Viewing page 44 of 102

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

FREEDOMWAYS FOURTH QUARTER 1966

RUTH GAGE-COLBY

Late Saturday Night,
December 11, 1965

Eslanda, my darling,
THE IDEA you shared with me today about the Negro soldier having 
it in his power to stop the war in Vietnam has world-shaking 
potential. I won't sleep for thinking of it! You say the black soldier 
must realize he is not duty bound to fight in this war—a war against a 
colored people engaged in a long valiant struggle for freedom and 
self-determination, the same in principle as the one he himself is 
being forced to carry on here at home. You say if he understood this 
as he was being shipped to Vietnam in ever-increasing numbers—
and you think he will be—he could just bide his time when he got 
there and finally when his forces became strong enough he could lay 
down his arms.

God, what a thought! It should be planted in the mind of every 
soldier—black and white. Once inoculated, it would be bound to 
grow sturdily until it choked out the poisonous myths which have all 
but supplanted truth in our country. Of course, Negro soldiers like 
all others have been indoctrinated to believe that Communism is the 
arch enemy and must be "contained" even if it means putting all 
"Communists" in their graves. We must consider that Negroes may 
feel a deep sense of pride in being equal—or more than equal—in the 
armed forces fighting the "Viet Cong" and yet, if every one of them 
was reached by the grapevine you mentioned with the true facts of 
this unjust and barbarous war, they might as a man decide to have 
no part of it. Their decision, beyond the courage and even beyond 
the imagination of most men, would lead to the greatest mutiny in 
history.

How invincible is your faith in the human spirit! It is the source 
of my joy in working with you at the United Nations these many 
years. We have known the Africans, first as petitioners in the Trusteeship 
Council, then as representatives from their newly freed countries; 
we have gone to countless hospitable receptions together, especially 
those of the Soviet Mission and the Eastern European countries 
where we have so many good friends. Another bond between 
us is our friendship and admiration for U Thant, our wonderful Secretary 
General. We must never cease to uphold his untiring efforts 
for peace. One day soon we shall see those billion people who have 
won their independence through the United Nations out-vote the

340

Transcription Notes:
On the top line, "FREEDOMWAYS" is aligned to the left, and "FOURTH QUARTER 1966" is aligned to the right. "Late Saturday Night..." Is aligned to the right. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 17:19:59