Re “Democrats suppressed, mistreated black people,” letter to the editor, July 23-25 edition:

Mr. Urchie B. Ellis sorely needs a crash course in American history or he could simply borrow a fifth-grader’s history book. Mr. Ellis is being disingenuous and condescending to Free Press readers with, as he puts it, “Your readers …”

The Republican Party — the party of President Lincoln — in 1865 and about 20 years afterward was for big government, as was the Democratic Party.

The lines became blurred between the political parties after the Civil War when both wanted the votes of the Western states that were coming into the Union. Initially, both parties believed that government should include social programs. But this all changed when Republicans became more pro-big business and advocated for a smaller government.

The two parties’ platforms changed forever in the 1930s with the election of Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal that put scores of people to work after a severe economic depression. African-Americans who previously voted Republican slowly became Democrats. Republicans began advocating for a smaller government role in social programs and became more pro-big business.

As the years passed, the parties reversed roles. This permanent reversal would resonate in 1960 in a very close race when African-Americans were divided between Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy until the famous phone call Sen. Kennedy made to Dr. King when his house was bombed. Many historians believe if not for that phone call, Sen. Kennedy would not have won. African-Americans saw him as sympathetic to their cause.

Republicans then moved further and further to the right, where they are now reactionaries.

May I suggest Mr. Ellis read a comprehensive history of the United States?

JEAN E. MORRIS

Richmond