The ISUPK High Holy Day in Harlem, New York City, New York, Passover 2012
The ISUPK performing in Washington, D.C., on October 10, 2014, at the corner of H and 7th Street N.W.
Black Hebrew Israelites
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Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge (ISUPK) is an American non-profit organization and black supremacist,[1][2][3] extremist religious sect[4] based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.

Description and history

The group is part of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement,[1][2][3][4] which regards black people as descendants of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.[3][4] The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the ISUPK a hate group, citing its extremist ideology and black supremacist rhetoric.[1][2][3]

The group is a part of the One West Camp movement, an offshoot of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ,[3] and uses a variation on the former name of that group.[3] Alongside numerous other sects and organizations within the Black Hebrew Israelite movement,[4] ISUPK expounds extremist, black supremacist, religious anti-Semitic, and anti-white racist beliefs,[4] as well as homophobic, transphobic, and sexist beliefs.[4]

In 2023, a woman of Palestinian descent[5] was arrested in Indianapolis after crashing her car into a building affiliated with ISUPK, having mistaken it due to its name for a school officially linked to the State of Israel. The ISUPK is actually opposed to the state of Israel.[6]

Appearances in media

In 2022, The Real Black Sabbath was released. It is a documentary by British journalist Harry Robinson covering the beliefs and practices of the ISUPK, focusing on the Oklahoma branch of the school.[7] The film won the award for 'Most Inspirational Film' at the 2022 Oregon Documentary Film Festival[8] and 'Best Oklahoma Film' at the 2022 Southwest Center Film Festival.[9]

Volume controversy

ISUPK has demonstrated many times at the corner of Seventh and H Streets in Washington, D.C., since 2004,[10] but residents complain that the group amplifies its open-air preaching to more than 90 decibels and that its message is offensive.[11] Some homeowners say that the group accuses white and gay people of destroying historically black neighborhoods, and at least one resident has complained of being called a "cracker, a slave owner, [and] a white devil," but they reiterate that the volume of the group's message, rather than the message's content, is the real problem.[12]

The ISUPK's volume and the volume of other groups prompted Washington's municipal government to consider passing an ordinance in order to "resolve the issue."[13] The measure would have limited the volume of daytime noncommercial speech to 70 decibels, but it died because of free-speech concerns.[14] ISUPK's regional director, General Yahanna, defended the group, saying that residents' real issue was not sound, but the content of the group's message.[13] The group identifies its message as saving local residents' souls and discouraging people from drugs and crime; it regards its separatist teachings as the real objection which residents have.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c "God and the General. Leader Discusses Black Supremacist Group". Intelligence Report. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. Fall 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Racist Black Hebrew Israelites becoming More Militant". Intelligence Report. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. Fall 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "History of Hebrew Israelism". Intelligence Report. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Extremist Sects Within the Black Hebrew Israelite Movement". ADL.org. New York: Anti-Defamation League. September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ Cohen, Lenny (8 Nov 2023). "Palestinian woman aiming for 'Israel school' rams car into Radical Hebrew Israelites building instead". KEYE. Retrieved 14 Nov 2023.
  6. ^ "Indiana woman allegedly crashes 'on purpose' into what she thought was Jewish school: Police". ABC News.
  7. ^ Robinson, Harry (20 July 2022). "THE REAL BLACK SABBATH (2022) (Dir. Harry Robinson) - FULL FILM". Retrieved 25 July 2022 – via YouTube.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Haffenden, Charlie (26 April 2022). "The Real Black Sabbath: Sheffield student wins award for documentary at maiden film festival in the US". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  9. ^ Robinson, Harry [@RobboHarry] (September 17, 2022). "The Real Black Sabbath" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-09-17 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Seregi, Marianne (September 22, 2007). "How Loud is Loud? Across the District, Residents Are Seeking Relief From Jarring, Vexing, Headache-Inducing Noise". The Washington Post. pp. B01. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  11. ^ Segraves, Mark (February 21, 2008). "Bring The Noise". WTOP-FM. Retrieved 31 July 2020.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ a b Sabar, Ariel (March 12, 2008). "In a Changing Neighborhood, the Gospel Falls on Achy Ears". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Faith group hit for being too loud". The Washington Times. February 27, 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  14. ^ Stewart, Nikita (February 20, 2008). "Measure Tabled Over Unions' Free-Speech Concerns". The Washington Post. p. B02. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

External links

Black separatist organizations
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