To Sally Canada
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Date: September 19, 1956
Location: Montgomery, Ala.?
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Political and Social Views
Details
In an 8 September letter responding to King’s US. News and World Report article, Canada characterized King’s writings as those of a “lunatic” and justified racial segregation on the grounds that “Negroes could never be equal to the whites—even the worst of them—that’s God decision not the white man.” Canada’s letter was similar to many others King received.
Mrs. Sally Canada
317 - 13th Street, Apt. 11
Huntington I, W. Va.
Dear Mrs. Canada:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter in which you stated your views on segregation and the status of the Negro. I must confess that I am in total disagreement with your position. I feel that segregation is totally unchristian, and that it is against everything the Christian religion stands for. This, however, does not at all cause me to hate those who believe in segregation. I feel that we should seek to persuade the perpetrators of segregation through love, patience and understanding good will that it is wrong. God grant that the day will come when we all can live in this society as brothers and children of a common father on a non segregated basis. It is still true that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Negro nor white) and that out of one blood God made all men to dwell upon the face of the earth.
Again, thank you for your interest and your willingness to correspond with me.
Cordially yours,
M. L. King, Jr.,
President
MLK:mlb
Source: MLKP-MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Boston University, Boston, Mass.