Prattler: Letters to the Editor

Civil Rights and Black Power Movements: A public Debate

Many of these letters addressed civil rights issues, with some students advocating for more support of the fight against racism from the white students on campus and others very much against this. The letter titled "Yet Another Malcolm Reaction" takes a stance against the Malcolm X memorial service held at Pratt, saying that it was "an excuse for another 'KEEP-UP-THE-HATRED-AGAINST-WHITEY' program," attempting to make an argument that Pratt did not detrimentally affect the Black residents of its surrounding community, speaking negatively about looting and rioting happening at the time, and generally perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the Black community as individuals who take advantage of welfare programs. The response to this letter, entitled "Response to 'Disgusted Honky'" counters those stereotypes and asks the reader to consider not just the looting itself, but "the conditions that bring a group of people to the point where they are violently reacting to the conditions around them" (PDF p. 1). These letters in particular draw an interesting comparison to contemporary social justice issues. The riots following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer resulted in public responses which were very similar to the opinions expressed by these two individuals. The two other letters below also address civil rights issues and call for action from white students in fighting systemic racism.