January 27, 1947
Dear Mrs. Bates:
I consider the program which you are sponsoring on January 29, 1947, as a great honor. One seldom merits such honor, for in the field of science wherever any advance is made the work of many people is involved and it always seems just a little bit unfair that one name should be chosen from the list for special commendation.
To your students I would say this: There are so many things still unknown in almost every realm of knowledge, and the need for this knowledge is so great that in the very vast majority of instances any new addition not only is accepted but the individual who creates the work is accepted without very much regard to race, color, or creed. There are many difficulties to overcome it is true, but our greatest difficulty still remains in the fact that we do not have very much to offer which anyone wants. So much of our energy is spent in overcoming the constricting environment in which we live that little energy is left for creating new ideas or things. Whenever, however, one breaks out of this rather high-walled prison of the "Negro problem" by virtue of some worthwhile contribution, not only is he himself allowed more freedom, but a part of the wall crumbles. And so it should be the aim of every student in science to knock down at least one or two bricks by virtue of his accomplishments.
Very sincerely yours,
Charles R. Drew, M.D.
Professor of Surgery