Letter from Charles Henry to Ralph David Abernathy

Transcript

[Stamped in blue ink: MAY 3 1968] [Top right hand margin: Washington. D.C. [District of Columbia] April 30, 1968] Rev [erend] Ralph Abernathy Dear Sir: I read in todays Washington Daily news where you made a statement, Quote: ? we accomplished our purpose? Which is to shake up the do nothing Honkies in Government.? Now this I would expect from Stokley Carmichael, but not from you sir. It certainly belittles you to refer to White people in such a derogatory manner. I certainly can?t see how you expect to gain the good will and help of the majority group by such tactics. We Negroes cry to high Heaven when white people refer to us as niggers so how can we expect them to stop referring to us in derogatory terms if we start referring to them in such a manner. I am for the Poor Peoples March, but I hope it will [be] conducted in an intelligent and dignified manner. [Handwritten signature: Charles Henry]