Einstein: The Negro Question (1946) • Hacker News Board

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#11

Post by moron4hire » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 5:53 PM UTC

skylan_q wrote: post #8

lpsz wrote: post #3

What, however, can the man of good will do to combat this deeply rooted prejudice? More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help -- the transition from "us" and "them" to a unified "us." And yet, it's disappointing how segregated America still is today. One fairly in-depth study [1] offers an example of how "today" came to be. (This report is not about any current events, but rathe…

More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help Maybe instead of forcing segregation, or forcing integration, freedom of association could be tried?

Unfortunately, once communities start out segregated, they stay segregated.

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#12

Post by itg » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 5:54 PM UTC

lpsz wrote: post #3

What, however, can the man of good will do to combat this deeply rooted prejudice? More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help -- the transition from "us" and "them" to a unified "us." And yet, it's disappointing how segregated America still is today. One fairly in-depth study [1] offers an example of how "today" came to be. (This report is not about any current events, but rathe…

"More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help"

I'm not so sure. I went to a very diverse and large high school in NJ and what ends up happening is self segregation. All the ethnic groups would mostly end up hanging out with their own types.

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#13

Post by swatow » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 5:55 PM UTC

blazespin wrote: post #5

I was always impressed by his stand against zionism. http://www.newdemocracyworld.org/old/einstein.htm

Interesting that his views on race in America are now mainstream, while his views on Zionism are rarely voiced outside the far left or far right. It seems to me that his views are based on a consistent application of principals, while American politics isn't.

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#14

Post by kroy » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 5:59 PM UTC

This is really fascinating. This part particularly struck me:

"[Americans'] 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"

As a non-black person of color, this has been my access point to issues of race and oppression. Thinking about the (relatively) minor prejudices and indignities I've experienced made me a lot more receptive to the idea that things just aren't right for a lot of people. That oppression is real. And it's also made me aware of the privilege that I do enjoy as a college-educated male who's the son of college educated parents.

This is a very prescient and relevant piece by Einstein. I'm glad it's on HN!

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#15

Post by sethbannon » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 6:00 PM UTC

"I can escape the feeling of complicity in it only by speaking out."

Sadly on the matter of unequal race relations these words ring nearly as true in 2014 as they did in 1946.

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#16

Post by revscat » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 6:01 PM UTC

lpsz wrote: post #3

What, however, can the man of good will do to combat this deeply rooted prejudice? More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help -- the transition from "us" and "them" to a unified "us." And yet, it's disappointing how segregated America still is today. One fairly in-depth study [1] offers an example of how "today" came to be. (This report is not about any current events, but rathe…

I believe a greater benefit would occur were we to have more mixed race couples, and with it the offspring that would tend to be produced by those relationships.

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#17

Post by xxxyy » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 6:01 PM UTC

This is all nice, but lacks facts. I would like to point out a few numbers:

1) During the Atlantic slave trade period there were around 10 million African slaves sold. Around 500k went to the US, which accounts for 5% [1]. Where are the successors of the remaining 95%? Maybe America was not that bad after all?

2) It is a matter of fact that there is a statistical connection between race and learning skills [2]

3) I obviously don't have to mention correlations between race and crime.

People are racist because the facts justify it. It is a matter of applying Bayesian statistics to every day life.

[1] http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/2012/10/how_many_sla... [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_U...

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#18

Post by FrankenPC » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 6:01 PM UTC

lpsz wrote: post #3

What, however, can the man of good will do to combat this deeply rooted prejudice? More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help -- the transition from "us" and "them" to a unified "us." And yet, it's disappointing how segregated America still is today. One fairly in-depth study [1] offers an example of how "today" came to be. (This report is not about any current events, but rathe…

Yes. But, due to powerful cultural influences, humans will tend to want to group together for comfort purposes. Diversity implies fractured culture. Humans are loathe to fracture their sense of community through shared culture.

I'm going with good, fair, and free mass education. All the way to college. If everyone gets the same level of education then no one will FEEL out of place in any culture as they will be aware of common cultural differences through education.

Good education repairs a LOT of social ills.

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#19

Post by earleybird » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 6:01 PM UTC

jamesblonde wrote: post #2

Way ahead of his time

I believe it is a mistake to think that we're somehow smarter or better than those who have gone before us.

Re: Einstein: The Negro Question (1946)

#20

Post by shaded2 » Sat, Dec 13, 2014, 6:02 PM UTC

itg wrote: post #12

lpsz wrote: post #3

What, however, can the man of good will do to combat this deeply rooted prejudice? More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help -- the transition from "us" and "them" to a unified "us." And yet, it's disappointing how segregated America still is today. One fairly in-depth study [1] offers an example of how "today" came to be. (This report is not about any current events, but rathe…

"More diversity (in neighborhoods, in workplaces, in schools) would certainly help" I'm not so sure. I went to a very diverse and large high school in NJ and what ends up happening is self segregation. All the ethnic groups would mostly end up hanging out with their own types.

That definately happens but is an underlying cause. I'm not sure what it is. I've lived in other countries where this natural segregation does not happen.