Who was Melnea Cass?

Melnea Jones was born in June of 1896 in Richmond, Virginia. At a young age, her family moved to South End in Boston. After the passing of her mother, she lived with an aunt but eventually returned to Boston to find work.

She later met and married American soldier, Marshall Cass. After he was redeployed to serve in World War I, her mother-in-law encouraged her to get involved as a community and civil rights activist. After being influenced by civil rights activist William Monroe Trotter, she decided to join the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

She was known as the “First Lady of Roxbury” in Boston. She didn’t get her nickname from just one action, as her efforts spanned many decades to improve the lives of those living in her community.

Achievements

As a young woman, Melnea led the get out and vote drive to help African American women register and cast their first vote in 1920.

During the 1930s, she volunteered at community centers, and organized mothers to encourage early education. She also encouraged shops to hire Black workers. And even launched a kindergarten program when her children needed a school in their community.

She served as the President of the Women’s Service Club for more than 15 years which helped ensure women had access to Social Security and other benefits. She trained Black women as president of the Club, and she was a catalyst in starting Freedom House, an organization dedicated to advocacy for African Americans in Boston.

From 1962 to 1964 she served as president of the Boston NAACP and organized demonstrations against segregation in the Boston Public Schools.

Recognition

In 1950, John Hynes, the Mayor of Boston, appointed her as the only woman charter member of the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), which assisted people who lost their home to urban renewal efforts. In 1968, a state pool and arena in Roxbury were named in her honor.

From 1975 to 1976 she was the chair of the Massachusetts Advisory Committee for the Elderly. As the city honored her in 1977, she shared the hope of the legacy she would leave behind. She wanted to be remembered for dedicating her best years to helping others and witnessing the changes she envisioned come true.

A Legacy of Hope, Inspiration and Change

She also inspired younger generations to be strong and confident. Melnea encouraged them to stay hopeful saying, “You never give up hope, never, because just when you think you’re gonna give up, that’s when you could really gain the victory – if you just kept on going, just a little bit more.”

Today her face is one of many on the “Faces of Dudley” mural on Malcolm X Boulevard in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. Three years before Melnea Cass Boulevard opened in 1981, she passed away.

I would like to thank Melnea Cass for her advocacy, drive and commitment to improve the quality of lives of African Americans in her community. Her efforts have not only solidified a place in Black history, but also in the hearts of those she knew and impacted.

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