This is one in a series of "Letters Home" written by Joyce Brians (now Maria Gitin) from my field work with SCLC- SCOPE,and Selma SNCC and in rural Alabama in the summer of 1965 used as the basis for my memoior This Bright Light of Ours Stories from the Voting Rights Fight (University of Alabama Press). These were written when I was nineteen years old in the summer of 1965, using the language of the times and have not been edited. All rights reserved by the author. [annotations in parentheses]

Dear Family —

I've spent the last two days working in the Boiling Springs area & have walked about 30 miles. My legs & feet are swollen but I feel good inside. I'm sending kids out with handbills & Sun nite I'll hold my first mass meeting. I'll probably just give a short speech and then get one of the local leaders to give the main address. They always listen to me because I am white but a local person has a more lasting effect.

Last night I was allowed to speak at a Revival Meeting. This is the first time this has been allowed because the folks here still feel civil rights is too secular to be discussed during a prayer meeting. I was quite honored. I kept it to about 5 minutes & tried to relate it to what the preacher said. These Southern revivals are something else.

I've been invited to witness the baptisms in the creek on Sunday but don't know if I will make it because we are going to Selma Sat. nite.

Did you read the article on Camden in last Sunday's Chron? [San Francisco Chronicle]. It was by a Washington Post reporter, Paul Good, and wasn't too favorable. That made me mad because I talked to him the longest & thought he was favorably impressed. Now they blame me for bad coverage. I didn't see the article myself but gather that he twisted things.

I am enjoying work more now. Our staff problems haven't cleared up & two more people have been fired, but I ignore it all by working instead of fussing.

Yes, I would like to speak with the Argus and Press reporters when I get home. Can you arrange it?

I hope you enjoyed your trip to Yosemite. Thanks for the offer of plane fare but I prefer to drive home with my friends at a more leisurely pace. I just can't say when I'll be back — near the end of August I assume. It depends on a lot of things. In a Movement like this you can't plan too far in ahead. I promise I'll spend at least a week with you, but I have heaps of things to do in S.F. when I get home.

Again, I thank you for your love & patience with me. I never could have been the kind of person who could do this kind of thing if it wasn't for all of you.

Love, Joyce

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