October 7, 1959

Mr. Ishmael Flory,
Afro-American Heritage Association,
102 East 35th Street, Suite 1,
Chicago 16, Illinois.

Dear Ish:

Thank you for your kind letter which I have delayed answering
while awaiting some pending Negro History Week dates to be con-
firmed for which I had already given commitments. These are
now settled: University of Buffalo, Kentucky State and Hanover
Colleges, etc., through to February 18th.

However, the Sunday which opens Negro History Week, that of
February 7, afternoon, is still open, in case that date would be
agreeable to the Afro-American Heritage Association. I notice
from your program last year that it was at 2:30 on a Sunday. Such
an hour would be agreeable to me, as I would have to leave that
night (or early Monday morning) for Frankfort, Kentucky, where I
am due Monday evening. My usual fee for engagements outside New
York City is $300.00, but since I know your group is non-profit-
making (engaged in good work) this engagement might be considered
as in-transit (since it's not too far from Kentucky) so I could
come for $200.00 (providing you don't tell NOBODY). Unfortunately,
however, I have no alternative dates left open to offer. But if
Sunday, February 7, is O.K., please let me know as soon as possible
so that I might hold it for you. Certainly I would be most pleased
to appear under your auspices, reading my poems as usual, with
special stress on aspects of our history. And we could arrange a
special Negro History Book Table, since several of my books now
fall into that category---which I could autograph, 1/3 of sales
going to the Association. My forthcoming book on Africa for chil-
dren may be out by that time, I hope.

Did you see in Sunday's NEW YORK TIMES where the Theatre Guild has taken my play, TAMBOURINES TO GLORY, derived from the novel, for production this season, probably late Spring?

In early November I am invited to Trinidad for a series of talks there, which I am looking forward to, as it will be my first time south of Jamaica. And I love the Islands!

Langston Hughes

.... TO ESTABLISH TRUTH, ON WHICH RIGHT IN THE FUTURE MAY BE BUILT."

W. E. B. DuBois, BLACK RECONSTRUCTION

AFRO-AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION

102 EAST 35TH STREET • SUITE 1 • VI 2.1596
CHICAGO 16. ILLINOIS

360

October 10, 1959

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York 35, New York

Dear Lang:

1. Everyone is excited over your appearance and the "special dispensation."

2. The book table and consideration are agreeable.

3. I did indeed see the Theatre Guild's "ad" announcing your play in their schedule - congratulations and, as always, best wishes.

4. Personally, am very proud to have made arrangements for your appearance well in advance of Negro History Week.

5. Heritage is trying to build its Negro History Week theme around "Reconstruction Democracy, its betrayal and the tasks remaining in order $to be free by $63" (whatever this may be worth to you in arranging your repertoire.

6. J. A. Rogers spoke for us on an Emancipation Proclamation Day celebration, September 20th. W. E. B. DuBois is scheduled for November 11th.

7. I'm going to assume the right to keep you informed as to what we are trying to influence nationally for Negro History Week, with copies of our material - you may find some use for them.

8. Thanks again for the future appearance on February 7th, and we will indeed make the most of it.

For World PEACE & AMITY —

RE-ESTABLISH DEMOCRACY IN THE SOUTH!

October 14, 1959

Dear Ish:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding
Negro History Week.

This will confirm to you my engagement to
appear in Chicago for the Afro-American
Heritage Association on Sunday, February 7,
1960, at the terms given in my letter of
October 7. It is understood that this is
for one public program only, and that no others
are to be added thereunto.

This latter sentence I insert because (as I
guess you know folks have a way of doing)
one sometimes arrives in a town to find that
a half dozen things have been added to one's
program without a by-your-leave. Since my
February schedule is pretty heavy---two weeks
completely booked up from Kentucky State to
Grand Rapids to Buffalo with something every
day except when travelling, nothing extra can
be put in unless confirmed in advance.

It will be nice to come to Chicago again and
see all my old friends there. I'll send you
photos and publicity material in due time. I
note that the Association has its own book
service, so I'll send (or rather am enclosing
now) a list of my current books which you-all
may order directly from the publishers or your
jobber for our program. And I, of course,
will be happy to autograph them for buyers.

Cordial regards,

October 19, 1959

Mr. Ishmael P. Flory,
3451 S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago 16, Illinois.

Dear Ish:

If there is an additional West Side engagement,
the fee mentioned is O. K.---or even less, if
they're not well off, since I'll be right in
Chicago anyway. However, there should be about
3 hours between afternoon and evening programs,
for washing up and dinner.

Thanks immensely for your and your wife's kind
invitation to stay with you. But since I'll
be going in and out of town a couple of times,
to stay downtown at the Conrad Hilton is a bit
more convenient since the airline limos and
agencies are right there, and the railroads
nearby, and one day laundry service and all the
the quickies one needs when on a tight schedule,
are right at hand. If I were going to be in
town longer, it would be a pleasure to be with
you-all, but there'd be no time to visit on
the February time schedule. Friday, the 5th,
NAACP in Joliet; Monday night I have to be in
Louisville to drive on to Kentucky State.

360

September 2, 1959

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127 Street
New York 35, New York

Dear Sir and Brother:

Mrs. Margaret Burroughs informed the Executive Board of the Afro-American Heritage Association that, in her conversation with you, there was indication that you would be available for an engagement and an appearance in the city of Chicago at the latter part of Negro History Week, 1960.

By virtue of the authority of the Board, I am writing to you to inquire as to the date during the period that you will be available for an appearance as well as what honorarium and expenses would be involved. They are definitely interested, and would like to have you as our guest on the occasion of our Negro History Week Celebration.

You will find enclosed a pamphlet describing in brief the purpose and objectives of the Afro-American Heritage Association. We are indeed mindful and grateful for your contribution to that history and heritage and your help in making them live. We are happy to inform you that we have helped to sell some of your books on Negro History--the big pictorial.

May we wish you good health and long life.

IF:db
Encs. 2

11 January 1960

Mr. Ishmael P. Flory,
3451 S. Michigan Avenue.,
Chicago 16, Illinois.

Dear Ishmael:

I am just back from California where I saw
the old year out. But it was so cold out
there I might just have well been in New York.

I'm enclosing for you an address list of
Chicago friends and fans. Kindly send to
each one of them a notice concerning our
February 7 program. We have used a similar
list in the Chicago area in the past with
very good results.

The books to feature in case you have a book
table at the programs are these most suitable
for the Negro History Week period:

PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE NEGRO
(Crown) $5.95

BOOK OF NEGRO FOLKLORE
(Dodd Meade) $6.50

FAMOUS AMERICAN NEGROES

FAMOUS NEGRO MUSIC MAKERS

FAMOUS NEGRO HEROES
(Dodd Meade) $3.00 each

FIRST BOOK OF NEGROES
FIRST BOOK OF JAZZ
(Franklin Watts) $1.95 each

I suggest that you order these books through
Chicago distributors. I will of course be
happy to autograph any purchases after the
program. The Folkways Record THE GLORY OF
NEGRO HISTORY might also be on sale. (folder
enclosed.)

January 20, 1960

Dear Ish:

Please let me know right away where the program---or programs are being held, and the hours---as I have a number of cousins in Chicago to whom I'd like to drop a line.

Will there be a West Side program, as well, or just South Side. Tell me where, in each case, and when.

I expect to be at the Conrad Hilton on the morning of [REDACTED] February 5th, Friday, so phone me around noon. I'll be leaving New York on February 2nd to begin the tour at Defiance College in Ohio.

The evening of the 5th, as I probably told you, is an NAACP program in Joliet, and I'll spend Saturday with my cousins there, whom I have never visited before.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I send best regards,

102 E. 35TH STREET • SUITE 1 • VI 2-1596 • CHICAGO 16

How about an article??

December 24, 1960

To Responsible Believers in and Defenders of the Rights of Man:

Friends:

New Years-Emancipation Day Greetings.

We ask you to write a letter now to President Eisenhower requesting that African-American, Henry Winston, be granted immediate Executive Clemency or a Medical Parole. We ask for a similar letter to president-elect Kennedy urging him to use his influence in this case.

This African-American is blind and paralyzed because of Federal prison neglect. His only crime is that of expressing a belief, his right under the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The full and simple story is told in the enclosed pamphlet.

Moreover, in the Henry Winston case, the Afro-American Heritage Association and all honestly intelligent people cannot blind themselves to a long history of anti-Africa and anti-African-Americanism, which brought in its wake the brutal enslavement of Africans; the surrender and betrayal of Civil War Victory and Reconstruction Democracy, transforming America into a racist democracy with a large role assigned to the Ku Klux Klan; and over five thousand lynchings of ebony bodies, the most recent and unpunished of which are the Emmet Till and Mack C. Parker travesties; and the necessity for African-American youth to become today's foremost defenders of the U. S. Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Can the case and treatment of African-American, Henry Winston, be divorced from this background? We think not.

We are sending a letter similar to this to the African-American (Negro) press, to labor, to business and civic leaders, and to our African cousin-heads of government who deeply know the horrors of anti-Africanism and racism arising out of a long history of Western European and American imperialism and colonialism. We hope that American lovers of freedom will act in concert with them in this appeal in behalf of Mr. Winston.

We are aware that defending the Constitution and the Bill of Rights call for a courage similar to that manifested by the American abolitionists of the heroic African independence fighters. But we are aware that lack of courage and integrity brought one surrender after another to Adolph Hitler and fascism. These surrenders finally erupted into World War II. Are not the lovers of democracy, peace, and the Bill of Rights faced with an even more serious challenge--annihilation by atomic war? The Winston case is one with efforts for peace, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

In the enclosed envelope we hope you will send us a copy of your communication in behalf of Mr. Winston. May we thank you for your consideration and for the courage you will manifest in the defense of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the Winston case.

TO BE WORTH KNOWING...KNOW YOUR HERITAGE / ..."TO ESTABLISH TRUTH, ON WHICH RIGHT IN THE FUTURE MAY BE BUILT."

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION

June 28, 1961

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Hughes:

We have born and are nurturing a department in our organization entitled "The African-American Theatre Guild." At the present, members of the Guild are, fortunately, college youths and workers. The group meets for organization and rehearsals every Monday. The Guild is now revitalizing your, "Let America be America Again."

We have heard of your new piece, a dialogue, and are very anxious to try it out. We would appreciate a copy of same if this meet with your approval. May we have an early and favorable reply.

Also, on behalf of our membership, may we further express appreciation for the tremendous contributions which your works have made in the building of morale among the people.

Gerald Wallace, Dramatist-Director
African-American Theatre Guild

SENT JULY 3, 1961:

"SIMPLY HEAVENLY"
"TROUBLED ISLAND"
"SHAKESPEARE IN HARLEM"
"ASK YOUR MAMA" dialogues

SONGS: "RIVERS" "DUSTY ROAD" "HARRY MOORE"

POEM: "FREEDOM TRAIN"
BIOG SHEETS, etc.

African - American Heritage Assn.

306 E. 43 ST.
CHICAGO 15, ILL.

October 3, 1961

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127 Street
New York 35, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Langston:

We want to get started early in preparation for Negro History Week.

We would like for you to appear on this ocassion, either on the first Sunday of the week or the last one, which ever is convenient. Please advise us of your requirements with any consideration--but not hurting you--to the people's character of our organization.

We are thinking in the following vein:

Your reading some of your poetry with comments on the importance of Afro-American History; with your permission we are preparing a few people to do your "Tell It to Your Mama"; license of position to you to throw in preparing a plan or to by Guillen of Cuba and Ncruda of Chili, both of whom, when I read them always bring your poetry to my mind. This of course is optional.

Obviously, planning months ahead for your appearance will enable us to do a better job of mobilizing for a well-attended rich program.

Long life to you and good health. Keep up the good work. We who think and search for truth and beauty will appreciate always.

TO BE WORTH KNOWING... KNOW YOUR HERITAGE / ..."TO ESTABLISH TRUTH, ON WHICH RIGHT IN THE FUTURE MAY BE BUILT."

African-American Heritage Association

306 E. 43rd St., Suite 14
Chicago 53, Illinois

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127th Street
New York 35, N. Y.

Air Mail

306 E. 43rd STREET • SUITE 14 • DR 3-7660 • CHICAGO 15

February 20, 1962

Dear brother Hughes:

Attached is our Emancipation Day Proclamation. It takes note of African Freedom Day, annually April 15. It calls for an Afro-American Heritage Week which will fall during the week in April that includes African Freedom Day.

The Proclamation and its proposals are in the spirit of the Pan-African movement initiated by the distinguished Dr. W. E. B. DuBois. This was a movement that steered toward unity of people of Africa and of African descent in the Americas. This drive toward unity was against racialism, imperialism and colonialism.

We ask your careful study of the Proclamation. We respectfully request from you a statement of support and endorsement.

We pray that you can comply with our request.

We shall work to inform the world of Afro-American Heritage Week. We shall attempt to carry out the spirit of the proclamation at all times. We shall seek to bring it to the attention of the world.

Forward to the end of colonialism, racialism and imperialism.

Forward for World Peace.

May we have an early reply?