PROFESSOR FORBES REPLIES

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

It is with sincerity that I write that in retrospect I could well agree with the opinion of the CRIMSON that the wise thing to do would have been to call off the TV program in Birmingham rather than follow the request of our sponsors to disinvite a Negro from appearing on the show.

But before the matter is closed, I think it is important for the Harvard community to know just why any other alternative was contemplated. Mr. J. Vernon Patrick '52 had invited the Club to sing in order to have the ideal and reality of integration demonstrated through a performance of serious music by a group from Harvard; through an audience, which was composed in part by a number of Negro students from Miles College; and through a reception to follow for performers and audience alike where he hoped a large number of people would participate in the exchange of talk and song between Harvard, Miles and other elements of the Birmingham community.

This ideal was in Patrick's mind throughout; but unfortunately due to competing musical events in town, ticket sales had not reached expectations. A boost over a TV news program the morning of the concert was his answer, and he asked my helping publicizing the event by sending a Glee Club octet for a short sport at 7:20 a.m. When he learned that my choice of eight singers included a Negro, he warned that this octet, appearing at the beginning of the day would give segregationists a chance to organize violence or threats of violence which could thus undo all the good to be gained by having the event.

I protested his suggestion that Mr. Epps be replaced by a white singer, but he urged me to reconsider in view of all that was at stake in the evening events. Since this was not an official appearance of the Glee Club but an effort to help a courageous Harvard man living in Birmingham achieve an important goal, I decided to consider sending simply seven singers. So I went to Mr. Epps to explain the dilemma. Mr. Epps said he understood this, objected to my decision on principle but would not obstruct it. And indeed he didn't. The next morning the whole Club had an exchange of song at Miles College. The Birmingham concert that night was well-attended and the reception that followed was memorable for the numbers that were participating and the spirit that was in the air as informal singing developed, led by students from Miles and Harvard. A visit to Mr. Epps's alma mater, Talladega College, was another high point of the tour. Archie Epps was a co-leader in these musical occasions.

As one faculty member wrote me, "none of us do enough for social justice." I couldn't agree more. So let us all proceed towards that goal and not dissipate our energies over argument about past mistakes in the execution of collective effort towards this end. Eillet Ferbee   Professor of Music