Truman Capote’s New York City: Uncovering the Hidden Antisemitism
During a recent dinner party, I overheard our Jewish hostess and my husband reminiscing about the Fifth Avenue buildings where they grew up. Our hostess mentioned that despite my husband’s parents being part of the Social Register WASPS, they chose to live in a building that was not “restricted.”
Does anyone remember what this term meant in the past? Until the 1970s, and in some cases beyond, certain apartment buildings and hotels in New York had restrictions against Jews.
Our hostess vividly remembers a map in her mind of the Upper East Side co-ops that did not allow Jewish or African-American residents. Another friend, whose mother survived the Holocaust, recalls a realtor in 1976 avoiding properties at 775 Park Ave. and 19 East 72nd St.
Despite the stereotypes and urban legends, New York City has never been and still isn’t a predominantly Jewish town.
This hidden truth is one of the underlying themes of FX’s series “Feud: Capote vs the Swans,” which just concluded. It has resurfaced especially during the current rise in antisemitism across the city.
The Jewish founder of CBS, William S. Paley, attempted to break into the gentile ruling class by marrying influential women like arts patron Dorothy Hart Hearst and Capote’s confidante Babe Cushing Mortimer. However, he faced challenges and was never fully accepted.
While being involved in prestigious establishments like the Museum of Modern Art, Paley was shunned from many exclusive clubs in Manhattan, Washington, DC, and even the Bar Harbor Club in Maine.
Even with help from his brother-in-law, Paley was never fully integrated into the elite circles. This exclusion was evident in statements made by people like Joan Payson.
People of that era did not consider Paley and other Jewish individuals as “white.” They were often labeled with derogatory terms like “Oriental” and “Tartar.”
Capote’s Black and White Ball in 1966 broke down social barriers, including those based on religion and ethnicity.
Antisemitism in New York City dates back before the city itself. From the 17th-century Dutch persecution of Jewish settlers to Henry James’ derogatory comparisons in his novels, Jews faced discrimination in various forms.
Though I have experienced what is now called “microaggressions” in my life, such as being advised not to use my maiden name in certain places, I have never faced explicit housing discrimination. However, antisemitism has been present in many forms over the years.
While these incidents may hurt, they are examples of the subtle antisemitism that existed in the past. However, the recent surge in antisemitism in New York has become more overt, dangerous, and endorsed by certain institutions.
Close to my home on the Upper East Side, where my husband and our hostess friend grew up, our freedoms are at risk, and our safety is compromised.
Recent incidents, like the harassment of Jewish congregants outside Temple Emanu-El and the attacks on individuals by pro-Hamas groups, highlight the escalating threats against Jews in New York.
If New York truly was a Jewish town, these hate crimes would not be happening with such frequency and impunity. There are no longer safe spaces for Jews in New York.
Amy Fine Collins, formerly a Special Correspondent to Vanity Fair, is an Editor at Large at Air Mail and author most recently of “The International Best-Dressed List: The Official Story” (Rizzoli).
