Einstein on Race and Racism (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Rodger Taylor (Contributor) "On January 30, 1933, the day Hitler and the Nazis took over the German government, the most famous scientist in the world may also have..." (more)
Key Phrases: African American, Paul Robeson, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Albert Einstein was a genius and, apparently, a race man. Drawing upon extensive research, authors Jerome and Taylor-a journalist and a librarian, respectively-show the Nobel Prize-winning physicist to have been fairly active in the civil rights movements of the 1940s. It's clear the authors believe that this fact constitutes some sort of hidden truth, and they're reasonably correct: numerous historians left out the details of Einstein's controversial alliances with W.E.B. Dubois, the NAACP, the Civil Rights Congress and the Southern Conference Educational Fund. The authors saturate the first half of the book with comments from the black inhabitants of Princeton's Witherspoon Street. Their quotes are anecdotal at best and show little more than that Einstein was a friendly man who wasn't afraid of black people. A few of the quotes are telling in ways the authors may not intend: "My grandmother worked as a domestic for Einstein...When Professor Einstein had visitors, they sat and ate in the dining room; she listened from the kitchen." Others such as "me and my sister Lili used to watch Einstein walking up Witherspoon Street" record merely that black people witnessed Einstein's presence in their neighborhood. Einstein's provocative statements on American bigotry-"Everyone who is not used from childhood to this injustice suffers from the mere observation"-are reserved for the book's second half, which presents his letters and speeches. A useful compilation for students of Einstein's politics, this book lacks the kind of strong narrative thread that might have brought it a wider audience. 8 pages of b&w photos.
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Review

"Racism in America depends for its survival in large part on the smothering of antiracist voices, especially when those voices come from popular and widely respected individuals - like Albert Einstein. This book, then, aspires to be part of a grand unsmothering." - from the Preface"

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (July 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813536170
• ISBN-13: 978-0813536170
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #422,944 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Common Ground...Einstein on Race & Racism, October 8, 2005

By	Pam K. (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This book is a timely, fascinating and important read about the common ground between Albert Einstein and members of the African American community of Princeton, NJ in the 40's. This book should be a requirement in every public library and recommended reading in many college & high school history curriculums. The example of fearlessness of Einstein, Robeson, DuBois and others in their activism against racism in America and abroad is one that needs to be emulated in today's society... if change is to come. The authors, Jerome and Taylor have produced and excellent literary work.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting Book, October 1, 2005

By	Pamela R. Purifoy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I never would have thought of the genius Albert Einstein to be concerned about race, but apparently he was, as Jerome and Taylor have carefully documented. I'm glad to know that the great cultural icon, Einstein, was more than a mathematician and physicist, he was a concerned citizen of the world. Perhaps we all can examine ourselves closer as we explore our views on race and racism in our society today. This book could be an excellent teaching tool for an honors or AP course in history for high school students, or for a political science course in college.
Good and insightful information.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Einstiein on Race and Racism, October 4, 2005

By	Flo (NC) - See all my reviews

This book presents a revealing, fascinating and compelling side of Albert Einstein relative to the Black community. The story is totally unknown and undocumented anywhere else. It provides an example of how racism is treated in our society. Denial of the existence of racism and overlooking the impact of the problem will never lead to a appropriate way to address, and certainly not solve the reprecussions suffered because of racism.It is an impotant work that should awaken a sleeping society.