Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge
Encyclopedia
Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge (ISUPK) is a non-profit organization based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
, U.S.A. The group is part of the Hebrew Israelism
movement, which regards American blacks as descendants of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Southern Poverty Law Center
has labeled ISUPK an "extremist" and "black supremacist
" group.
ISUPK has demonstrated at the corner of Eighth and H street
s in Washington, D.C., since 2004, but residents complain the group amplifies their open-air preaching to more than 90 decibels and that their message is offensive. Some homeowners say the group accuses white and gay people of destroying historically black neighborhoods and at least one resident has complained of being called "cracker, slave owner, [and] white devil", but reiterated that volume, rather than the group's speech content, is the problem.
ISUPK and other groups' volume prompted D.C.'s municipal government to consider an ordinance to "resolve the issue". The measure would have limited the volume of daytime noncommercial speech to 70 decibel
s, but died due to free speech concerns. ISUPK regional director Yahanna defended the group, saying residents' real issue with the group is not sound, but their message. The group identifies its message as saving local residents' souls and discouraging people from drugs and crime and says its separatist teachings are the real issue residents have.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, U.S.A. The group is part of the Hebrew Israelism
Black Hebrew Israelites
Black Hebrew Israelites are groups of people mostly of Black African ancestry situated mainly in the United States who believe they are descendants of the ancient Israelites. Black Hebrews adhere in varying degrees to the religious beliefs and practices of mainstream Judaism...
movement, which regards American blacks as descendants of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
has labeled ISUPK an "extremist" and "black supremacist
Black supremacy
The term black supremacy is a blanket term for various ideologies which hold that black people are superior to people of other races.-Overview:...
" group.
ISUPK has demonstrated at the corner of Eighth and H street
H Street (Washington, D.C.)
H Street is an east-west street in Washington, D.C.. It is also used as an alternate name for the Near Northeast neighborhood, as H Street is the neighborhood's main commercial strip.-History:...
s in Washington, D.C., since 2004, but residents complain the group amplifies their open-air preaching to more than 90 decibels and that their message is offensive. Some homeowners say the group accuses white and gay people of destroying historically black neighborhoods and at least one resident has complained of being called "cracker, slave owner, [and] white devil", but reiterated that volume, rather than the group's speech content, is the problem.
ISUPK and other groups' volume prompted D.C.'s municipal government to consider an ordinance to "resolve the issue". The measure would have limited the volume of daytime noncommercial speech to 70 decibel
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
s, but died due to free speech concerns. ISUPK regional director Yahanna defended the group, saying residents' real issue with the group is not sound, but their message. The group identifies its message as saving local residents' souls and discouraging people from drugs and crime and says its separatist teachings are the real issue residents have.