When most people hear the name "Henry Ford" their minds tend to conjure up images of the Model T and the Ford car company or of a wealthy, popular, industrialist that revolutionized industry with the implementation of the assembly line. What people do not realize is that Ford was actually a huge anti-Semite that played a large role in spreading and validating antisemitic doctrines and beliefs.
In 1918, Henry Ford bought The Dearborn Independent, his hometown newspaper, and used it to publish antisemitic articles that blamed Jews for anything and everything that was wrong with America and the world. From agricultural depressions, labor strikes, the rise in crime in the US, and World War One, Jews had been at fault for it all. Ford published these articles over the course of 91 issues of The Dearborn Independent and then compiled them into four volumes, naming it The International Jew.
Rhetoric like that of Ford was not an uncommon thing for the time, or even now. There has always been an atmosphere of antisemitism everywhere throughout the world, but what made Ford's words so dangerous and impactful was his prominence and stature in American society. He was one of the most popular and influential people of the time, akin to a celebrity today. What he said and did, was news that many people listened to. Beyond that, he spread The International Jew through the use of the Ford car company, placing stacks of The Dearborn Independent in dealerships. In some cases, a copy of the newspaper would be placed in cars when people bought them. Through all of this Ford was able to reach a much larger audience compared to a random person spewing antisemitic sentiments.
The fact that Ford was such an important figure also brought a feeling of legitimacy to these illegitimate ideas. A major example is The Dearborn Independent publishing The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. This text, originating in Russia, is an infamous forgery describing supposed secret meetings of a cabal of Jewish leaders that would come together to discuss the fate of the world and their plans to take it over, controlling the economy and other aspects of society. The text had been discredited at the time, but The Dearborn published it as fact, leading many people to believe in what it was saying along with the rest of the antisemitic teachings.
It is important to note that Ford did end up making public apologies to individual Jews and the Jewish people as a whole, but some remain skeptical of these, saying that Ford did not actually write or sign the apologies himself. Despite the apologies, Ford did still accept the Grand Cross of the German Eagle from Hitler and the Nazi regime in 1938. Hitler greatly admired Ford and was inspired by his writings.
Later, when the US entered World War Two, Ford once again voiced concern about spreading The International Jew because The Protocols had become an integral piece of Nazi propaganda.
Despite whether or not Ford may have truly regretted spreading antisemitic beliefs, the fact that he did had a huge impact on people's opinions, even to this day. Ford being the prominent, American figurehead that he was gave validity to these erroneous and hateful ideas. Today The International Jew and the name "Ford" is still cited to prove the historical claim and legitimacy of antisemitic beliefs. Buttressing the allegiance of dedicated anti-Semites and persuading possible newcomers to the front.
Works Cited:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/quot-the-international-jew-quot
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/henryford-antisemitism/
Wow, I never would have known, Ari. I found this article to be enlightening. It is quite interesting how the virtues of figures like Ford are remembered, but the vices not so much. I wonder what convinced him to apologize, or at least supposedly apologize. Was it repentance? Or perhaps was it simply a move to protect his reputation? I cannot say for sure, but your article certainly has me leaning towards the latter. Ford's actions seemed legitimate until World War II, when, as your wrote, he accepted the Grand Cross of the German Eagle from the Nazi regime.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Henry Ford is not often thought of as an antisemite. This may be partly because he seemed to embrace cultural diversity so much, hiring black people, women, and even handicapped people (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford#The_Dearborn_Independent_and_antisemitism). In fact, diversity is one of the core principles of the Henry Ford Health System! (https://www.henryford.com/about/culture/diversity)
DeleteHypocritical as he seems, Henry Ford was no doubt antisemitic, and his position of influence helped spread these hateful views.
Your article allowed me to learn a much more significant meaning behind Henry Ford's name and how it wasn't only a major car dealership. As well as how society and the media only depicts one side of the story, and uses it to their advantage.
ReplyDelete