Dearest Nettie,

It almost as hot and muggy here as back home! Monday, I moved Olivia into the women’s housing. She already made a friend. Her name Rosa - she sweet like cherry pie. DC’s flowers even nicer than down south. I can smell them as we walk round campus. She just started on Monday. She so happy. Even though I’m old and tired now, she teach me everything she learn in them classes. I’m telling you Nettie, us got a real smart lady. She’s gonna be a great teacher one day like you.

Every day while Olivia be in her classes, I been readin up in the library. I’ve learned all sort of things - from philosophy to astronomy. I even read up more on the history of slaves back home and all round the world. You ever hear of a fella named Toussaint L’overture? He colored but led a whole slave revolution in Haiti! Imagine that, Nettie - colored people leading the way. Got me thinking.

I never realized how little people know back home. Most people I know never even finish primary school. Think about it.Does our town even have a high school? Much less for colored girls like me and you. Most people just work all they lives. Me and you could really get something going, Nettie.

The colored folks up here a different breed. They ain’t content with working on the fields. Some never even known someone who worked on the fields. These some real smart folk, and rich too. They want change. I never realized how bad we living back home. There’s a whole different side to the colored experience. Ain’t nobody back home want change.

Your sister,
Celie

Dearest Nettie,

It almost as hot and muggy here as back home! Monday, I moved Olivia into the women’s housing. She already made a friend. Her name Rosa - she sweet like cherry pie. DC’s flowers even nicer than down south. I can smell them as we walk round campus. She just started on Monday. She so happy. Even though I’m old and tired now, she teach me everything she learn in them classes. I’m telling you Nettie, us got a real smart lady. She’s gonna be a great teacher one day like you.

Every day while Olivia be in her classes, I been readin up in the library. I’ve learned all sort of things - from philosophy to astronomy. I even read up more on the history of slaves back home and all round the world. You ever hear of a fella named Toussaint L’overture? He colored but led a whole slave revolution in Haiti! Imagine that, Nettie - colored people leading the way. Got me thinking.

I never realized how little people know back home. Most people I know never even finish primary school. Think about it.Does our town even have a high school? Much less for colored girls like me and you. Most people just work all they lives. Me and you could really get something going, Nettie.

The colored folks up here a different breed. They ain’t content with working on the fields. Some never even known someone who worked on the fields. These some real smart folk, and rich too. They want change. I never realized how bad we living back home. There’s a whole different side to the colored experience. Ain’t nobody back home want change.

Your sister,
Celie

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