Commentary's Influence
To the Editor:
On a recent trip to San Francisco, where I had gone to argue for a non-discrimination ordinance to be applicable to urban redevelopment projects, I was surprised to find how effective COMMENTARY’s was and how widely read in influential quarters.
On several previous occasions when the racial issue was brought up—New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia—articles in COMMENTARY’s were mentioned too. I suddenly realized what an impact your magazine was having on molding opinion. Though I have written for other magazines, few seem to have so wide an influence. COMMENTARY’s has really become the center around which sound thinking on racial questions revolves. The sobriety and authenticity of its approach give it an influence far beyond its limited circulation.
I think COMMENTARY’s is effective because it does not push the idea down your throat and allows the writer enough room to have his say. It’s been as much pleasure writing for COMMENTARY’s as it is reading it. On three occasions when I wrote for other vehicles, I was impelled to cite several of its articles as source material. It is my favorite magazine and my favorite medium for civilized expression.
Charles Abrams
New York City
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