The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
Hate Mail
Associated Archive Content : 75 results
"Drop Dead"This letter, sent to Dr. King, emphasizes a clear disgust with Dr. King's tactics. The author insists that the best thing he could do for his people is "drop dead." |
"HLS""HLS" believes that Dr. King is wrong in thinking that the Republican Party will do more for African Americans than the Democratic Party. |
103:15 General Correspondence 1967 (R)Mrs. Reich suggests that Dr. King join the "other side" since he feels that the government is on the wrong side. |
A Contentious Telephone MessageWilliam Harold Johnson contacts Dr. King to inform him of a telephone message publicizing controversial information from a number listed in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Johnson asks Dr. King for advice on how the Council of Churches could contend the information while also mentioning that he and his associates are interested in becoming more familiar with the approach being taken in Chicago. |
Adverse Advertisement Regarding MLKThis flyer questions prominent leaders Dr. King and Robert Kennedy. |
Adverse Letter about Adam Clayton PowellAn anonymous author asserts that Adam Clayton Powell is not a good leader and he "got in the limelight as he has done by filth." |
Adverse Letter from J. H. Moore to MLKJ. H. Moore expresses his dislike for Dr. King's leadership style. He argues that Dr. King's efforts have stirred up hatred and discontent, even amongst black citizens. |
Adverse Letter from R. Johnson to MLKR. Johnson writes to Dr. King wishing physical violence against him. The author refers to Dr. King as "Big Mouth." |
Adverse Letter to MLKThe author of this letter negatively expresses his opinion for Dr. King and the civil rights movement. |
Adverse Letter to MLKIn this letter, opposition is asserted as the author places into question Dr. King's decency and religion. |
Adverse PostcardThe author of this postcard questions the concept of Black Power and informs Dr. King of his dismay for integration. |
Adverse Postcard to MLKAmerican Opinion illustrates a propaganda postcard of Dr. King that accuses him of being a communist. The photo on the postcard was taken at the Highlander School in 1957 which trained leaders in nonviolent passive resistance. |
Anonymous Adverse LetterAn anonymous writer sends Dr. King this adverse letter equating Dr. King to a gorilla he saw at the zoo. |
Anonymous Adverse Letter to MLKThe author of this letter sends Dr. King a strong message to leave Chicago. According to the sender, Dr. King does nothing but "cause trouble from one place to another." |
Anonymous Criticism of MLKAn anonymous person wrote this letter to Dr. King, telling him that he is "directly responsible" for the murder of a 16 year old boy in Memphis, Tennessee. |
Anonymous Letter to John B. OakesThis letter to the Editorial Page Editor of "The New York Times" features an unidentified writer presenting a rebuttal to a previous article on violence and "young Negroes." The writer identifies himself as a "dark-skin, non white" and cites examples of racial violence in other areas of the world. |
Anonymous Letter to MLKThe author objects to Dr. King's journey to Jerusalem with his followers. He also expresses his perception of the Negro race. |
Anonymous Letter to MLKThe writer informs Dr. King that he or she is repulsed with Dr. King and laments the day that "your people get to rule this country." |
Anonymous Letter to MLKAn anonymous writer questions Dr. King about blacks committing brutal acts against whites. |
Anonymous Letter to MLKAn anonymous writer blames Dr. King for riots and turmoil taking place in America. |
Anonymous Letter to MLKAn anonymous author criticizes Dr. King's stance on the American economy and the current status of the Negro. |
Anonymous Letter to MLKThis letter addressed to Dr. King criticizes his beliefs in equality and justice. The anonymous author states that "we are living under devil law" and "justice belongs only to the devil." He or she continues, arguing that schools corrupt children, filling their brains with "devil wisdom and devil justice and devil love." |
Anonymous Letter to MLKThis note, signed "A white citizen who likes good Negroes," warns that President Johnson is no friend to the Civil Rights Movement, only supporting African American voting rights to earn more votes for his reelection. It is unclear if both sides of this note were written by the same author. Both discuss how they are conscientious objectors, although they object to an integrated society, writing that "[No] high-class, intelligent persons (politicians excepted) will accept the Negro when he has an axe to grind." |
Anonymous Letter to MLKThe anonymous author details some of the hardships of his life and expresses his desire to incarcerate Dr. King permanently. |
Anonymous Letter to MLKIn this letter addressed to Rev. Martin "Coon" King, the writer--who does not identify himself-- maintains Dr. King is "damag[ing]...the negroes [sic] cause" by focusing on giving them "handouts," as opposed to "improv[ing] their morals." |
Anonymous Letter to MLKThis letter, signed "A Malaysian Citizen," expresses the author's hatred of African Americans. In addition to urging for their genocide, the author states that African Americans ought to be grateful that they are no longer enslaved. The author tasks the recipients of this letter, including Dr. King, Stokely Carmichael, and President Johnson, to circulate it widely in order to express what he claims are the Malaysian views of the 20th century. |
Anonymous Letter to MLKAn unknown author questions Dr. King about his leadership and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. He references various racial, political, and social events, and stresses that Dr. King is responsible for all the riots, violence and looting. |
Anonymous Letter to Mrs. King following MLK's AssassinationThis letter was written anonymously to Mrs. Coretta Scott King following the televised funeral of Dr. King. The author questions the nerve of Mrs. King to be in mourning, stating that she is no Jackie Kennedy and calling the entire thing a farce. In addition to accusing "The Black King," presumably Dr. King, of planning to burn D.C. and then swoop in to save the city, the author states their desire for African American leaders to receive "a belly full of lead." |
Anonymous Postcard to MLKThis postcard refers to 5 men arrested for exhibiting "black power." |
Anonymous Postcard to MLKPostcard has a photo entitled "Training Schools for Communists". American Opinion claims the photo was taken at the Highlander Folk School over Labor Day weekend 1957. Dr. King is depicted as one the attendees. Postcard was stamped with an Abraham Lincoln postage stamp (One of the guiding forces to Dr. King and his efforts) |