It was an impressive display of the new found Black political muscle.

Harold Washington, still revelling in his election as Chicago's first Black mayor swept through Boston Sunday in an effort to bolster minority voter registration and propel Black mayoral candidate Melvin H. King into City Hall this fall.

In a day jampacked with meetings with local Black political and religious leaders, a rally two fundraisers and a courtesy call on Boston Mayor Kevin H. White, Washington sounded his message that area Blacks can take political power if they register and vote.

Democrat Washington, who narrowly defeated Republican Bernard Epton in April in a contest marred by violence and charges of racism called his victory part of a "continuum" of increasing Black control in America's cities.

"Now it has come to Boston," Washington told a cheering crowd of more than 1500 at an outdoor rally in the Grove Hall part of Dorchester. "The only thing Mel is asking is: Are you ready? Don't break the chain."

Throughout the day, Washington repeated that working in the system is the only way to affect the political balance both in the cities and nationally.

"We are in a pivotal stage in the history of this country." Washington said at Grove Hall. "We can win if you register and vote. We're going about it honestly."

Included in the day's activities was a half-hour stopover at the Harvard Club for a sparsely attended fundraiser aimed at raising money for Operation Big Vote, a national registration drive. The event was sponsored by the Seymour Society a campus Black organization that is involved in the effort this summer.

In a short speech, Washington said that it is essential to involve "the little people" in the political process, and urged the crowd of Seymour Society members and King supporters to use any means possible to register Blacks.

White and Black

Though the Washington visit was clearly meant to boost King's campaign the Chicago mayor often was more in the spotlight than the Boston candidate whom polls put in second place along with City Councilor Raymond I. Flynn Former School Committee Chairman and WBZ radio talk show host David I. Finnegan is considered the frontrunner.

Arriving at Logan Airport at 1 p.m. with his aides and popular Black humorist and political activist Dick Gregory. Washington was sped by limousine and police escort to White's residence on Beacon St. for what Washington would only say was a courtesy call.

After meeting privately for about 10 minutes the departing machine politician and the newcomer reformist mugged for press and television cameras.

White who entered City Hall in 1968 on reformist platform before setting up a political patronage system patterned after the machine of late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, stressed common points between the two cities, citing "the natural tug for power between the Mayor and the City Council a tension that has been a concern of both mayors.

Though the irony of the meeting between two politicians on the opposite sides of the political spectrum could not have escaped either's notice. White and Washington did not explicitly mention the problems of racism and the entrenched political machine White is upholding and Washington is trying to destroy.