David Baddiel | A Discussion On His Book 'Jews Don't Count' | Talks at Google

David Baddiel discusses his recent book "Jews Don’t Count", which uses a unique combination of reasoning, polemic, personal experience and humour to discuss how antisemitism does not fit into traditional narratives and perceptions of racism.

In "Jews Don’t Count", a book aimed at people who consider themselves as fighting the good fight against homophobia, disablism, transphobia and, particularly, racism, comedian and writer Baddiel follows the antisemitism he finds in his Twitter feed to the stage, through the media and into politics and argues that those who think of themselves as on the right side of history have often ignored antisemitism.

David Baddiel is an author, comedian and screenwriter. He has written and performed in a series of highly successful TV comedy shows, including The Mary Whitehouse Experience and Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned. He is the author of four novels as well as six books for children which have sold over 1 million copies.

Moderated by James Rosenthal.

#DavidBaddiel #JewsDontCount #JewishHistory

[maureendavis]

I am not a Jew but thank you for opening my eyes in such a refreshing way

[marshwoodvale]

Well said David. You speak for many Jews who feel increasingly marginalized these days.

[nickalatti]

David is a very wise and engaging character. Shame about the ringing phone and the barking dog at the beginning though...

[royal]

As an Israeli Jew, I was delighted listening to David’s framing and description of the terribly complex situation Jewish people worldwide are facing. I do think that Israel’s actions, together with its involvement with, and reliance on, the Jewish diaspora are quite disruptive. But the main problem is still the fact that people tend to generalise and associate individuals with imagined forces or stereotypes. In any case, David’s sentiments and delivery are both very much on point here.

[discosecret]

I’m an American Jew, who is well aware of the ‘Carry On’ films, ‘the Eastenders’, etc. Being only half Jewish, on my mother’s side but having an Irish father, his surname and his blue eyes, I have lived my 51 years as a self-described “Secret Jew”. What strikes me, is the casual nature of much anti-Semitism. Confronting such racism is situational. There are times when I feel compelled to divulge my “secret” and push back and times when I won’t/can’t/don’t. There are many similarities between the British and American Jewish experiences.

[jennydainton]

Insightful and multi faceted interview that highlighted and raised so many questions and issues! As a non Jew, with Jewish friends, I thank you David for speaking out about some of the hidden and overt prejudice they so often face. All racism and discrimination is evil!

[franceslock]

Thank you to David Baddiel for writing the book, giving the marginalized a voice, and promising to continue with more.

[upendasana]

Just the amount of barely cloaked antisemetic remarks in these comments kind of prove his point quite honestly.Its amazing how people feel he is indulging in "victimhood" or looking for sympathy etc and yet people seem to have gone out of their way to comment or even watch Mr Baddiel....is this so you can make a particualr point about how he really should not talk about antisemitism because its really not a thing and yet somehow the mere fact of your commenting here and your type of comments which I see all over SM actually seems to show how prevalent and insidious antisemtisims still is and how it reveals itself often in the most veiled less obvious ways maybe compared to some other forms of racism.

I'm not in any way diminishing the racism suffered by other groups and the very real structural and insititutional and just everyday racism that many black and brown people must expereince but pointing out the less tolerant and darker attitudes and forces that seem to lie latent in certain parts of society is always and always will be necessary and important

[RamSadeh]

Love the book- Precise clear sharp and to the point... Only- nowadays to say Israel is " derailing" the conversation.. I am an Israeli Jew living in the UK- I think u're very wrong to be dismissive, regardless of your personal " non emotional " stance towards Israel being the Jewish homeland- Not to mention there was Never an Arab or any other sovereign state called "Palestine" !!!

[claudiaxander]

Please report any spam, dodgy links or hate speech posted here.
Keep a nice and safe attitude.♥️

[dellwright]

Seems like anti-semitism is alive and well online if the comments here are anything to go by. None of them actually dealing with the substance of his ideas or book.

[sandeepsmatharu]

Should have asked him about Jason Lee and the impact David Baddiel had on his career

[maltesetony]

It's not a bad book, but . . . . it's more than a little paranoiac, much more so towards the end.

Baddiel over-egging the pudding as usual.

[walterkovacks]

I was working in an NHS hospital. A lot of this is confidential, and legal proceedings are ongoing.
But I am a jew . I have a big star of David tattoo. Everyone knows . Staff in front of me descrbed a patient as " having a jewfro and being a big hairy jew bear " I said " speaking as a jew that's pretty offensive " they said we aren't talking about you " .
The very next day they fabricated a racially motivated vexatious allegation against me of abusing a patient.

[RossRossiter]

Didn't he regularly do blackface on tv in the 90's? He 'parodied' a black premiership footballer. It wasn't funny then, and I'm guessing it hasn't aged well.

[susugamushi]

I feel it is very unfortunate that he himself has used his position of power to publically discriminate, racially, and 'punch down'. It is a tacky look, but I will still listen to his book.

[nomvonglismerced]

They don't have to...they hire gentlemen to do all the counting.

[efiebkk]

Nice video!! Very engaging from beginning to the end. People will be kicking themselves in few weeks if they miss the opportunity to buy and invest in bitcoin

[Sneezus]

Cool talk but I personally enjoyed his blackface material much more

[mcnutty]

David Baddiel used to perform in blackface on TV in the UK. Still refuses to apologise. He refers to it as "doing an impression of a black man".