To Wilbert J. Johnson
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr. (Montgomery Improvement Association)
Date: September 24, 1956
Location: Montgomery, Ala.?
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Career in Ministry
Details
On 21 August Air Force sergeants Johnson, Johnnie Rainge, and Frank Garrett, stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, wrote to King after reading a magazine article discussing the use of Scripture by both integrationists and segregationists. They asked King to send biblical quotations used to justify integration and segregation for use in their Bible study. King identifies several passages that support integration and passes on an unidentified article listing those used by segregationists.
S/Sgt. Wilbert J. Johnson, AF 13 236 825
5039th Supply Squadron
Box 1002, APO 942
Seattle, Washington
Dear Sgt. Johnson:
Thanks for your letter of August 21, making inquiry concerning biblical scriptures being used to justify integration and/or segregation. Enclosed you will find an article which was sent to me recently with many biblical passages used to justify segregation. I am sending this with the assurance that you will send it back immediately for I must have it for my records.
As you can well see all of these quotations are blatant distortions of the true meaning of the scripture.
It seems to me that at least three New Testament passages reveal the fact that segregation is a tragic evil that is utterly unchristian. First Paul’s declaration on Mars Hill in which he states God has mad out of one blood all nations of men to live on the face of the earth.1 Again Paul states there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus.2Finally, it is expressed in the fact that Christ died for all mankind.
I hope these passages will help you in your studies together. Please give my regards to Mr. Garrett and Mr. Rainge.
Sincerely yours,
M. L. King, Jr.,
President
MLK:mlb
enclosures
1. Acts 17:26.
2. Galatians 3:28
Source: MLKP-MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Boston University, Boston, Mass.