Students Explore Shared Black and Jewish Civil Rights History

High schoolers reflect on documentary screening highlighting connections between the two communities during the civil rights movement.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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More than 300 high school students from across Broward County recently attended a screening of the documentary "Shared Legacies" at the David Posnack JCC in Davie, Florida. The event, organized by The Overlap, was followed by a guided discussion led by the organization Spill the Honey, exploring the historic Black and Jewish civil rights alliance and the connections between Holocaust history and the African-American experience.

Why it matters

The event aimed to deepen students' understanding of the powerful partnerships between Black and Jewish leaders during the civil rights movement, at a time when the country feels deeply divided. By learning about this shared history, students can see real-world examples of bridge-building and solidarity across differences, which is especially relevant when discussing issues like bullying and the importance of allyship in schools.

The details

After watching the documentary, students participated in activities led by Spill the Honey's Education Director Brian Knowles, discussing topics such as the relationship between the Nuremberg laws and Jim Crow laws, the connection between Holocaust history and the African American experience, the importance of representation, and the consequences of dehumanization. Teachers like Roberto Fernandez III of Monarch High School hope the experience will inspire students to create projects and campaigns that promote upstander behavior and allyship in their own communities.

  • The event took place on February 12, 2026 to commemorate Black History Month.

The players

Andrew Miller

A 17-year-old senior at Millennium Collegiate Academy in Tamarac, Florida who gained a deeper appreciation for the interweaving of the African-American and Jewish communities during the civil rights movement after attending the event.

Roberto Fernandez III

A social studies teacher at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Florida who brought a group of 21 ninth-graders to the event, hoping they would walk away with a deeper understanding of the partnerships between Black and Jewish leaders during the civil rights era.

Brian Knowles

The Education Director at Spill the Honey, the organization that led the guided discussion and activities for students after the documentary screening.

David Posnack JCC

The Jewish community center in Davie, Florida that hosted the event and screening of "Shared Legacies".

Spill the Honey

An organization that uses the arts to teach social justice through shared Black and Jewish history.

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What they’re saying

“My understanding before this trip was that there were just a few white folks without prejudice to help African-Americans. But after watching the documentary, I see how much the two communities have in common in how we've been treated historically, and understand why Jewish people were some of the early leaders of the NAACP and made up most of the white volunteers at protests.”

— Andrew Miller, Senior, Millennium Collegiate Academy (coconutcreektalk.com)

“I hope my students walked away from the field trip with a deeper understanding of the powerful connections and collaboration between Black and Jewish leaders during the Civil Rights Movement. Learning about partnerships like those between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Richard Hirsch shows students that meaningful change happens when communities stand together across differences. At a time when our country feels deeply divided, it's important for students to see real historical examples of bridge-building and solidarity.”

— Roberto Fernandez III, Social Studies Teacher, Monarch High School (coconutcreektalk.com)

What’s next

Fernandez is considering a follow-up 'Upstander Action Lab' in which students could create skits, campaigns, or projects that model upstander behavior and promote allyship, turning lessons from the Holocaust into real-world action. He's also exploring a visit to the Broward County School Board's Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Museum to give students a deeper understanding of the Holocaust by examining artifacts.

The takeaway

This event highlights the importance of educating students about the shared history and experiences of the Black and Jewish communities during the civil rights movement. By understanding this history and the power of cross-community solidarity, students can be inspired to build bridges, promote allyship, and create more inclusive communities in their own lives.