Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker turned activist, is not Jewish but he felt compelled to understand and address the pain antisemitism causes. Along with actor Noa Tishby, he has released a new book titled "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew." Acho had previously written "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," published in 2020, and said he saw this as an opportunity to bring attention to antisemitism.
"I feel like justice won't be served until those that are unaffected are as outraged as those that are affected. And so, though I am not a Jew, though I'm not a Jewish person, I said, what would happen, how much more powerful would we collectively be as a society, if rather than Black people simply fighting for Black people, women fighting for women, Jewish people fighting for Jewish people, we collectively fought together against hate, against oppression, against antisemitism?" Acho said.
The partnership between Acho and Tishby, a former Israeli special envoy for combating antisemitism, was established long before the recent surge in incidents of antisemitism and prior to the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7. This attack resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and over 200 individuals being held hostage in Gaza. Nationwide protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict have erupted. Legislation targeting antisemitism on college campuses is currently under consideration by Congress.
Tishby, commending Acho's dedication to the topic, emphasized the intricate nature of antisemitism, which often manifests in various disguises.
"Antisemitism is not as straightforward as racism. While racism involves a sense of superiority over others, antisemitism is a mutating conspiracy theory that evolves into different forms every few generations," Tishby explained.
Acho mentioned that the book also delves into different types of discrimination and stresses the significance of united efforts in combating hatred.
"You cannot truly empathize with someone unless you understand what causes them pain," Acho stated. "That was my main drive behind this project. I wanted to comprehend the struggles that affect my Jewish siblings so that I can stand in solidarity with them and fight alongside them."
