Denies Categorization as a “Humanist” [1951]

This light-hearted rejection of the label “humanist” was written by Russell as a letter to Warren Allen Smith, who then published it alongside several other replies to the same question—from, among others, Walter Lippmann, Thomas Mann and George Santayana: “Are You a Humanist?” The Humanist, 11 (Oct. 1951): 199 (B&R C51.35). Smith (1921–2017) was then book review editor of this rationalist publication based in Yellow Springs, oh, and a teacher at a progressive school in New York City. He would remain active in the American humanist community for another sixty years, as well as becoming a champion of gay rights. Almost a half-century later, 30 was reprinted in Smith’s compilation, Who’s Who in Hell: A Handbook and International Directory for Humanists, Freethinkers, Naturalists, Rationalists, and Non-Theists (New York: Barricade Books, 2000), p. 950.