Shortly before leaving for the Tenth Annual Baptist World Alliance in Rio de Janeiro, King assails Powell's allegations that he and Randolph were “‘captives’ of behind the-scenes interests” and that King had “been under undue influences ever since Bayard Rustin…went to Alabama to help in the bus boycott.”1 Powell also reportedly accused them of excluding the NAACP from their plans to protest the upcoming conventions.2 King entr
King congratulates Rogers, his former assistant at Dexter, on his graduation from seminary. King cautions Rogers on his interest in the vacant pulpit at Dexter, explaining that he might have difficulty gaining respect from the congregation: "It is one of the most difficult things in the world for a group of people who once taught you to accept you as their spiritual shepherd." 1
Rev. T. Y. Rogers
Dear T. Y.:
In an 8 September letter, former Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson invited King to co-sponsor a tribute dinner for Eleanor Roosevelt.1 King agrees to the request in the letter below. The 7 December dinner in New York City, which King did not attend, was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and a showcase for the party's presidential hopefuls including Stevenson, G. Mennen Williams, and John F. Kennedy.2
Following Massachusetts senator John F.
After attending the National Baptist Convention in San Francisco and speaking in Los Angeles, King flew to Hawaii for several engagements and a brief vacation.1 Arriving just three weeks after Hawaii became the fiftieth state, he addresses the legislature at the state capitol, the Iolani Palace.2 King thanks the Hawaiians for offer-ing the nation “a noble example” of progress “in the area of racial harmony and racial justice.”
King replies to an 11 May letter from Mohandas Gandhi's third son, whom he had met in India. Gandhi had sent King biographical information on his father's personal secretary Mahadev Desai and reported losing a memo book containing autographs from King and his traveling party.1
Mr. Ramdas M. Gandhi
P.O. Sevagram
Dist. Vardha, INDIA
Dear Mr. Gandhi:
On 15 March Grigsby, a white Tennessean, asked King for advice on getting involved in the struggle for racial justice and wrote that "the South has been waiting a long time for a leader such as you!" 1 King replies that he has "longed for a white southerner to come into some predominantly Negro organization and work side by side with Negro leaders."
Mr. J. O. Grigsby
5951 Skyland Drive
Kingsport, Tenn.
King replies to Proctor's 22 May letter in which she complained about FOR's exaggeration of Glenn Smiley's contributions to the Montgomery bus boycott.1
Mrs. Hilda S. Proctor
2088 Kuhio Avenue
Apartment #10
Honolulu, Hawaii
Dear Hilda:
You are really a great globe trotter. I guess next time I hear from you, you will be in Japan or maybe India.
King thanks Ghana's finance minister for his hospitality during the March 1957 Ghanaian independence ceremonies and laments Gbedemah's encounter with segregation during a visit to the United States. He also promises to send him a copy of Stride Toward Freedom. In his 3 August reply, Gbedemah indicated that he had received the book and planned to read it during an upcoming holiday.
Mr. K. A. Gbedemah
Minister of Finance
GHANA
Dear Mr. Gbedemah:
The chairman of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in Mysore state sends a letter of welcome to King and his party.1
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Camp Bangalore.
My dear Dr. King,
