April 11, 1960
Dear Pat,
I am a freshman at Bryn Mawr College which is a small women's college near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My home is in a suburb of New York City. As you can see, I have lived in the north all of my life. Some southerners might say that I don't have any right to take any action in regard to the race problem in your section of the country because, "I don't understand." I do not feel that this is right though because I have had some experience second hand. My father has told me a great deal about the four years that he lived in Alabama while he was attending the university. Perhaps even more important than this, [?] been living in an area where a
large number of white and [illegible, torn] people live and get along well [illegible] together. My most important experience in this regard though has been going to an integrated college where I live in an integrated dorm.
Even if I had these experiences, I think that I would have had a right to take action in regard to the civil rights question because, I feel, it is problem facing our country. This is the reason that I sympathize with your in what you are doing. I hope that the little that we students in the north can do will be enough to tell you that you have our complete backing in your fight.
Sincerely yours,
Pam Smith
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