War - Southern African American

Dear Malcolm,

It has been a long time, my brother, since I have seen or heard from you. What, since you moved North, you don't feel as if your family matters anymore? Or are you just ashamed to be associated with where you used to live? Knowing you, it's probably since you went and lost all your writing utensils and the like and are just too lazy to go get some more. It's nice to see some things haven't changed.

It’s funny, really, how I say that. It makes it seem as if I don’t want change when that’s entirely untrue. I envy you, you know. I wish I could leave this place like you did and travel up north where things aren’t quite as hectic as they are down south. I don’t really know what’s stopping me. After all, thanks to this war we have going on, immigrants are being kept out of the states quite efficiently, meaning that there’s a ton of available work. The factories are hiring all the white folks and immigrants like crazy, meaning that all the jobs that were left behind are now available. Not to mention, even if the immigrants weren’t being prevented, there would more than likely be enough jobs for most of us anyway, considering all the new factories opening nowadays to make killing machines and the like for the war. I’d like to say my main concern is money, seeing as how my family and I are somewhat short in regards to our finances. But we’d more than likely make more money up north than down here. I assume things are working out for you, but I never hear from you, so I’d be lying were I to say you give me hope for moving north. I must beg you to write me back and tell me what you think I should do. You’ve experienced the north. You’ve experienced the south. You were always a little better off than me and my family, so if you’re struggling right now, it’s a sure-fire sign that I have no business even considering a move.

You’ve been gone for about a year now, I believe. Let me tell you something. If you indeed are faring better or even the same up north as you were down here, you made the right choice to move. The white Southerners are becoming less and less tolerant of us with each passing day. Now that there aren’t as many of us to stand up to them, their actions just become more and more despicable. I’m speaking primarily of those in the New Ku Klux Klan. I had thought the Klan was simply a distant memory… one that was hard to forget, but one that could no longer harm us. But they’re back, and it’s not a comforting feeling. They have lynched many a black soldier coming home from war in their uniforms. Can you believe that? They have lynched men who have been trying to fight in order to keep this country safe. I’ve long been shocked and surprised and simply disgusted with the actions of these people, but this is outrageous. When two black men attempted to vote in Florida, the Klan attacked the black community. They attacked us for trying to vote. For trying to help better this country. The 15th amendment gives us the right to vote. But these southerners and their Jim Crow laws have completely robbed us of the liberties that we have fought for for so long. I’m sick of the discrimination. I’m sick of the violence. I’m sick of being treated like I’m less than dirt. But I’m so frightened of moving. I can’t explain it. I know what risks I’m taking for still living down here in this bigoted southern society. Brother, I need your help. I need you to help shove off some of this doubt. To help me gain the courage to take care of my problems once and for all.

I can’t tell you how much I wish you were here right now. Well… not here. Nobody in their right mind would actually want to be here right now. I just wish I was in your presence. You’ve always been the smart one. You’ve gotten us both through so many hardships. I just ask you this one last time to help me. I love you, brother. I miss you, and I really hope you’re doing well. Tell Katherine I say hello.

Please keep my family in your prayers. We need all we can get.

With Love,

Trevor