To Richard H. Dixon
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr. (Montgomery Improvement Association)
Date: November 8, 1956
Location: Montgomery, Ala.?
Genre: Letter
Topic: Montgomery Bus Boycott
Details
Facing a 13 November circuit court hearing on the city's effort to shut down the car pool and a federal court hearing the following day on the MIA's request to enjoin the city's interference in MIA operations, King declines Dixon's invitation to speak in Pontiac, Michigan.1 On 9 April 1956 Dixon had forwarded $700 to the MIA from the Oakland County Ministerial Fellowship, of which he was president.
The Rev. Richard H. Dixon, Jr.
Trinity Baptist Church
Wessen at Maple Street
Pontiac, Michigan
Dear Richard:
Thanks for your very kind letter of October 22. First, let me apologize for being so tardy in my reply. Absence from the city for several days accounts for the delay.
On returning to the city I discovered that we are once more confronted with court cases. In a desperate attempt to defeat our car pool the city has sought an injunction through the court. This means that for several days next week we will be involved in court proceedings. In the light of this I have had to decline all invitations for speaking engagements for the next month or so. The injunction will mean that our whole transportation system will have to be reorganized. It is absolutely necessary that I be on hand to supervise this monumental responsibility. But for this, I would have been more than happy to come to Pontiac. Please know that I regret this very deeply.
I hope things are going well with you and your work in Pontiac. I was delighted to know that you plan to contribute five dollars a week to our cause from your church. This will go a long, long way in aiding us in our struggle. I will look forward to seeing you in the very near future.
With warm personal regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
M. L. King, Jr.,
President
MLK:b
Transcribed and signed in the absence of Rev. King.
1. Richard H. Dixon, Jr. (1923-), received his B.A. from Bishop College, his B.Th. from American Baptist Theological Seminary, and his B.D. from Colgate Seminary. He served as pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, before being called to Macedonia Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York. He later headed the Westchester Urban League, the United Black Clergy of Westchester, and the Westchester Christian Leadership Conference. In 1964 Dixon accompanied King and his family to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies in Oslo, Norway.
Source: MLKP-MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Boston University, Boston, Mass.