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Politics

Fifty years ago signs like these were commonly displayed in the Saint John area.
Through the active leadership of the Black and non-Black communities these signs have disappeared.

Here are just a few of the people who have aided in this struggle...

Lena (Dixon) O'Ree

Mrs. Lena O'Ree accomplished much for the Black community. It seems that she believed in one basic philosophy "take the wrong and make it right - one at a time".
In 1931, Mrs. O'Ree hosted the first Black radio show on CFBO (later to become CHSJ). The station made no attempt to publicize to the listening public that this particular hostess was Black. In addition to hosting, Mrs. O'Ree also played piano for a church choir that performed over CFBO. That choir produced a soloist, Miss Pauline Brown. She became the first Black voice to sing regularly on the local radio.

In 1936, Mrs. O'Ree was responsible for the first Black woman's group being permitted to join the YWCA. They called themselves The Recreation Club of the YWCA. This local was also one of National importance.

In 1959, the Liberal party, in gratitude for the Black vote, asked Mrs. O'Ree if it could do anything for the Black community. She asked that Blacks be admitted to the dining room of the Admiral Beatty Hotel. It was somewhat ironic that today, the restaurant in the Admiral Beatty building is owned and managed by a Black female chef.

Mrs. O'Ree continues to contribute. Her roles as an oral historian and "elder stateswoman" have put 20th century Black history in its deserving and proper perspective.

Dr. Frederick Douglas Hodges

Frederick Douglas Hodges was born in 1918. The descendant of a Black Loyalist, he was raised and educated in West Saint John. Hodges served with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a radio and telephone operator.

Dr. Hodges served his city well. He was president of the Saint John District Labour (5 years). He was the first Black person to be elected to public office in Saint John. In 1974 he was elected city councillor for a three-year term.

In 1981, Dr. Hodges, received the Order of Canada in recognition of this contributions to his people, his community and his country. Some of those contributions are as follows:

• In 1959, a foundling member of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), Saint John Branch.
• In 1967, appointed a commissioner on the newly-formed Human Rights Commission.
• Director of the John Howard Society (10 years).
• Chairman of the New Brunswick Community College Advisary Board, Regent #4.
• Chairman of Direct Consumers Co-op, Golden Mile (the first Co-op in Saint John, N.B.).
• Co-chairman for the Saint John Port and Industrial Committee.
• Co-chairman of the Unity Committee.
• Member, New Brunswick Labour Relations Board.
• Member, University of New Brunswick Labour Relations council.
• Co-chairman of the College Development Association (1990) .

In 1984, Frederick Douglas Hodges, received an honourary degree, Doctor of Laws, from the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. Dr. Hodges has been and continues to be a man for all people.

Although much progress has been made, we have miles to go. Read this Editorial entitled "Black Community's Needs Go Beyond Jobs".

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