A new Netflix-produced romcom by Jonah Hill and Kenya Barris tells the story of Ezra, a white Jew, and Amira, a Black Muslim, whose love affair is challenged by the patronizing, casual racism of Ezra’s progressive mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and the antisemitism and militant separatism of Amira’s Farrakhan-loving father (Eddie Murphy). Jewish commentators across the political spectrum have responded overwhelmingly negatively, accusing the film of everything from perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Jewish women, to trafficking in conspiracy theories, to inciting violence against Jews. Jewish Currents editor-in-chief Arielle Angel, JC contributing writer Rebecca Pierce, critic and essayist Jasmine Sanders, and writer and Know Your Enemy co-host Sam Adler-Bell discuss these over-the-top critiques and explore why similarly cringe and stereotypical depictions of the Black family did not raise alarms among Black or Jewish critics.

Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for producing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).” 

ARTICLES, BOOKS, AND FILMS MENTIONED:

You People on Netflix

“In Jonah Hill’s offensive new movie, a Black-Jewish love story comes with a side of conspiracy theories,” Mira Fox, The Forward

“Netflix Hit 'You People' Branded 'Horribly Damaging' to Jewish People,” Ryan Smith, Newsweek

“‘You People’ Normalizes Farrakhan’s Views On Jews,” Allison Josephs, Jew in the City

“'You People' and the Tediousness of the Interracial Romcom,” Zeba Blay, Jezebel

We Charge Genocide

“Precious Angel,” Bob Dylan

Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris