Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879 in Germany. He was a genius, both as a scientist and as a mathematician. However, few people know that he was also a great supporter of civil rights.
Who is Albert Einstein?
When Einstein was 5 years old, he fell ill and had to stay in bed. That was when his father gave him a magnetic compass to play with. Einstein discovered that the compass needle would always return to the same position, no matter how he turned it. He was fascinated by this “invisible force” that could turn the needle.
When Einstein was 12, he discovered a book about a mathematical system, which he read over and over again. The compass and the book triggered Einstein’s lifelong passion for physics and mathematics.
As an adult, Einstein went on to make many incredible discoveries. His most famous discovery was the equation E=mc2. This theory radically changed the way scientists look at the world and led to many inventions and discoveries such as the nuclear bomb and nuclear energy.
Einstein also discovered that light was comprised of tiny particles called photons. This led to Einstein being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
Today, even as the whole world continues to celebrate his contributions to science and technology, few are aware of his other contributions to society that go far beyond mathematics and physics.
The civil rights hero
Albert Einstein was a strong supporter of peace and tried very hard to fight against racism.
In 1940, Einstein moved to the United States and became an American citizen. Unfortunately, the town that he was living in was extremely racist and mistreated African American people.
Einstein started making friends with the African American community. He walked through their streets, chatted with the residents, and handed out candy to the children. He even paid the college school fees for a young man from the community.
In 1946, he gave a speech at the first school in America to grant college degrees to African American students. In his speech, Einstein called racism “a disease of white people” and declared, “I do not intend to be quiet about it.”
Indeed, he formed relationships with many African Americans and supported many prominent African American leaders. For example, when the African American opera singer Marian Anderson was refused a room at an inn that only accepted white guests, Einstein invited her to stay in his home.
Clearly, Einstein was more than just a science genius: he was a scientist with a good heart and conscience. ♦