16 Comments

Oh, for Christ’s sake! Walker, though she so innocently denies it, is an unapologetic antisemite. Did Khalid not know this or did she not care!?! Walker not only did the NYT interview indicating her support for the notorious Holocaust denier and conspiracy theorist, David Icke. But she’s put into her own words her hatred of Jews and the evils of our religion. This interview is appalling. Khalid, in her adoration of Walker, specifically paves the way for Walker to dismiss the accusations without interjecting any facts. The message sent here is that Walkers overt hatred of my people matter so little that it’s of no consequence? This is not only hurtful, it’s dangerous.

Can an apology, a correction, or something please be issued here?

Here are a few links to educate yourself.

Tablet Magazine: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-new-york-times-just-published-an-unqualified-recommendation-for-an-insanely-anti-semitic-book

NY Mag: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/alice-walkers-anti-semitic-poem-was-personal.html

Urban Faith: https://urbanfaith.com/2018/12/does-alice-walker-have-a-jewish-problem.html/

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And please learn about antisemitism. You may then understand the need to address it:

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/antisemitism

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In this gushing interview with Alice Walker, Ms Khalid allowed Ms Walker to say that the book reference that got her cancelled was just some book on her bookstand and took her statement at face value. The book that was on her bookstand was a book by the notorious antisemite David Icke whose book talks about a Jewish conspiracy to control the world, also asserting that Jews are lizard people. Ms Walker had promoted the book in an interview with the New York Times. Ms Walker has also refused to allow her books to be sold in Israel. It would have only been proper for Ms Khalid to confront Ms Walker on her antisemitism instead of the softball interview I just listened to.

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Consider reading this article - https://www.thedailybeast.com/alice-walker-is-not-an-anti-semite

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Did you read the other one or are you just throwing out ammunition? I am extremely hesitant to label anyone antisemitic or racist or anything else because in general I see that most social justice types have lost their freaking minds. So no, I will not be labeling Walker an antisemite. Pretty sure the reality is much more nuanced than throwing out that awful tropy label.

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did you read the article I used? I am not a SJW, but anyone who references favorably virulent antisemites like David Icke certainly needs to have their motives questioned, not ignored as the interviewer did. Ms Walker's background doesn't make it impossible for her to be an antisemite. Her actions are questionable at best. I don't think that the reality is as nuanced as you think

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Yes, I did read the article. Go ahead and vilify her. Have a great time!

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Alice Walker is a Jew hater. She has not been censored by a too-sensitive cadre of liberal academics; she has been exposed as a perpetuator of vile bigotry, conspiracy theories, and incitement against a religious, cultural and ethnic minority. The fact is, she has continued to have adoring fans and a platform despite her unrepentant slander. It seems that this podcast is yet one more place where people have been willing to either overlook or, worse, accept her Jew-hatred as being okay. That's not fighting for free speech; it's complicity.

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Ah ... it's actually fighting for free speech. 🤦. Hate speech is speech. Just because you don't like it doesn't justify censorship. You're why the right is winning on free speech and censorship issues.

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I don't know anything about Alice Walker's alleged anti-semitism, but I did purchase "The Color Purple" after listening to this interview. I bought an audio version (narrated by Samira Wiley). Like Dewey Crumpler said in a previous episode, "If it's in the world, it's for me."

And, just as Crumpler said in that interview (context was needed so that HS students could understand Victor Arnautoff's murals), I too needed Walker's context to understand her novel. It was an uncomfortable read and I can imagine I'd easily misinterpret her novel without having listened to her contextualize it prior. It took me a few chapters just to understand what was happening. Wiley is a superb narrater but my ear is not used to "black english" and early on, I found myself using online chapter summaries to supplement the book.

Was she cancelled because the book has fallen out of fashion? I don't know. I can imagine it so, but I may be reading David Icke next to see what these other commentators are on about.

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I really think this merits an answer and I wish someone would do that. No one is asking for cancellation, retribution, just accountability. I think that’s fair.

This is what your podcast cleansed Walker of; these are her own words:

1) https://alicewalkersgarden.com/2013/02/human-race-get-off-your-knees-i-couldnt-have-put-it-better-myself/

2) https://alicewalkersgarden.com/2017/11/it-is-our-frightful-duty-to-study-the-talmud/

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The poem (second listed hyperlink) doesn't strike me as anti-semitic. My first impression is that she is simply incorrect about what the Talmud and Biblical texts teach. And comparing Jesus to a Che Guevara of ancient past is to deeply misunderstand Jesus or Guevara or both. It's laughably inaccurate.

I am not familiar with David Icke so I can't comment on the first linked blogpost. Walker is obviously enamored with his novel. Can I infer from your comment that Malcom X's "blue-eyed devils" and Icke's reptilian race are Jews one and the same?

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You people are sooo ridiculous. So quick to crucify and label someone antisemitic, simply by voicing their opinion. Is a person not allowed to critique Jews? Because I'm critiquing you right now. And what glorious name do have for those right wing Jews responsible for taking the homes of the Palestinians?? What's that name???

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And the circle is now complete. This is how antisemitism works in today’s world.

Claims of antisemitism are simply dismissed outright by deflection and negation, rather than addressing the actual substance of the claim.

What I’m really trying to achieve is for people to educate themselves. Don’t attack Jews who call out bias. Learn so you may understand the issue. 🙏🏼

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You used a lot of words... However said NOTHING?

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