Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher

“H-Block” postscript

During Black History Month, the Banner published a special insert entitled “The Original H-Block.” The objective was to highlight the academic and professional achievements of the African American residents of a small Roxbury neighborhood 50 or 60 years ago. The hope was that young residents of the neighborhood would be inspired by what their elders were able to accomplish when there were few opportunities for blacks.

“H-Block” was especially well received by those who personally remembered the place and the times. There was a sense of pride in the accomplishments of friends and neighbors. And there was also a sense of nostalgia for a time that was more peaceful despite the racial discrimination. People did not have to worry about locking their doors. Disputes between boys were sometimes settled with nothing more dangerous than a fistfight.

However, comments indicate there is some misunderstanding about “H-Block.” There was no intention to produce a census of all college graduates. It was also necessary to have attained high visibility employment to be included, or to have been employed in a position that was unusual for an African American at that time. For that reason, some lawyers, Ph.D.s and others were not included.

It is also important to remember that “H-Block” covered only a small area. There were other similar neighborhoods in Roxbury. In the time period covered, few blacks lived in Mattapan or Hyde Park. Fifty years ago African Americans lived primarily in the South End, Roxbury and parts of Dorchester.

As stated in the piece, the black community was relatively small then, so there was considerable communication between residents of the various neighborhoods. There was no H-Block then. That name was contrived by a youthful gang to mark their turf. That is a relatively new concept for black Bostonians.

The “H-Block” story’s focus on academic and professional achievement did not include the extent to which the black community was involved in the arts. Roland Hayes, the world famous concert tenor, and Buckner Gamby, a world-class pianist who played with the Boston Pops and toured in Europe, performed frequently in the community. And Gene Walcott, now known as Louis Farrakhan, was a concert quality classical violinist.

Ralf Coleman, who looked like a sepia Douglas Fairbanks, was an actor, playwright and director. As director of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Negro Federal Theater of Massachusetts, he helped launch the careers of a number of local actors. Prominent in this group was Frank Silvera, who grew up in Boston and had an extraordinary career in TV and Hollywood.

With such an expansive work as “H-Block,” it is inevitable that there would be some mistakes. To correct some of them: Harriet Elam-Thomas was appointed ambassador of Senegal by President Clinton, not President Carter. Dr. Alfred Russell had three daughters, not two. Lillian went to Bryn Mawr and MIT. And Dr. Clifford Janey, while a Roxbury man, was not from H-Block; he is the nephew, not the son, of William H. Janey, late of Townsend Street.

Nonetheless, the H-Block Janeys still deserve recognition. William Janey was commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 101st Artillery of the Yankee Division of the Massachusetts National Guard. Col. Janey was battalion commander and the only African American in the unit.

The “H-Block” story demonstrates that African Americans in Roxbury achieved academically and enjoyed a culturally rich environment despite racial discrimination. It was not accurate to assume that all black communities were “culturally deprived,” as urban analysts insisted in the 1970s. The “H-Block” story challenges the younger generation to replicate what their elders accomplished when times were tough.

“It’s inspiring to see what our elders accomplished in difficult times.”