#BLM oyf yiddish

At the Jewish Current, there’s an essay by Anthony Russell about Translating Black Lives Matter into Yiddish that I found fascinating and moving.

Two things struck me: first, the central point of the essay, the decision to transliterate, rather than translate, the phrase Black Lives Matter for the purposes of Yiddish-language discussion of the movement. I found Mr. Russell’s prose powerful and persuasive on that topic.

And second, one of the proposed translations to supplement that transliteration: Afroamerikaner Blut iz Nisht Keyn Vaser. Not a direct, but an idiomatic translation—African-America blood ain’t water. I may use that idiom, if I ever find myself again discussion why I think the slogan specifying black lives is important, specific and necessary.

Thanks,
-Ed.

Join the Conversation