Hartford chronicle., 1946-08-03

Out of Fl letters received dur ing the past week in response to the recent column on the AKA FORMAL, this one seemed most deserving of publication Unlike 38 others, it makes a strong case for the AKA side. It follows in full. Dear MT. Richardson
 It is with great pleasure that l read your column, IT'S LIKE THIS, in the weekly issues of the BOSTON CHRONICLE. In it you have tackled many weighty and important items concerning this community of ours. It was with great interest that I read your art icle in the July 20th issue on the AKA formal held at the Sheraton Hotel in June. This letter is not defense of the AKA's or a crit icism of your article.
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 However, I do not think it fair to let many of your statements go by the board without due comment from the other side. I must duly say that I am not an official spokes- man for the AKA's and that any official comment from them will come from the respective chapter presidents. As you point out, the AKA's have tried very hard to justify their existence by render ing community service, not only to Bostonians, but via their na- tional projects to the whole coun- try. Because of this fact, the kind of publicity which is unfair to the organization is also detrimental to it's work and membership morale. It encourages the members to withdraw from the community be- cause of lack of sympathetic un- derstanding from the members of the community. do not think that fair or just criticism is ever over looked or bypassed by the AKA's. They desire to be an integral part of the community in the best democratic tradition, and to know also where they have erred.
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 Firstly, it was not stated in your article that the members of the Boston Chapters of Delta Sig ma Theta sorority were co-sponsors of the, dance held at the Sheraton. Tn all fairness to the hard work and effort that this fine sorority put into the total effort some con- siderable mention of them should have been made.
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 Secondly, the dance was strictly i invitational and the expense borne by the members of the two sorori- | ties. Under these circumstances the place in which the dance was to be held had to meet the appro- val of the members who were as- suming all the financial responsi- bility. In view of the fact that these were no Negro-owned and sponsored halls that were large enough or equipped well enough to handle a crowd of four hundred persons and a dance orchestra, the committee found it necessary to seek other accommodations. As you know there are not many downtown halls or hotels that seek | or encourage Negro patronage. It | was not the fact that the commit | tee deliberately sought out white hotel just to have the prestige of | having been. able to do so. It was it's main problem to find some place that could provide the necessary space and accommodations.
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 As you also know, the first AKA Delta formal was held in June 19- 45 there at the Sheraton. The man and I believe in all sin cerity, welcomed us again this year, and have invited us to come again. do not believe that it is the fact that a sorority sponsors the dances is what impresses the but that the guests, Negro and hence, in many white minds, also inferior and incapable of accomplishment, have conducted themselves with such department and reveal a side of Negro life which they are en- tirely ignorant of.
 #&#k##*Tw%#
 We, as sororities, are not unduly |