EDITORIAL
Einstein v. Roberts
S. J. Gates Jr.
Summary
In the recent U.S. Supreme Court
hearing on A. Fisher v. the University of Texas about university
admission policies regarding minority students, Chief Justice John
Roberts asked, “What unique perspective does a minority student
bring to a physics class?” As an African-American physicist
researching string theory, and a teacher of university students since
1972, I have a response.
Excerpt...
In the recent U.S. Supreme Court
hearing on A. Fisher v. the University of Texas about university
admission policies regarding minority students, Chief Justice John
Roberts asked, “What unique perspective does a minority student
bring to a physics class?” As an African-American physicist
researching string theory, and a teacher of university students since
1972, I have a response.
Issues related to race in the United
States have created barriers since the nation's founding, determining
which citizens experience benefits, and which deprivations. This
problem is not new for physicists. Albert Einstein's essay “The
Negro Question” includes “What…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.” Einstein described racism as a
“disease,” and he recommended principles to end discrimination,
aligning with the O. Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka,
Kansas, decision by the Supreme Court in 1954 to desegregate public
schools.
“…a different perspective is an
asset in science…”
Read the full article here in SCIENCE
Copyright © 2016, American Association
for the Advancement of Science
Author Information:
S. J. Gates, Jr. is a professor in the
Department of Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park,
MD, and a University System of Maryland Regents Professor.
