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.


Source: www.siliconafrica.com/einstein-1946-letter-to-white-america/

Exceptional and talented physicist and philosopher

God bless the great man himself. If only his people had half his intelligence and insight.