by Albert Einstein
I am writing as one who has lived among you in America only a little
more than ten years. And I am writing seriously and warningly. Many readers may
ask:
"What right has he to speak about things which concern us alone,
and which no newcomer should touch?"
I do not think such a standpoint is
justified. One who has grown up in an environment takes much for granted. On
the other hand, one who has come to this country as a mature person may have a
keen eye for everything peculiar and characteristic. I believe he should speak
out freely on what he sees and feels, for by so doing he may perhaps prove
himself useful.
What soon makes the new arrival
devoted to this country is the democratic trait among the people. I am not
thinking here so much of the democratic political constitution of this country,
however highly it must be praised. I am thinking of the relationship between
individual people and of the attitude they maintain toward one another.
In the United States everyone feels
assured of his worth as an individual. No one humbles himself before another
person or class. Even the great difference in wealth, the superior power of a
few, cannot undermine this healthy self-confidence and natural respect for the
dignity of one's fellow-man.
There is, however, a somber point in
the social outlook of Americans. Their sense of equality and human dignity is
mainly limited to men of white skins. Even among these there are prejudices of
which I as a Jew am clearly conscious; but they are unimportant in comparison
with the attitude of the "Whites" toward their fellow-citizens of
darker complexion, particularly toward Negroes. The more I feel an American,
the more this situation pains me. I can escape the feeling of complicity in it
only by speaking out.
Many a sincere person will answer:
"Our attitude towards Negroes is the result of unfavorable experiences
which we have had by living side by side with Negroes in this country. They are
not our equals in intelligence, sense of responsibility, reliability."
I am firmly convinced that whoever
believes this suffers from a fatal misconception. Your ancestors dragged these
black people from their homes by force; and in the white man's quest for wealth
and an easy life they have been ruthlessly suppressed and exploited, degraded
into slavery. The modern prejudice against Negroes is the result of the desire
to maintain this unworthy condition.
The ancient Greeks also had slaves.
They were not Negroes but white men who had been taken captive in war. There
could be no talk of racial differences. And yet Aristotle, one of the great
Greek philosophers, declared slaves inferior beings who were justly subdued and
deprived of their liberty. It is clear that he was enmeshed in a traditional
prejudice from which, despite his extraordinary intellect, he could not free
himself.
A large part of our attitude toward
things is conditioned by opinions and emotions which we unconsciously absorb as
children from our environment. In other words, it is tradition—besides
inherited aptitudes and qualities—which makes us what we are. We but rarely
reflect how relatively small as compared with the powerful influence of
tradition is the influence of our conscious thought upon our conduct and
convictions.
It would be foolish to despise
tradition. But with our growing self-consciousness and increasing intelligence
we must begin to control tradition and assume a critical attitude toward it, if
human relations are ever to change for the better. We must try to recognize
what in our accepted tradition is damaging to our fate and dignity—and shape
our lives accordingly.
I believe that whoever tries to think
things through honestly will soon recognize how unworthy and even fatal is the
traditional bias against Negroes.
What, however, can the man of good will do to combat this deeply rooted
prejudice? He must have the courage to set an example by word and deed, and
must watch lest his children become influenced by this racial bias.
I do not believe there is a way in which this deeply entrenched evil can
be quickly healed. But until this goal is reached there is no greater
satisfaction for a just and well-meaning person than the knowledge that he has
devoted his best energies to the service of the good cause.
*Article taken from “On
Being” blog
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