Zibby Owens on Literary Antisemitism and Community Resilience

Facing Antisemitism in the Literary World

• 💡 Zibby Owens shares her personal experiences with antisemitism following October 7th, including online hatred, blacklists, and disinvitations.
• ⚠️ She recounts a specific incident with the National Book Foundation Awards where her publishing company withdrew sponsorship due to the organizers' stance on potential anti-Semitic hate speech.
• 📚 Owens highlights the media's tendency to twist words, leading to further backlash despite her efforts to clarify her position.

Building Community and Collective Action

• 🤝 Despite the backlash, Owens emphasizes the overwhelming love and support received from the Jewish community and allies.
• ✍️ She co-founded Artists Against Antisemitism and later conceived the anthology "On Being Jewish Now," featuring essays from authors sharing their emotional experiences.
• 🚀 The anthology achieved bestseller status and its profits were donated to Artists Against Antisemitism, demonstrating a powerful collective effort.

Calls for Organization and Empowerment

• 📢 Owens advocates for a more organized and coordinated social media campaign with unified marketing materials to combat hate speech.
• 🗣️ She suggests appointing a spokesperson and establishing a comprehensive database for clear communication and instructions within the community.
• 🛡️ The instinct to hide, ingrained from historical persecution, needs to be overcome by empowering individuals to speak out and feel included.

Strengthening Community Bonds

• 💬 Owens notes that while direct confrontation of haters may be difficult, strengthening internal community bonds through shared stories and emotional connections is a powerful way to build collective resilience.
• 🌟 She expresses hope, seeing the Jewish community's strong and mighty coming together as a symbol of resilience during dark times.