Albert Schweitzer’s Warning to White People in Africa

Albert Schweitzer’s Warning to White People in Africa

Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965) was an Alsatian who dedicated his life to alleviating the suffering of Blacks in Africa, likely due to his Christian convictions.

He wrote:

"I have given my life to try to alleviate the sufferings of Africa.

There is something that all white men who have lived here like I must learn and know: that these individuals are a sub-race.

They have neither the intellectual, mental, or emotional abilities to equate or to share equally with white men in any function of our civilization.

I have given my life to try to bring them the advantages which our civilization must offer, but I have become well aware that we must retain this status: the superior and they the inferior.

For whenever a white man seeks to live among them as their equals they will either destroy him or devour him. And they will destroy all of his work.

Let white men from anywhere in the world, who would come to Africa, remember that you must continually retain this status; you the master and they the inferior like children that you would help or teach.

Never fraternize with them as equals. Never accept them as your social equals or they will devour you. They will destroy you.”