Martin Luther King, Jr. Questions Wisdom of "Black Power" Slogan & Movement

A small archive related to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), ca. July 1966. Three pieces total. Expected wear including expected paper folds, else near fine. Provenance: Ex-Dr. Jesse L. Douglas (born 1930), Dr. King’s close friend and fellow minister and Civil Rights activist. Douglas was instrumental in planning the Selma Montgomery March in March 1965. Dr. Douglas, who is an African American with albinism, was often misidentified by news agencies in photographs as a sympathetic “unidentified white man” appearing alongside black protestors.

The SCLC was a civil rights organization co-founded by Dr. King in 1957; he served as the group’s first president from its inception until his assassination in 1968.

The lot is comprised of:

1. A 2pp printed form letter dated July 1966 from SCLC President Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. discussing the emergence of the slogan “Black Power” and its eponymous movement. Printed "Martin Luther King, Jr. / 332 Auburn Avenue, N.E. / Atlanta, GA" along the masthead. Signed in PRINT at bottom as "Martin Luther King Jr." Expected paper folds, else near fine. 8.5" x 11."

Dr. King differentiates the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from the growing Black Power movement on two important issues: method and objective.

In part: “The introduction of the slogan ‘Black Power’ has caused substantial confusion and alarm. It arouses apprehension because some of its advocates approve the use of violence to force social change and with it, Negro separatism…I have made it clear that for SCLC and myself adherence to nonviolence and Negro-White unity is an imperative…Black supremacy or aggressive black violence is as invested with evil as white supremacy or white violence.”

Whereas the Southern Christian Leadership Conference espoused non-violence, Black Power advocates did not; the SCLC was committed to an integrated, racially coexistent society, while the Black Power members promoted separatism. King stressed that the majority of blacks still identified with the SCLC's tactics rather than the radical calls of the "Black Power" movement.

2. The original transmittal envelope addressed to "Mrs Erna Dungee" of the Montgomery Improvement Association, with a pre-printed SCLC return address label. Expected wear and scattered pencil marks, else very good.

Letter recipient Erna A. Dungee (ca. 1909-1984) was an Alabama-educated teacher, member of the local NAACP, and Financial Secretary of the Montgomery Improvement Association. The MIA was established in December 1955 in advance of the Montgomery bus boycott; Dr. King served as its Chairman.

3. A 4pp printed insert, a memo from "SCLC Staff" dated July 1966, summarizing organizational gains in Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, and Chicago. Expected transmittal folds, else near fine. 5.375" x 8.375."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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