King, Martin Luther. Typed letter signed ("Martin L. King Jr.")...

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King, Martin Luther. Typed letter signed ("Martin L. King Jr.") King, Martin Luther. Typed letter signed ("Martin L. King Jr.") 1 ½ pages (8 x 11 in.; 215 x 279 mm.) "Southern Christian Leadership Conference" Stationery, "Atlanta, Georgia," 22 November 1965 to Mrs. Laura Walters. Some staining in the topmost fold, bleeding through to the second page but not obscuring content or signature. Some wrinkling to lower right corner. Includes original transmittal envelope. The American civil rights leader thanks a teacher for her "program designed to promote the achievement by the Negro of a rightful place in democratic society" King writes in part: "Let me send my "thank you" for your well-considered program designed to promote the achievement by the Negro of a rightful place in democratic society. Your codified sentiments about the problems and needs of the Negro bespeak your own tenderness of concern and commitment to the cause of true brotherhood. You would probably appreciate knowing that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, of which I am President, is already embarked upon one phase of your proposal. That embarkation has to do with our "Citizenship Education" Project, which is basically a teaching program designed to teach the South's poor, semi-literate and functionally illiterate Negroes who are just gaining the ballot, the rights and duties of an intelligent utilization of the franchise privilege and handling the dollar....That strengthening and expanding, however, might as well require the prodding and support of you and me and thousands of others all across the nation. This impresses me as part of the personal challenge that confronts us as American citizens concerned with enlarging opportunities for all. Just as you suggested, television constitutes a most effective means of bringing across to the American populace the problems and needs which you cited. Thank you again, for your letter and proposal "operation understanding" and "operation full speed ahead." I gained much in the way of inspiration and enlightenment from your thoughts. My prayers and love are extended for you and Your students. Sincerely yours, Martin L King Jr." In this letter, King discusses his Citizenship Education program or "CEP", an empowerment program to teach underprivileged African American's to read so that they could become more literate, educated and participates in the voting process. Promotional material for the CEP begs the question, ''what makes a first class citizen?" Some of the answers are; "Understanding of voting, taking part in community affairs. Elementary knowledge of local, state and federal government. Knowledge of the rights and privileges of the individual before the law. Understanding of politics and how it works. Knowledge of the Constitution of the United States and how it works."