that is hinted at in subtle but noticeable ways. Interestingly, this specific question was not asked to my friend. Basically, it’s was a loaded question and the average Jew, such as my friend, wouldn’t understand the subtext; I knew exactly what he meant. Therefore, I guess I was less surprised when I received the number 5, which basically means- possible security threat, and I was asked to go through more security. Interesting, I answer all the questions and I was polite might I add, especially compared to my friend- a white, Jewish, male. However, I was chosen as a possible security threat and not him.

About 15 mins after I arrive the other 2 friends both white, Jewish and American arrive at the airport. They are barely questioned and put right through… of course. My original friend who came with me did not realize that I was put in a different category and as he is getting ready to move through the next part of the process, he calls out and asks me what I am doing. I tell him that I waiting in line to get my bags searched. Then he says why? I point to the line- in the line there were 5 other people- all darks skinned Asians and I asked him… What do we all have in common? Before he could answer- I say “We are all people of color,” I am here because I am black, that’s why. I kind of made a joke out of it because in a sense it was funny that it was so obvious who was picked out as a “security threat” and who was not. However, at the same time, I was really sad, frustrated and angry. Also, considering that all my friends had now gotten through without a problem and were now all waiting for me was embarrassing. Have you ever wished that you weren’t black or a person of color? Well, I can’t speak for everyone but I can say that sometimes I do. WHY? Because the reality of the situation is that being black, or a person of color, in situations in which you are not necessarily the majority, brings about disadvantages worldwide, either on large scale or on a micro, everyday scale.

I waited in line with my Asian comrades, and after about 30 mins, it was finally my turn to get my bags searched. I had to unpack everything, my computer put through a bomb scan thing, and everything was thoroughly checked. I looked back at the guy who had decided that I was a “threat” and I just stared at him. I wanted to scream out “FUCK YOU ASSHOLE” but then I for sure would not have been allowed on the plane. I then questioned a guy behind the desk and said to him “ I came here with a bunch of my friends and none of them were stopped, why was I stopped?” He pretended like he had no idea what I was talking about and tried to turn it one me as if I was asking a stupid and unreasonable question. Then I told him just forget it, whatever. I wish I had not, I wish I had made a scene and had stood up for myself or at least made him feel as uncomfortable as I had felt. However, I did not want to make a scene and risk not going to Egypt. I was so frustrated and upset at this point not because my bags were being checked but because I had no voice and no one to listen to it. No one cared; this was their job. They were HIRED to DISCRIMINATE. They were paid to pull out all the people of color, the non-Jewy people and they probably get a bonus for every Arab person they put through high security. This is the reality of racism and there is nothing I could do or say to stop it. I was helpless; I am black. Israel seems to never let me forget that I am Black, thanks.

As I waited in line, my friends waited for me, just watching, there was nothing they could do. They spoke on my behalf telling the security that I was with them; having white Jews vouch for me definitely calmed them. While this is also a disheartening reality, it was really helpful having them use their privilege to speak on my behalf, which definitely facilitated my process. Finally, I get through and we are on our way. One of the ladies in security graciously walks me through the second check in and takes me through the remainder of security because she understands that we are in danger of missing out flight. She was nice and I thanked her because I know that she did not have to help me. Perhaps, she realizes that the system is unfair and racist but like me, what can she do?

I was upset, I wanted to cry and I fought back tears because I did not want to cry in front of my friends. I joked with them because it was easier to laugh than to cry. This is the reality of racism- sometimes its better to just let go, because too much energy is spent by worrying about it and by getting upset and knowing that there is nothing you can do you to change it at that moment.  I did not want this incident to ruin my long-awaited trip to Egypt. So I sucked it up for as long as I did and I cried on the plane when I felt that no one was watching or could see me. Whatever, I was sad, and it saddens me to remember and write this. It saddens me that this is a reality, it saddens me that I have to go through hurdles to be accepted in Israel, it saddens me that this is the unchangeable position for many people, especially Arabs and other people of color, worldwide.

While in Cairo, I met up with an Egyptian, American and Muslim friend of mine. He explained that when he visited Israel, he tried to make himself as presentable as possible to avoid too much negative stereotypes and generalizations. He shaved his beard, he wore nice clothes- basically, he tried not to be a threat. However, because of his Arab name he was held and questioned for 8 hours. I would have broken down but when asked he said he did not cry. Has he become hardened to the fact that this is the reality of life as an Arab man trying to go to Israel? My other Egyptian, American and Muslim friend experienced the same incident and spoke of it in the same way. It was an unfortunate reality and there was nothing they could do about it. I was sad for us, I was only put through extra security checks but I was not held for 8 hours. However, I have to ask myself the question…why was I stopped? Why was I considered a threat? I do not have a Muslim or an Arab name, I am Jewish and had proof, I am American, so what was the problem?

The hardest part of this process is that there is no one to direct blame? To whom should I direct my anger, who is responsible? Should I direct it at Israel, which in my opinion is many times an overtly racist country? Yes. Or should I blame the douchebag who gave me the 5 even after I answered all the questions so well? Yes. Perhaps I should blame the other douchebag who pretended that he didn’t know why I was pulled out of line and tried to act like I was unreasonable for asking? Yes Should I blame it on the terrorists who have attacked and are always planning to attack Israel, putting Israel in a constant state of alert and high security? Yes. Should I blame it on a fixed notion of a Jew and who is included and who is not? Yes. Do I blame humanity for creating the idea of “race” and my unfortunate position at the bottom of that hierarchy? Yes. Or perhaps should I blame it on myself for not realizing that this is the life of a person of color. (I guess yes) Color always being exempt from the justice of the law and thus always guilty before proven innocent. Or perhaps must I blame it on my parents generation and many before them, who worked and strived to create a life for me in which I would not know racism and consequently, how to respond to it? (NO- thank g-d for their hard work)SO then WHO? WHO is responsible? WHO? WHO? WHO?

I wish I knew the answer to that question. How can I cope with this reality? How will I respond next time this happens? Will I too get used to the additional questions and higher security allowing it to eventually seem natural to get signaled out? Must I take one for the team? I would not have minded being pulled out and questioned if there was a valid reason behind it. The reality was that they had no reason to signal me out. They did it because they can and they do; it’s a unilateral, power game. I wished, as I find myself wishing constantly in Israel that I was afforded the privileges given to the white, Ashkenazi, westernized, Jew – free to move, free to look like and wear whatever without being generalized and type-casted, free to be Jewish, free to own Israel and free to claim that ownership.