Stolen Moments: Jewish Themes and Cultural Allyship in African American Art
Stolen Moments: Jewish Themes and Cultural Allyship in African American Art is a virtual conversation presented by Dr. LaNitra M. Berger in partnership with the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies and the Capital Jewish Museum. Berger will examine the often-overlooked connections between Black and Jewish identity through the work of African American artists.
The discussion centers on Berger’s book, *Stolen Moments: Jewish Themes and Cultural Allyship in African American Art*, described as the first book-length study of cultural allyship focused on Jewish themes in Black art. The book argues that Black American artists have made substantial contributions to the Black-Jewish relationship, though those contributions have frequently been misinterpreted, forgotten, or suppressed. By incorporating Jewish themes into their art, Black artists have explored the relationship between Black and Jewish identities in varied and complex ways. Their experiences with racism and oppression have also positioned them to offer distinctive perspectives on Jewish themes and on the formation of racial identity in the United States.
The book examines five influential Black American artists from the late nineteenth century to the present whose work engages with Jewish themes and creates connections between Black and Jewish identity.
When: October 21, 2026
Location: Virtual
Venue: Capital Jewish Museum
Presenter: Dr. LaNitra M. Berger, associate professor of history and art history and director of African and African American Studies at George Mason University
Presented in partnership with: The Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies
Program: Conversation about Jewish themes in African American art, Black-Jewish cultural allyship, and the connections between Black and Jewish identity
Featured book: *Stolen Moments: Jewish Themes and Cultural Allyship in African American Art*
Run time: Not specified
Tickets: Price not available
About the presenter: LaNitra M. Berger is an award-winning scholar and educator whose work focuses on art and social activism in the African and Jewish diasporas. She is also president and board chair of the Pozez Jewish Community Center in Fairfax, Virginia.
Additional publications: Berger is the author of *Irma Stern and the Racial Paradox of South African Modern Art: Audacities of Color* and editor of *Social Justice and International Education: Research, Practice, and Perspectives*.
Education: Berger earned a bachelor’s degree in art and international relations from Stanford University and a master’s degree and doctorate in art history from Duke University.