Letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from Evelyn Grimes Allen In Favor of School Integration

my Grant parents went to Colo. spags in early days fasher livesthere-age 94. 2208 14th Street Lubbock, Texas Sept. 25, 1957 The Honorable President of the United States, Newport R.I. Dear President, Our love and greatest admiration for your courageous step, yesterday, in combating the vicious HATE cancer that has taken over our Southland? After almost one hundred years, they feign for "added time to integrate". They flaunt the Confederate flags at every football game and parade. They have no intention of integrating the schools. All Federal Aid for school construction should be withheld until doors are opened wide to all races and creeds. Locally, "Integration" consists of two or three Negroes at each of two schools. My daughter was persecuted, two years ago, when she had a Negro child in her 4th grade room at Thompson School here. The other 34 mothers maligned, ridiculed, and insulted her because she refused to isolate the child. They called our home often after midnight to curse and chide: "How would YOU LIKE TO MARRY A NEGRO?" Etc. They are INSANE on the subject. Locally, a certain Southern Baptist denomination dominates -- Eighty percent of the children came from homes of that faith; also, the school principal, assistant principal, supervisor, and assistant superintendent. They accept the Negro as servants to handle and prepare their food, yet, they became panicky at thought that they might use the same chalk and erasers, or that the child's coat might contaminate the lockers. This thing has snowballed into a ghastly thing here. At a D.A.R. luncheon last Wednesday, our Regent introduced a leader of the S.A.R. - a guest. He "lambasted" the Supreme Court for two hours, with great display of "Oratory" but with no display of good taste or decency. It has become an obsession. Please convey to America's Beloved "MAMIE" my good wishes in her recovery. She is so wise in applying the therapy of rest and isolation. During 1939, I was in Rochester, Minn., ALONE, for six long weeks following surgery. By the next summer, I had strength to walk only a couple of blocks when we va- cationed at Nederland and Idaho Springs (where Lelia was at Campfire Girls Camp). How grateful I am for all the strength and energy I have today. So, Dear, just be patient. We love you. With all good wishes to you both, Cordially yours, (Mrs. Raymond Allen) allen