OUDC: Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges

On Tuesday, June 18, The Hampton Years will be featured as part of Operation Understanding DC's Benefit Fundraiser: Blacks and Jews:  Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges. Enjoy an evening of film and theatrical presentations as well as discussions to learn about how refugee Jewish professors and their Black students forged profound connections from their shared, firsthand experience with brutal oppression and came together both to learn and to fight prejudice, a connection and a goal that OUDC continues to advance and support today.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
In the 1930s, Jewish intellectuals fled Nazi Germany for refuge in the United States, where they hoped to resume their teaching careers. At the hallowed universities of the East, they were met with anti-Semitism and anti-German hostility. Without a home and unable to further their scholarship, they finally found a welcoming community: the Black colleges and universities of the Jim Crow South. While they were welcomed and valued within these institutions, the refugee scholars experienced anti-Semitism and ostracism in the white communities in the South where they lived.

Stephen Fischler

Jacqueline E. Lawton

Jim Loewen

This program will include:
Introduction by Jim Loewen, an historian and sociologist who taught at historically Black Tougaloo College, the University of Vermont and now Catholic University. He is the author of Lies My Teacher Told Me.

Presentation by Stephen Fischler of Pacific Street Films who will share clips from the fascinating documentaryFrom Swastika to Jim Crow, highlighting the saga of the Jewish scholars through revealing interviews with their Black students.

Staged Reading of a scene from The Hampton Years, Jacqueline Lawton’s powerful new play that explores the relationship between art professor Viktor Lowenfeld and two of his students. Ms. Lawton, whose play will be staged at Theatre J in June, will introduce the reading.

These presentations will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Steve Fischler, Jacqueline Lawton and Jim Loewen with Q&A from the audience. Please enjoy these wonderful photos by Lloyd Wolf!

Make A Donation


Operation Understanding DC does not charge students for their participation in our year-long, cross-cultural education program.  Their experiences are made possible entirely by the generous support of individuals, foundations, corporations and congregations. Thank you for your investment in our young leaders.


Click here to make a donation.

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Operation Understanding DC's mission is to build a generation of African American and Jewish community leaders who promote respect, understanding and cooperation while working to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination.Our students are dedicated to stamping out racism and anti-Semitism wherever they encounter it. They build bridges between the Black and Jewish communities. But, they do not stop there. They use their skills, vision and passion to bring together people of all different ethnicities, races, religions, socio-economic backgrounds and sexual orientations. Our young leaders are changing the world, one person at a time.

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Theater J presents the world premiere of
THE HAMPTON YEARS
by Jacqueline E. Lawton
Directed by Shirley Serotsky
Dramaturgy by Otis Ramsey-Zoe
May 29 - June 30, 2013
www.theatrej.org
www.boxofficetickets.com