Twin-City herald. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1927-1940, 1939-02-04
Business and Professional
Head Issues Statement


been charges and counter-charges CEN
tering about the Phyllis Wheatley
House Board Fortunately, in this age
there are no taboos so it is no crime
to express an honest opinion, especial
ly if it is based on facts A matter as
important as the social welfare of
Minneapolis Negroes cannot and will
not be left up to handful of self
elected individuals sitting on any
board, as final
Try to Help
The Business and Professional AS
sociation is composed of a group of
people who have been able to main
tain their sphere of activity because
of the good will of the pubic. We be-
lieve that we should give more to the
public than just our commodity. We
believe that we should try to help in
unified manner to better the general
condition of race-relations in Minnea-
polls. In this way only, will things
be made better here for all and, es-
pecially for the children, young men
and young women who are about to
launch out into very unfriendly
world.
No Attempt to Dictate
We do not believe that we should
dictate all policies of any or all other
organizations or institutions. However,
we feel that we, as an organization,
have as much right to investigate
any matter dealing with the general
welfare as anyone else or any organ
| ization or any newspapers.
Asked for Conference
With this in mind, we recently asked
for a conference with the Board which
controls Phyllis Wheatley House.
AS this Board was about to employ a
new head-resident, we felt that we
might offer them some suggestions
1 that would be beneficial to the COM
munity. eve could not benefit per-
sonally because our business life is
not dependent upon that House. We
| knew that if the right type OF head
resident were placed in charge and al
lowed to carry out constructive pol
icy, then the House would be a
| character-building agency in fact, as
well as, in name We did not inter-
fere with any other organization max
/ ing the same request if it was de-
sired. Apparently, however, the Board
became panic stricken, for our request
/ for a conference was ignored and in
stead an invitation was sent to more
than dozen organizations, including
ours, announcing an immediate hear
ing on the subject, What Is the Matter
with Phyllis Wheatley House? We
declined the invitation because we
were not interested in what was the
matter but rather we were eager to
assist in starting an upward trend OF
affairs, which had reached low ebb.
We knew that only the most vague of
generalities could be touched by such
a joint group and since no other or
ganization had requested conference,
we knew that the time was too short
in which organizations could be sum-
moned so that their delegates could
represent the organizations viewpoint.
Our prophesy was correct, as later
iz.r ~ +
facts have proved.
No Desire to Overshadow
| Let it be definitely understood by
all that the Business and Professional
i Association does not desire to over
shadow any other group and, con-
/ versely. since we are not children
needing a parents care, we have a
right to express our opinion on all
matters dealing with the common,
veal.
w. D. BROWN. MD.
President of the Minneapolis Business
and Professional Association