 James Landing, one of the most established scholars on the subject matter of Black Judaism, categorized Black Judaism as a form of social protest, having more social value than theological value.By steering away from Christianity and adopting Judaism as the collective faith, the post-Emancipation (especially Jim Crow-era) Black American communities sought to distinguish themselves from the mainstream American society which they deem hostile.There are also many African-Americans who practice mainstream Judaism, and some congregations specifically centered around Black Jewish communities, such as Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation
in Chicago (although it is affiliated with the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, its rabbi, Capers Funnye, underwent a formal conversion to Judaism).