Letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower Regarding Integration
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In his letter, Charles Alexander, an 18-year-old African American sailor based in San Francisco, laid out the irreconcilable contradictions between the basic principles of the American creed and the practice of racial segregation.
Text adapted from “Hear My Voice! Teaching Difficult Subjects with Graphic Organizers” in the special "Teaching Difficult Topics with Primary Sources" November/December 2011 issue of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) publication Social Education.
Text adapted from “Hear My Voice! Teaching Difficult Subjects with Graphic Organizers” in the special "Teaching Difficult Topics with Primary Sources" November/December 2011 issue of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) publication Social Education.
Transcript
[Handwritten in blue ink at the top left] 9 en[Handwritten in blue ink at the top right] 10/5
U. S. NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION
Navy Number 128 (one two eight)
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California
[Handwritten] 10 - 3 pm
Attention: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Mr. President:
My name is Charles Alexander. I am a member of the United States Armed Forces. My race is Negro, and I am eighteen years of age.
The purpose of this letter is to find out, first hand, what is being done about the situation now at hand, in the south concerning the intregration [sic] problem. This is very important to me because it concerns the welfare of my people, and of the United States. I am but eighteen years of age, and yet I am willing to lay down my life in the defense of a country where my people are not even wanted; I feel very self-conscious about this.
Here in the navy, where both white and others are living together, the problem is still the same, with insults comming [sic] from right and left.
When I came into the navy I was eager to do my best and get ahead. I have lived in California all my life and have never been confronted with anything like this before. It is not because I am a Negro that I feel this way, It is because I have a sense of decency and feel that I should do all that is in my power to correct the awful mistakes so many people are making on both sides.
When two people of different races can't live together something has to be done or disaster follows; and I feel that it is reaching the disaster point now.
The Declaration Of Independence states that every man has rights,
it doesn't include that his skin must be white to receive them.
Address reply to
Postal Officer,
Navy Post Office
Navy No. 128.
Unites States Navy
NAVY POST OFFICE
Navy No. 128 (one two eight)
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California
Mr. President I can't express clearly enough how I feel about this. People being abused because of the color of their skin is not only unconstitutional and indecent, but is a threat to all humanity and an open invitation for communists and fascists to move in. If a group of people can't find protection and leadership in their own government they look elsewhere for it.
Something like this could very easily lead to another civil war, with the people of the United States fighting among themselves; other countries would lose confidence in the leadership of this country and things could very easily end up in chaos. I know that this is probably not the only letter you've received pertaining to this problem, but as I've stated above, I feel that I should do all in my power to correct before there is any more bloodshed. I sincerely hope that this letter will have some effect upon the actions taken by the government.
Sincerely,
Charles Alexander [Handwritten Signature]
Charles Alexander
This primary source comes from the Collection DDE-WHCF: White House Central Files (Eisenhower Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 6092843
Full Citation: Letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from Charles Alexander Regarding Integration; Bulk Mail Files, 1953 - 1961; Collection DDE-WHCF: White House Central Files (Eisenhower Administration); Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, KS. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/charles-alexander-to-eisenhower, June 13, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
