Tikvah
Editors’ Pick

June 5, 2020

Lessons on Looting and Liberal Racism from the 1977 Blackout

Cant and pained messages.

In 1977, when New York City was at the nadir of its urban decay, a 25-hour electrical blackout struck much of the city leading to widespread looting and destruction of property. Midge Decter responded with a seminal essay in Commentary analyzing both its causes and the invidious prejudice white middle-class liberals (perhaps especially Jewish ones) revealed in their reactions. With unrest once again besetting America’s cities, her words are worth revisiting:

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