Braille letter and TL translation Colleen Moore to John F. Kennedy, 12 June 1963

ok 7/3/20 ING R. R. 1, Box 64 Port Byron, Illinois June 12, 1963 Mr. John F. Kennedy, President of the United States White House Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President, I am listening at this moment to the report on the radio that Medgar W. Evers, an NAACP leader, was shot to death early today in his driveway in Jackson, Miss. Last night I listened to your speech over the television. I am writing you this letter to tell you my feelings on this issue. Mr. President, I applaud you, and it is with pleasure that I tell you that you make me proud to be an Amer- ican. I am glad that you have taken a stand on the Civil Rights issue, and I feel that this stand will have a positive effect, and that steps will be taken in the right direction. I am a sixteen-year-old blind girl, and I live in a small northern Ill. town. There are many Negroes in this area with which I have had contacts. There is one thing though that puzzles me, why is there all this discrimination about the Negro? Is it merely the color of his skin? To me this doesn't mean very much. These are people, not animals which we can deprive an education! And if we as the majority cannot sit in the same movie theater, or eat in a restaurant with a man just because his skin is of a different color, the one thing in this world which he cannot change, then I think we, as Americans, had better stop and take an inventory of our moral beliefs. And you, dear President, have really furthered the cause. I pray with all my heart that all of your Civil Rights plans which are presented to Congress are passed, and that soon this terrible display will be over, and that all Americans will be at peace with each other. I only wish I knew of something that I could per- sonally do to help, if there is anything in my power I will certainly try. As for right now, all I can do is pray and hope. And my prayers go with you and your family. Good luck!! Sincerely, a worried but confident citizen, (Miss) Colleen Moore 8 08:00 ... 0°, :'' :: ,⁰, :: :: ... 00 :: ... :... 09994 00 % - 88% ... ... 09.00. is ..: .... .... 0° :...... : ....° 99% 0° OF ... io , :.. ... ... 0° ... 09 08, . : :° 00 0° 08:00 000 ,.., 90 :.. ... : :, % 3003 0030000 OF inio of ...... ⑆⑉ 000 :, 002 900 ...° :. ,° ice'e % io 00,000 ... 3 °, :. 20 , ⁰⁰ :: :... 09900 %% in :'' ..... 90° ,'..' 0,9,99 , 00.00 :,. 0.00 $ 000 ,3' 0 .: 3" ", ' .' 000 ,° ,',,' ,'' 00000 : 3.0, " " : ,* ' ',' in :° : ", 003000 % $ 1,000 3', 3' :. ,} ", $ 80,000 ... % % :'' .... '' ',,,, : 00 3, ' ''' ... """ ',,' ,.. $ 80 ...... :'', , , , 3' , ,', ',' ''''' 1 , , , ... ... ,,, 'o' ,', ::: % ,° one ," $ 000 % :, ',,,,, ,³, 0 % ... 8, :' ,': ''' ... :' ... 0° 000 00 093 : .:. ''...' ...',' :. ,000 : ... % ... eee 0 0 E 0.00 ''' '' : : in COO :- :- in in : : € 00 COCOO :.: o So.o 000 COO 0600 00 i id ...... €00 00 ''' 0 € ° 0 .... 00000 ce ecce @@@@@@@@ e ''' 0.00 ''' E ES " 00000 CO° 000 ico 0.00 eeg e° 0000 'E' COO ... 00° €00 00 000 000 e 000 606066 : . : 00 :. in €6.000 € 100 0 CC 0000 °00 0000 0 0 : 00 000 0° 000000 :: ... o° " O ico .... COO " ..° ° 00 ''' 00 000 : .. e 000 i° ECE "0 000 00 Ce eee 'o' COO '0° 0° e e o 000 : 0 0000 :: Eco ' o 600 00.000 ... O 00010 THE 0.00 0.00 o 00 ... 0° : 000 0.000 : 100.000 :° 00 o 00 100.000 000 00 00 000 000 :: 00000.00 0° : 8 coo 6.00 0.00 of 600 00 °°0 0° 100 0° Co :° °°0 oo e So: 0.00 00 ... 0.0 "oo i 000 : "0° 08000 00 8000 1000 0 000 0.00.00 060 00 00 00 ''' 0°0 0000 of 08.00 00 oo Les Milandes, September 2nd I963 THE WHITE HOUSE Josephine BAKER Les Milandes Castelnaud Fayrac SEP 5 10 11 AM '63 ( Dordogne ) France RECEIVED President John F. KENNEDY White House WASHINGTON DC USA Mister President, My visite in Washington on the 28th of this August I963 was indeed the greatest moment of my life, to be there on the day of one of our most historical events was really wonderful for me be- cause I have seen the beginning of the turning of the tide. You have seen that most of the people want to live together in harmony and brotherhood as true Americans. I am so very, very happy to have been able to live these most unforgettable moments toward the betterment of our problems. I am sure now you will be able to ajuste a lot of wrongs and errors that have been made because of the laws and habits and now our country will be the greatest place to live in the world. - You can make these changes of laws etc., and will be the only person, too. So may I say courage and may God speed you on the road of justice because all eyes are on you and if you take advantage of this unique occasion one day our chil- dren will be able to love and admire your statue as we all do Abraham Lincoln's today. Now is the time, do what is indispensable to be done, but you must do it now and not wait. - 2 - I hope Mrs. Kennedy is in better health and God send you another little baby to replace the last one very quickly. Most sincerely and faithfully - Josephine Baker and all of her children of the world