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Title: How Many Are the Black Hebrew Israelites? The Prevalence and Correlates of Black Hebrew Israelism
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2023
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Abstract: A series of recent, high-profile controversies have brought renewed attention to Black Hebrew Israelism (BHI), the belief that modern-day American blacks are descended from the ancient Israelites, while-according to some, but not all, Black Hebrew Israelites-modern-day Jews are not. BHI has been associated with both violence and antisemitism. But relatively little is known about its prevalence, or about how predictive BHI views are of antisemitism and support for violence. This report provides details on the prevalence and correlates of Black Hebrew Israelism, based on an original survey of 1,075 black Americans and 555 nonblack Americans. It finds: • Roughly 26% of the black population, and 14% of the nonblack population, plausibly profess to believe that modern American blacks are descended from the ancient Israelites, the key belief of Black Hebrew Israelism. • Roughly 9% of blacks and 3% of nonblacks credibly profess these beliefs and identify as "Hebrew Israelites." • Profession of these beliefs and identification as a Hebrew Israelite is associated with warmer feelings toward Jews. But it is also associated with a greater willingness to agree with antisemitic beliefs, such as the claim that Jews have greater loyalty to Israel, that boycotting Jewish businesses over Israel's actions is justified, and that Jews were involved in the slave trade. • Profession of BHI beliefs/identification is suggestively associated with greater support for political violence, but it is associated with greater support for interpersonal violence only among nonblack BHI believers. These findings suggest that Black Hebrew Israelism-at least in some of its more radical manifestations-may be one factor contributing to rising extremism and antisemitism.
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Authors: Lehman, Charles Fain
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Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Race and Ethnicity
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