This particular piece of protest art very bigotedly and ignorantly portrayed a blatantly Jewish caricature covetously clinging on to the globe with the title, “Their Homeland”. This was the front page image of a French newspaper in 1893. This image portrays how Jews at this time were believed to be a parasite claiming possession of any and every land they come to simply declaring their right to it, as it is their homeland. When in fact the truth is that Jews were forced out of every land they escaped to due to global religious persecution and expulsion since the beginning of their existence, whether it be from the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Yemen, or England. This influenced the vast hatred for Jewish individuals and the idea that there was a necessity for eradication of the Jewish population. In fact, during the French Revolution in the late 18th century, France was the first country in Europe to emancipate its Jewish population. This idea in France had a profoundly sickening impact on the entire continent, most notably in Germany in WW2 which resulted in one of the most horrific and evil genocides that claimed the lives of over 6 million Jews, some of which were my passed family members, French Jews. Today, we look at this protest art as a window into that disappointing time in history when hatred was unconcealed and proud. We stare at this piece in disbelief and shock how something like this was ever so overt. Nevertheless, we fail to notice or perhaps desire to be blind to the fact that antisemitism is still alive and stronger than ever in different forms such as in modern memes, which is especially hurtful as we know the history and effects of our hatred. Yet, we are willing to relive and sacrifice replicating it. To add, France today has the third largest Jewish population in the world, behind those of Israel and the United States. Notwithstanding, antisemitism is growing and more Jews experience antisemitism, online, in person, through both physical and verbal violence.

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