AUDIO: Gary Shteyngart, Are Jews White?
Gary Shteyngart, Dan Friedman and Ab Cahan contemplate whiteness. Image by Jono Bernstein
By Dan Friedman October 31, 2018
Ten years ago I interviewed Gary Shteyngart for a profile in Zeek. At the time his hair was brown and mine covered my head. In the time since then he has continued to put out books at a steady rate of one every three or four years. His earlier novels (“Absurdistan” and “The Russian Debutante’s Handbook”) were about Americans’ crazy adventures in the disintegrating Soviet Empire. His most recent two novels have dealt with dystopian visions of America, especially related to the unhealthy distribution and importance of money and credit.
I sat down for an hour long chat with Shteyngart to discuss parenthood, dystopias and the importance of living near Canada, but while we’re polishing up the podcast, first, here’s where I ask him whether Jews — like him and Ben Stiller — are white.
Produced by Jono Bernstein
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
