AMC Statement on George Floyd and Racism

Cognizant of our responsibilities as the elected and appointed officers of American Mensa, we reaffirm Mensa’s Constitution, which states that “Mensa encompasses members representing many points of view. Consequently, Mensa as an organization shall not express an opinion as being that of Mensa … or have any ideological, philosophical, political, or religious affiliations.”

However, we recognize that many of our members feel — as do we — the same outrage over the death of George Floyd, and all the other incidents of which his death was emblematic. We honor the public outcry and responses that are now changing the world. As Mensans, as human beings, we abhor racism, abuse of positions of authority, and institutionalized inequality. We recognize that such issues have been endemic to societies worldwide for a long time.

Mensa’s Constitution states our purposes: “to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity; to encourage research into the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence; and to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for our members.” Further, it lays out our policy that “Intelligence should be used for the benefit of humanity.”

We also echo our long-held policy that “bigotry and prejudice are antithetical to the nature of American Mensa.” We welcome healthy conflict of opinion, but we take seriously occasions when those differences overflow into personal attack or abuse of any kind. We believe that Mensans, and people in general, can and should disagree without being disagreeable.

To that end, we pledge to work within the organization we lead to eradicate any such abuses of people. We have already begun work on making changes, but Mensa is a society of equals: all intelligent, all opinionated. We ask for our members’ input on how we can make those changes positive for them and for the organization.