The guardian., 1941-06-07
THE GREATER BOSTON TRADE
ASSOCIATION

CONTINUED from Page u
men, all active members of the asso-
citation.
The various complexities of our
modern social and economic structure
are such that we are necessarily de-
pendent on one another. The power of
mass unity for the economic, social
and civic advancement of the colored
race cannot be underestimated It is
recognized today as the most import
ant factor of our everyday life and it
fcannot and must not be taken lightly.
We seek to impress upon the white
business men in our community the
necessity of employing more of our
young women and men as clerks and
clerical workers, if they expect our
continued support of their business
enterprises.
Today the members of our organiza-
! tion believe that freedom of opportu-
| nifty is the birthright of every man. If
the average citizen is given equal
opportunity in the voting booth, he
must, as matter of right and justice,
be given an equal opportunity in his
or her effort to obtain freedom.
Many people want to know some
practical accomplishments of our or
ganization; what have we done tow
ards helping business? f.? A fair question
deserves a fair answer. The Greater
Boston Trade Association was pri-
marily responsible for the repaving of
Hammond Street and for the repaving
and lighting job, now in progress on
fremont Street. The Association has
also worked in close cooperation with
the Sanitary Division, Department of
Public Works, for the cleanup of the
streets and alleys of the South End
I and Roxbury. The association has
from the beginning worked with the
Boston Housing Authority Board and
the Lenox Street Project. 1t has
worked with the Boston Elevated Rail-
way System for better car service and
transportation facilities for our COM
munity. 1t has worked and secured
better police protection for the South
End and Roxbury.
The association has worked and at
the present is working to secure better
facilities and for full time supervisor
for the Columbus Avenue Playground.
The Association has, for the years
1910 and 1941, worked in full coopera-
tlon with the Greater Boston Comnu-
nifty Fund. The association, working
IN cooperation with the other civic
bodies, successfully eliminated the pro-
posed 3 per cent sales tax advocated bv
the tax commissioner. The associa-
tion sponsored the Noon Day Luncheon
Club, which conducts monthly lunch
cons with prominent guest speakers.
The Greater Boston Trade Association
sponsored the first community Christ
mas program for the children of Rox-
bury, and appointed a permanent
Christmas Committee; appointed a
Legislative Committee to check State
and national legislation pertaining to
business; appointed a Health and
Sanitary Committee to watch and
check on the sanitary and health con-
dlt1ons of the community; established
a Research and Statistical Department
where much data pertaining to race
business is kept on file.
The association had official contact
with the following organizations: The
boston Chamber of Commerce, The
Retail Trade Board, The Better Busi-
ness Bureau, The United States Cham
Der OF Commerce, The National ''Ne-
gro" Business League, The United
States Department of Commerce. The
Social Security Board, The National
Youth Administration, The Library of
Congress, which means that the
Greater Boston Trade Association
and the Housewives League are two
OF the officially recognized business
organizations of Greater Boston COM
prising as they do membership of
some $50 persons.