When I was in high school in the early seventies, I took short seminar about the conflict between Blacks and Jews. I don’t remember much about the course, which was given not that long after the sixties civil rights activism. What I do remember is being surprised that there was so much animosity in the Black community towards Jews. Didn’t Jews support the black community during their civil rights actions. (There is a freedom rider in my parent’s congregation today.).
Later, when I worked in a school which served many African American children and children of color, we did a lot of work on issues of racism and institutional racism and the privledge of whiteness. I learned one issue was that many African Americans resented the recognition of the role and deaths of Jewish participants while many African American leaders and participants were forgotten and obscured. I am sure there were/are other issues that complicate the relationship between African Americans and Jews as well.
As a white Jewish American I cannot know all the reasons that Hillary is the preferred candidate of so many African Americans, nor is it appropriate for me in any way to speak for them. However, I cannot help but wonder if the old historic struggles, animosities and distrust between African American and Jews is in some way contributing to their strong preference for Hillary over Bernie.