[African-Canadiana]: [East-West Business Agency]:

The Black Trade and Business Directory First Edition November, 1970 [wrapper title].

[N.p., most likely Toronto]: 1970. 48pp. Original orange wrappers printed in black, stapled. Minor rubbing. Very good plus. Item #5025

An intriguing and scarce business directory aimed at the African-Canadian and Afro-Caribbean community in Canada, mainly in and around Toronto. The directory was issued by the East-West Business Agency whose president, Iyamah Joseph edited the work; he also touts himself as the founder of the Black Trade and Business Directory. According to Joseph's introduction, the work was compiled as "an Economic guide which projects the black thoughts, black concern and a direction on black spending, buying, and Black community progress." The publication is also intended as "a guide to Black Better Business community relationships" and touted as "the first founded, owned, operated, compiled, published, circulated and distributed directory which was designed with dual endeavors for your convenience."

The directory includes listings for many dozens of African-American-owned or operated businesses in and around Toronto, arranged alphabetically from "Accounting and Bookkeeping" to "Used Furniture." The text also prints a listing of associations and fraternal organizations such as the Afro American Progressive Association, the Black Liberation Front of Canada, The Canadian Negro Women's Association, Trinidad and Tobago Association of Toronto, and many others. The latter listing highlights an interesting feature of the directory, namely that it includes numerous references and business listings or ads that pertain to the Caribbean; these include Ken and Tony of Jamaica (a beauty salon previously located in Kingston), West Indian Golden Beauty Supply Shoppe, an advertisement for a wig called the "Kingston Afro," and the West Indian Food Fair, among others. Interestingly, one of the full-page advertisements features a few paragraphs about the editor of the book, Joseph Iyamah, who was at that time a student at the University of Toronto and "the only Black in Toronto engaged in the business of Tax Consulting and other related business matters." Another full page is taken up with a memorial of Martin Luther King, Jr. It appears that the publication ran for three years from 1970-72.

OCLC lists eight institutional copies of this first entry in the series, at Howard, Yale, the Wilson Library, Library and Archives Canada, York University, McGill University, and two at the University of Toronto.

Price: $450