Orlando

30 January 1955

Dear Langston Hughes,

As you will see from the letterhead I am now working for DRUM as fiction editor – have been since last December. It's no use staying on in teaching these days with everything in African education being subjected to party political policies. My wife has also left teaching altogether and is in a school of social work.

I find this work fascinating and enjoy it thoroughly, as you may imagine.

I have not heard from you personally what you think of the stories I sent you, and am keen to have your expert opinion on them. ‘Winter Story’ and ‘Moon and Fury’ have after all been rejected by PHYLON a second time, so I must look elsewhere. But of course I leave the choice to you for your anthology. I am sending you two most recent and unpublished stories to make the choice wider for you. Do not hesitate to let me know if none of them is of anthology standard.

What sort of fiction do Negro journals in America go in for – is it worth trying them? if so, which? As I have said before, I should not mind if any of the stories you find unsuitable for anthology purposes find their way into an American magazine/s.

Thanks a lot for WEARY BLUES in which I have enjoyed some very moving poetry; and so for THE WAYS OF WHITE FOLK with a most entertaining style. I got a letter from Customs to say the magazines you sent me are being withheld as objectionable literature:- as you forecast. Thanks all the same for the trouble you went into.

Looking forward to a newsy letter from you soon, and with best wishes,

I am,

Yours sincerely,

EZEKIEL MPHAHLELE

ENCLOSED: ‘Across Downstream’

‘A Voice in the Dark’

Orlando West

9 February 1955

Dear Miss Taylor,

I have joined Drum, it seems I am going to like the position of fiction editor. We get stories from as far as West, Central and East Africa and it is a most interesting job reading them and criticising and corresponding with the authors. I have given him your address so that he sends you a copy in March or April.