Google: The Company and Its Founders - Sharyland ISD

SERGEY BRINSergey could play was in a small courtyard. The Brinfamily was Jewish and faced additional problemsbesides their living conditions.At the time, Jews in the SovietUnion experienced anti-Semitism,or discrimination and hatredTHE SOVIET UNIONtoward Jews. The governmentThe Soviet Union existed fromplaced restrictions on what Jews1922 until 1991. It includedcould study in school. Sergey’sthe areas that became Russia,Ukraine, and other easternfather, Michael, had dreamed ofEuropean and central Asianbecoming an astronomer. Butcountries. The Soviet Union wasCommunist Party leaders barredruled by its Communist Party.The ideology of communismJews from studying physics.called for the government toSince astronomy was a divisioncontrol the economy. The leaderscontrolled most aspects ofof physics, Michael Brin had tothe people’s lives, includingabandon his dreams of studyingbusinesses, schools and universities,and the media. Manythe stars.Nevertheless, Michaelpeople lived in poor, tightlypacked housing and facedattended Moscow State Universityshortages of basic goods. Peoplewere not allowed to speakand studied mathematics. Hegraduated with honors and wanted out against the government.Many people, including Jews,to continue his studies, butwere discouraged from practicingtheir religion.explained, “Nobody would evenconsider me for graduate schoolbecause I was Jewish. That wasnormal.” 1 He went to work as an15