Black and Jewish College Students Discuss Shared Challenges at Post-Chat Unity Dinner
Nearly 500 guests in the metro Atlanta region gathered at the city’s oldest synagogue to hear a thought-provoking discussion from two of the nation’s top intellectuals on the interwoven relationship between Black and Jewish communities.
Harvard University professor, author, scholar and renowned researcher Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr., engaged in a Fireside Chat with UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax on April 25 at The Temple in Atlanta, GA. Moderated by WABE host and senior producer Lisa Rayam, the discussion highlighted ways Black and Jewish communities can work together to combat hate within their respective communities.
The evening opened with remarks from Dr. John H. Eaves, program director, Tikkun Olam initiative, UNCF, which has hosted a series of Unity Dinners at college campuses across the country over the past two years to strengthen Black-Jewish relations. Eaves introduced The Temple’s Associate Rabbi, Lydia Medwin, who welcomed guests to the historic synagogue. There was also an abbreviated viewing of Gates’ PBS documentary “Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History”.
Discourse between the two scholars included topics such as allyship, the current state of Black-Jewish relations, the rise and impact of White supremacy and how one’s personal history shapes one’s understanding of other communities. Students from area colleges including Clark Atlanta University (a UNCF-member institution) and Emory University, also had the opportunity to ask questions.
Dr. Lomax noted the significant increase in threats at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), at a time when the nation has also witnessed rising attacks on Jewish communities.
“For me, the most powerful foundation for real allyship is the ability to work together for a common purpose,” Dr. Lomax said. “Allyship will also mean that when it gets really tough for one [community], you’re there to help them on that issue. And I think right now, both of us—the Black and the Jewish community—need one another.”
After the conclusion of the Fireside Chat, more than 50 college students—identifying as Black, Jewish or Black and Jewish—remained on site for a Unity Dinner, a meaningful discussion while breaking bread over a Kosher meal. Dr. Eaves discussed the rise in antisemitism and anti-Black racism in recent years—particularly on college campuses. These Unity Dinners, held in partnership with UNCF, the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, and Hillel International, are a way to listen with intention, engage with honest, and sometimes difficult, but necessary conversation and build bridges between communities.
“As someone who is Black and Jewish, this history is not just something I studied; it is something that I carry that shapes how I see the world, and it informs why this work matters–my friends–deeply to me,” Dr. Eaves stated as he opened the event. “We are also seeing a growing distance between the Black and Jewish communities. For many young people, this shared history is no longer widely known. The connection that once felt natural feels unfamiliar.”
Through this partnership, UNCF, Blue Square Alliance, and Hillel International host Unity Dinners across the country, bringing together hundreds of HBCU and Hillel students to strengthen Black–Jewish partnerships. After reaching more than 600 students in 2025, the initiative is on track to engage more than 2,100 students in 2026.
View photos from the Atlanta Unity Dinner and Fireside Chat here and watch the full recording of the Fireside Chat here.
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About UNCF
UNCF is one of the nation’s largest and most effective supporters of higher education and serves as a leading advocate for college-bound students. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion to support students’ access to higher education, provide scholarships and strengthen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, UNCF awards more than 13,000 scholarships to more than 10,000 students totaling more than $64 million. The scholarships support students attending more than 600 US-based colleges and universities, including 37 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped generations of students to get to and through college. We believe a college education plays a vital role in strengthening the pipeline of leaders and professionals who advance our society. Our logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education, and our widely recognized trademark is ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Instagram.
About the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate
The Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, formerly known as the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), was founded by Robert Kraft in 2019 to stand up to Jewish hate and all hate by inspiring Americans to become active allies in the fight. The Blue Square Alliance looks to reach the nearly 50% of Americans who are unengaged in the fight against hate and inspire them to stand up to it. In 2023, the Blue Square # was established as the universal symbol of unity in combating hate, allowing all allies to wear and share their support.
About Hillel International
Founded in 1923, Hillel has been impacting the lives of Jewish college students and countering antisemitism on campus for more than 100 years. Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with emerging adults at more than 850 colleges and universities. During their formative college years, students are inspired to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.
