Ms. Humes Contemporary American History. What is Race? race does not exist biologically; we are only of the “human race” race has been social constructed.

The HolocaustMs. Humes

Contemporary American History

What is Race? •race does not exist biologically;

we are only of the “human race”

• race has been social constructed (created by society) to categorize people

•there is nothing racist about people of color using race as a self-empowering identity (ie. “Black Power”)

•racial categories are racist when used to discriminate and oppress

What is racism? • Racial Prejudice: judging a

person without knowing him / her simply based on negative and inaccurate racial stereotypes

• Institutional Racism: a system of advantage based on race; in U.S., this system privileges whites and disadvantages people of color.

What does it mean to be Jewish?

To be Jewish can involve the following:

•Ancestry: Jewish people trace their ancestry back to the ancient Hebrew people

•Culture: unique traditions, holidays, celebrations, foods and language (Hebrew, Yidish…)

•Religion of Judaism, which goes back to Abraham, Isaac and Joseph and believes the “Children and Land of Israel” are uniquely chosen by God

Nazis and anti-Semitism

•Anti-Semitism: hatred of Jews

•Nazis believed Jews were a “bastard” race, “tainted” offspring of “mixed blood” ancestry

•Nazis hated Jews because:

1. they were different2. it helped them define “Aryan”

by isolating the “other”3. they were an easy

“scapegoat” for Germany’s problems

4. Fascism desires a homogenous “nation”

5. Nazis could claim coveted resources

Classifying the “Races”

Nazi Race Posters

“The Evil Jew”

Nazi anti-Semitism “Race” Poster

“The Evil Jew”

“The Jew is a Bastard”

“The one who wears this is the enemy of the German people”

“Mixed Race” vs. “Pure Race”

Timeline of the Holocaust

1933: •Hitler becomes Chancellor, then later Furher of Germany•Nazis pass sterilization laws

•1935:•Nuremburg laws define and discriminates against Jews

•1938:•Kristallnacht – pogrom against Jews in Germany and Austria

•1939:•Invasion of Poland – Jews imprisoned for forced labor in concentration camps

Timeline of the Holocaust cont.

1940: •Jews and others in ghettos when camps are too full

1941:•Nazis invade Soviets; use shooting death squads on Jews in former Soviet territory•Nazis experiment with gas vans

1942:•Final Solution: Nazis begin full elimination of Jews in gas chambers

1943:•Allies invade German controlled Europe through Italy

Timeline of the Holocaust cont.

1944: •D-Day - Allies invade Nazis controlled Europe in Normandy, France

1945:•Allies discover first Concentration Camps as they close in on Berlin•May 8: VE Day - Victory in Europe, Nazis surrender•Aug. 15: Victory in Japan, Japan surrenders