Albert Einstein at a Black University, 1946

Nobel Prize Winner in Physics Spoke at Lincoln University

Sep 19, 2009

Einstein, formulator of the Special Theory of Relativity and the General Theory of Relativity, spoke at Lincoln, located about 55 miles from Philadelphia, on May 3.

Before an audience of about 400 faculty, alumni and friends of the then all-male university, the 1921 Nobel laureate spoke at the Mary Dod Brown Memorial Chapel. For about 15 minutes he spoke about peace and race relations in the United States, according to the Philadelphia Tribume, a black newspaper.

Reason Einstein Chose to Speak at Lincoln

Why did this Princeton, New Jersey resident who seldom accepted invitations from universities accept Lincoln's invitation? The primary reason is stated in his January 7, 1946 letter of acceptance to the university. He wrote that it was "so important that everybody should do everything within his power to contribute toward the weakening of prejudice against our colored co-citizens."

The black press reported that when Einstein (1879-1955) spoke to those assembled, he spoke slowly and in German-accented English. No full text of this speech has been found, but excerpts were printed in at least two black newspapers.

Einstein's Comments About Peace at Lincoln

In the speech, Einstein said: "International peace can be achieved only if every individual uses all of his power to exert pressure on the United States to see that it takes the leading part in world government." He spoke of the potential of the United Nations, stating that though the organization could not prevent war, it could "try to avoid" another war. He said that the U. N. would be effective "only if no one neglects his duty in his private environment." If these duties are neglected, he continued, there will be more wars, resulting in "the death of our children."

Here is some context for Einstein's comments. Though he was not directly involved in the U. S. government's development of nuclear weapons, his theories allowed scientists to determine the power that nuclear weapons could unleash. The atomic bombs these scientists developed were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively, resulting in Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. Einstein opposed the development of nuclear weapons and supported peace movements throughout his life.

Born in Germany, Moves to the U. S.

Also, Einstein was Jewish and had been born in Germany. He finished high school and got his college training in Switzerland. He became a Swiss citizen in 1901. He worked in Switzerland and then in 1913 moved to Germany to teach at the University of Berlin.

By 1933 the Nazis were in control in Germany and anti-Semitism was growing. In that year, Einstein moved to the United States to work in Princeton at the Institute for Advanced Study, which had in its employ some of the world's top scientists.

Einstein's Comments About Race Relations at Lincoln

Following the comments about peace in the the Lincoln address, Einstein spoke about the separation of blacks and whites in America as being "not a disease of colored people" but as "a disease of white people. I do not intend to be quiet about it."On behalf of Lincoln, he was awarded an honorary degree. Its citation hailed him "an original thinker and investigator on the theory of relativity, an author, musician, philosopher and humanitarian."

Even though the ailing Einstein returned to his residence in Princeton before the day ended, he packed a lot of activity into his visit. After receiving his honorary degree, he gave a lecture to students about the theory of relativity. He also had tea with the children of the faculty and dinner with Professor Laurence Foster and his family at their home.

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