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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

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‘I don’t think he really wanted to be in the Hill’

Store to close March 20

Wheatley says Shop ‘n Save owner didn’t have a vested interest

by Rob Taylor Jr.

“It’s a shame,” said a man who identified himself to the New Pittsburgh Courier as Suber, with bags in hand leaving the Shop ‘n Save, Feb. 23. “I just moved up here (from Westmoreland County), this is the perfect place to shop conveniently for people around here.”

Suber has lived in the K. Leroy Irvis Towers for about a year, but as of March 20, according to reports, he, along with others, won’t be able to shop at the

Courier Staff Writer

The sign is clear as day outside the Centre Heldman Plaza in the Hill District.

“Shop ‘n Save, Now Hiring! Apply in store!”

But Hill District residents— and many residents city-wide— know that can’t be the case, as the Hill’s Shop ‘n Save location will soon be closing its doors—for good.

THIS SHOP ‘N SAVE LOCATION in the Hill District is scheduled to close March 20. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)

store, because it will permanently close.

Jeff Ross, owner of the Hill District Shop ‘n Save, along with other Shop ‘n Save locations such as in McKeesport and Mt. Pleasant, could not be reached for comment.

But the Courier found that the Hill District Shop ‘n Save was dying a slow death. The Courier, along with other media outlets, confirmed that Ross stopped paying monthly rent payments to the Hill House Economic Development Corporation almost 10 months ago. And Dollar Bank, which has a branch inside the store, recently announced they were closing the branch on Tuesday, March 19. Dollar Bank told various media outlets such as SEE WHEATLEY A5

Blacks’ risk of sudden Roger W. Davis named Community cardiac death three College of Beaver County President times that of Whites

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Sure, February is Black History Month, but it’s also Heart Month for the American Heart Association, and earlier this month it announced the release of a new study out of Johns Hopkins University that notes African Americans are at double to triple the risk for cardiac arrest as their White counterparts.

First, cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack.

Though heart attacks can certainly lead to cardiac arrest, the proximate cause in each is different. Heart attacks are caused by blockages that stop blood flow and kill heart muscle tissue—they are circulation problems.

Cardiac arrest is an electrical problem that causes the heart to beat chaotically—and stop. Two common arrhythmias are ventricular fibrillation (VF)—where

one or both of the lower chambers beat chaotically, and tachycardia—a racing heartbeat.

Both can be treated with medications. And while VF may need to be treated by implanting a pacemaker, tachycardia that does not respond to medication can only be treated by catheter ablation, which uses radio waves to destroy the area of heart tissue that triggers the tachycardia.

While a racing heartbeat is apparent to those who experience it, the warning signs of VF are less clear and include: fatigue, dizziness, chest pressure, nausea and shortness of breath.

The Feb. 4 study published in the Circulation Journal looked at large longitudinal samples including 11,237 Whites and 3,832 African Americans, some of whom were followed for up to 27 SEE CARDIAC A5

When Roger W. Davis was 3 years old, he was chosen for adoption by a Baltimore couple who’d seen him on a television show called, “A Child Is Waiting.”

Last night, he was able to call his mother, Marian, and tell her he’d been chosen again—this time, as the ninth president of the Community College of Beaver County. He is the first African American president in the school’s 52-year history, appointed by the CCBC Board of Trustees at its Feb. 26 meeting.

“She’s 90, and she doesn’t know I have this job yet,” he told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview, Feb. 25. “She’s really going to be blown away. I am humbled and delighted to be the ninth president of the college.”

As for being the first Black president, Dr. Davis has been the interim president since June, and when he SEE DAVIS A4

ROGER W. DAVIS is the first African American president of Community College of Beaver County.

Students from 17 school districts learn about Black History Feb. 25 event spotlights Black firsts, achievements

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Last year, Stop the Violence Pittsburgh Founder William Marshall held a student essay contest for Black History Month, and the response was so positive that this year he thought he’d do something a little bigger—so he held an event at Soldiers and Sailors MeSTUDENTS FROM PITTSBURGH CAPA, at a Black History Month event at Soldiers and morial Hall in Oakland.

Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland. (Photo by Brian Cook) And it’s a good thing he

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held it there, because hundreds of high school students from 17 different school districts attended.

“After last year, we wanted to do something more broadly educational,” said Marshall about the Feb. 25 event. “So we brought in instructors to give presentations and perspectives the students may not have experienced.”

One of those perspectives— commented on by more than one presenter—was a reminder that in August, it will have been 400 years since the first captive Africans were brought to what is now the United States of America.

“African American 400” events will be held throughout the year across the country.

As Community College of Allegheny County History Professor Rashid Sundiata noted in his talk, what is now the United States was built with the free labor of captive Africans. They were here

Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick says

157 years before Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and 246 years before the end of the Civil War that won their descendants’ independence.

“There would be no ‘here,’ if we were not here,” he said.

And once here, Blacks built the country and culture in every field of endeavor: science, engineering, medicine and the arts, as noted by several of the hosts and instructors.

Nelson Harrison, a 2019 New Pittsburgh Courier Men of Excellence awardee, gave an entertaining presentation on the evolution of Black music from its beginnings in work songs and syncopated dance through rural blues, big bands, be-bop, gospel, rock n’ roll, bossa nova, to R&B, rap and house music. Along the way, it even influenced classical comSEE HISTORY A4

Black faces, Black minds—nothing new Forum B6

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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

INTERNATIONAL

Prince Harry, wife Meghan in Morocco on official visit CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP)—Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have arrived in Morocco for an official trip scheduled to be their last international journey before she gives birth to their first child.

Meghan is seven months pregnant and is expected to have their child in April.

The royal couple’s schedule began Sunday in the town of Asni in the Atlas Mountains to hear about the education of girls in rural communities.

They will then travel to Rabat to meet with diplomats, influential women, young entrepreneurs and disabled athletes.

The visit will also include a trip to the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian

U. S. hits Ghana with visa sanctions in spat over deportees

(TriceEdneyWire.com/ GIN)—The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and State Department say they will no longer issue visas for certain Ghanaians owing to a “lack of cooperation” by the West African nation —namely its refusal to accept 7,000 Ghanaian nationals that the U.S. wants to deport.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said Ghana has “denied or unreasonably delayed accepting their nationals ordered removed from the United States.”

But Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey hotly disputed the charge, calling the allegations “unfounded.”

“The sanctions imposed on Ghana are without any

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This Week In Black History

Week of February 27-March 5 February 27 1748—This is the probable birth date of Prince Hall—the “Father of Black Masons.” Hall was a veteran of America’s war of independence from England, founder of the first African-American Masonic lodges and one of the most prominent Black leaders of his era. The charter for the first Black Masonic lodge was granted on Sept. 29, 1784. It was known as African Lodge #459 of Boston.

1869—Congress adopts the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution making it illegal for the U.S. government or any state to “deny or abridge” the right to vote “on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.” This was one of PRINCE HALL the so-called “Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th & 15th)” which essentially ended slavery, made Blacks full U.S. citizens and guaranteed the right to vote.

1872—Charlotte E. Ray graduates from the Howard University Law School becoming the first Black female lawyer in the United States. It also appears that she was the third female lawyer of any race. She was admitted to the Washington, D.C., bar the same year she graduated. But racism and sexism prevented her from making a living as a lawyer in the nation’s capital, so OFFICIAL VISIT—Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of she moved to New York and got a job with the Brooklyn school Sussex, arrive at the Casablanca Airport in Casablanca, Morocco, system.

Saturday Feb. 23. The royal couple, who are expecting their first February 28 child in the spring, will be in Morocco for a three day visit. (Hannah CHARLOTTE E. RAY 1708—One of the first recorded slave revolts in American histoMcKay/Pool via AP) ry takes place on Newton, Long Island (New York). Seven Whites are killed. In retaliation, two Black male slaves and one Indian male slave were hung, while one Black Sports to observe horses Harry and Meghan female slave was burned alive. that provide support to planned to return to Brit1879—A date considered by many to mark the beginning of the great “Exodus of children with special needs. ain Tuesday.

1879,” when thousands of Blacks begin fleeing racism, violence and economic exploitation in the South for new lives in the Midwest, especially Kansas. One of the most prominent organizers of the exodus was former Tennessee slave Benjamin “Pap” Singleton. An estimated 20,000 Blacks took part in the exodus. They were driven in part by the Homestead Act which promised free land. But by 1880, efforts had already begun to curtail the movement of Blacks to the Midwest. In 1881, Pap Singleton was hauled before a Senate investigative committee looking into his role in the exodus.

1989—Philip Emeagwali is awarded the Golden Bell Prize for claims were related to operations at Montepuez solving one of the 20 most difficult problems in computer science. the repeated burning of in harmony with the local The prize is widely considered the “Nobel Prize of Computing.”

Namucho- Ntoro village. communities.”

The feat of the Nigerian-born computer scientist involved, at the More claims are possible The torture and human time, the world’s fastest computer computation—a staggering as local people say there rights violations were first 3.1 billion calculations per second. He figured out how oil flows are many other claims exposed by prize-winning which were not included journalist Estacio Valoi, no- underground and thus better enabled companies to extract it.

PHILIP EMEAGWALI March 1 in the London High Court tably in a 2015 Al Jazeera 1739—The British government is forced to sign a peace treaty with the Jamaican case. film, and were confirmed by Maroons. The Maroons were escaped slaves or, to put it another way, Africans who The British miner, the Mozambican Lawyers refused to be slaves. When the Spanish lost Jamaica to the British in 1665, they freed Gemfields, which describes Association which cited in many of their slaves and called them Maroons or “wild.” The Maroons set up villages, itself as “a leading supplia Aug. 1, 2017 memo “the were frequently joined by other escaped slaves and eventually began er of responsibly sourced macabre, degrading and to wage a highly successful guerrilla war against the British. Under colored gemstones”, owns inhuman acts of torture the terms of the peace treaty, the Maroons were designated a free a 75% stake in Montepuez and exceptional violence people and given 1,500 acres of land.

Mining along with a group (that were) perpetrated by 1780—Pennsylvania becomes perhaps the first state to abolish of Mozambicans allegedmembers of the riot police”. slavery. There is some confusion about the effective dates of the laws ly with government ties.

According to an article in passed during this period, which called for the gradual elimination of “Instances of violence have France24, Gemfields has slavery. The honor of being the first state to ban slavery may actually occurred”, they say, but already earned closed to go to Vermont. that they are “not liable for $132.7 million from the 1875—Congress enacts the first Civil Rights Bill. It granted the alleged incidents”. sale of precious stones. In MAROONS Blacks the right to equal treatment in inns, on public transportation, Gemfields CEO Sean Gil- comparison, Mozambique in theaters and places of amusement. However, with the end of the progressive Rebertson was quoted to say: was ranked 7th in a list of construction period, Jim Crow laws were passed throughout the South which largely “We regard this settlement, countries with the worst ignored the Civil Rights Bill. African-Americans did not regain most of the rights together with the new per capita income. granted in 1875 until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. community support mechA film on Mozambique’s 1927—Entertainer and political activist Harry Belafonte is born Harold George Beanisms, as a critical step disastrous ruby history in allowing us to continue with journalist Valoi can be lafonte on this day in Harlem, N.Y., to Jamaican immigrant parents. Belafonte developed an early flair for entertainment and in the post-World War II period, he became to develop our world-class streamed on Al Jazeera. one of the most popular vocalists in America and made Calypso popular throughout the nation. In 1959, he became the first African-American to win an Emmy. However, from the 1960s forward he mixed his entertainment career with active participation in the Civil Rights Movement and other social causes. He has been a frequent critic of Republican conservatism and conservative Blacks. In 2002, he was accused of labeling Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice “house niggers” for their support of President Bush’s right wing domestic and foreign policies.

1967—On this day in Black history, the U.S. House of Representatives expelled flamboyant and outspoken Black New York Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. from Congress for allegedly misappropriating funds. However, in June 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the expulsion unconstitutional and Powell returned to Congress, but without his seniority. He lost his seat to current Representative Charles Rangel in 1970 and Powell died on April 4, 1972. During his most powerful years in Congress, Powell headed the House Labor and Education Committee and used his powers to help pass a wide range of civil rights and progressive social legislation.

March 2 1807—Congress passes legislation banning the slave trade.

The law which was to go into effect on Jan. 1, 1808 prohibited the importation of slaves into the U.S. or any of its territories. Despite ADAM CLAYTON the law, however, the illegal importation of slaves continued for years.

POWELL JR. The best available records suggest that the very last slave ship arrived in the U.S. in 1859 off the coast of Mobile, Ala. The ship was called the Clothilde.

1896—Ethiopia defeats Italy at the battle of Adowa (also called Adwa). It was one of the few successful military victories of Africans over Europeans as the latter attempted to colonize and economically exploit the African continent. The nominal head of the Ethiopian forces was Emperor Menelik II, but the lead general was Ras Makonnen— father of the man who would become next Emperor Haile Selassie.

The battle, which began on March 1, 1896, would leave 6,000 Italians and 10,000 Ethiopians dead. But the victory forced Europe to recogGHANAIAN INFORMATION MINISTER K. OPPONG NKRUMAH nize Ethiopia as an independent and sovereign nation, as well as, give inspiration to Blacks worldwide who were fighting for freedom. justification whatsoever,” anie S. Sullivan said that March 3 the ministry said, adding efforts to obtain passports 1968—The infamous COINTELPRO memorandum is sent to FBI that it had “always coopfor the Ghanaians at the field offices around the country. COINTELPRO was a government erated with the US auembassy in Washington counter intelligence program aimed at disrupting and destroying thorities in the processing were unsuccessful afHAILE SELASSIE Black, peace and anti-war groups. The March 3 memorandum specifand removal of Ghanaian ter two years. Without ically called on FBI agents to infiltrate militant Black organizations citizens who have been passports, the U.S. has to and employ various tactics to prevent them from growing individually or uniting with cited for deportation.” arrange charter flights one another. The agents were also told to do whatever was necessary to prevent the The spat blew up when or in some cases, release rise of a “Black Messiah” who could “electrify and unify” Black people. Approximately the U.S. announced its those under final orders of one month after the COINTELPRO memorandum was issued, Civil Rights Moveintention to deport several removal back into the U.S. ment leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. When hundred persons to Ghana “The Government of the COINTELPRO documents were discovered by a reporter in the 1970s, suspicion for various infractions.

Ghana has consistently not increased that the FBI and its long-time Director J. Edgar Hoover were in some way Ghana refused to accept met in a timely way this involved with the killing of King. the group, saying they internationally mandated 1991—Motorist Rodney King is brutally beaten by a group of Los Angeles police lacked documentation standard of the UN Conofficers. Unknown to them, the beating was caught on video tape. However, a year later to prove Ghanaian citivention on International (April 29, 1992) when a jury in Simi Valley, Calif., with no Blacks on it found four White zenship. Plus, they said, Civil Aviation.” officers not guilty of all charges related to the beating, riots erupted in Los Angeles “there has not been any Current visa holders, stu- leaving millions of dollars in damage, nearly 50 people dead and more than 300 injured. confirmation by the US dent visa applicants, GhaUltimately, two of the officers were convicted on federal civil rights charges and King authorities of a final court naian government officials received a financial settlement from the city of Los Angeles. It was during this period order for their removal in travelling for official duties that King uttered his signature statement: “Why can’t we all just get along?” accordance with the US’ as well as participants in March 4 own laws.” official US government 1877—Inventor and scientist Garrett A. Morgan is born in Paris, Ky. Among his “It is therefore surprising exchange programs, are not major inventions were the gas mask and the automatic traffic signal. He made history that US authorities would currently affected. on July 25, 1916 when he used his gas mask to rescue 32 men trapped in a mine exignore the international According to the latest plosion beneath Lake Erie. The U.S. Army also used the gas mask to save lives during protocols that need to be published report of the World War I. Morgan died in 1963. observed in matters of deimmigration service, 305 1922—Comedic great Bert Williams dies of pneumonia in New York City at the portation and make allega- Ghanaians were removed age of 46. What Jackie Robinson did for Blacks by breaking the color barrier in major tions of lack of cooperation in 2017 and 235 in 2018. league baseball, Williams did on the American stage. He was a comic, singer, writby Ghana.”

Among the top five “crimes” er and producer who spent 10 of his 25 years in show business performing with the Two years ago, in another that led to deportation in famous Ziegfield Follies. W.C. Fields once referred to him as “the funniest man I ever mass deportation to Gha2018 were traffic offenses saw.” Williams was born Egbert Austin Williams in the Bahamas. na, human rights abuses (DUI) at 80,730 (includes March 5 were claimed by the decharges and convictions), 1770—Crispus Attucks is shot and killed by British soldiers becoming the first portees who said they were followed by dangerous American to die in the struggle for American Independence from England. Attucks was handcuffed and forced drugs (76,585), other traffic an escaped slave who became a sailor and rope maker. It is unclear exactly how he beaboard the plane to Ghana, offenses (76, 204), illegal came involved in the protest of that day. But a crowd had gathered and began to taunt though the US Embassy entry, alien smuggling, British troops. Attucks, who was of Black and Indian parentage, was inspired to give a denied that any inhumane false claim to U.N. citizenspeech in which he spoke of the importance of freedom. Suddenly a volley of shots was treatment took place. ship (63,166) and assault fired into the crowd. Four people died that day in an event which became known as the U.S. Ambassador Steph(50,753).

Boston Massacre.

Gruesome torture of African villagers for ‘Blood Rubies’ worn by stars (TriceEdneyWire.com/ GIN)—A British mining company will pay more than $7 million to settle allegations of torture and murder at ruby mines in the northeast of Mozambique. The red stones, worth millions, have been worn by international actresses Mila Kunas, Bel Powley, and Sophie Cookson, among others.

The settlement covers the murder of at least 18 people allegedly by mine security forces and Mozambican police by shooting, fatal beatings and burial while still alive.

According to the case brought by the British human rights legal firm Leigh Day, there were nearly 200 claims of beatings, torture, and sexual abuse—many leading to such serious injuries that people’s subsequent ability to work was limited. Some 95 property

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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

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Triumph, disappointment for Spike Lee at Oscars

by Lynn Elber Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Spike Lee’s first-ever competitive Oscar award turned a mostly staid ceremony into one with joy and passion, but that later gave way to frustration.

Lee, who captured the best adapted screenplay trophy for “BlacKkKlansman,” jumped into the arms of presenter, longtime collaborator and close friend Samuel L. Jackson when he took the stage Sunday to accept his award with Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott. The audience gave him a standing ovation.

But Lee’s mood appeared to turn sharply when the trophy for best movie went to competitor “Green Book.”

Seated in the audience, a visibly angry Lee waved his hands in disgust and appeared to try to walk out of the Dolby Theatre. He made his way back to his seat and later backstage to answer questions.

“This is my sixth glass, and you know why,” he said, smiling and holding a champagne flute aloft when he met with reporters. He briefly touched on his reaction to the “Green Book” win.

“I’m snake-bit. Every time someone’s driving somebody, I lose,” Lee said. He was drawing a parallel between “Green Book,” about the real-life Southern journey of a White man driving African American pianist Don Shirley, and the 1989 best-picture Oscar winner “Driving Miss Daisy,” about a wealthy White woman and her Black chauffeur.

“Green Book” has been lauded by its makers and cast as tribute to racial tolerance, but critics have condemned it as sentimental and outdated.

Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”

was a best original screenplay nominee and not in direct competition with “Driving Miss Daisy,” he noted, wearing rings bearing the words “LOVE” and “HATE” on his left and right knuckles, recalling a key prop from “Do the Right Thing.”

The veteran filmmaker had waited a long time to be recognized by his peers in the movie industry beyond the honorary Oscar he received in 2016 for his contributions to movies, earning his first Oscar nod for his 1989 film.

On stage as he won his award, Lee was the epitome of excitement. After unleashing an expletive as he warned Oscar producers not to put a clock on his speech, Lee noted that his award came during Black History Month, and recited a litany of facts, among them the 400-year-old enslavement of Africans and transport to America. He also said his grandmother was a graduate of the predominately Black Spelman College, despite her mother having been a slave.

“Before the world tonight, I give praise to our ancestors who helped build this country,” Lee said. “We all connect with our ancestors ... when we love our humanity.”

He also waded into politics, citing the 2020 presidential election and calling on people to mobilize and “be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate.”

“Let’s do the right thing — you know I had to get that in there.”

Lee’s film includes footage of Trump after the 2017 violent White supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Va. Lee did not directly name Trump at the Oscars but Trump tweeted Monday that Lee did a “racist hit on your President.”

SPIKE LEE AND SAMUEL L. JACKSON celebrate Lee’s 2019 Oscar win for Best Adapted Screenplay.

2019 Oscars: Black filmmakers win big

by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. NNPA Newswire Entertainment and Culture Editor

The 2019 Academy Awards have come to an end and #BlackGirlMagic and #BlackBoyJoy were in full effect as some of our favorites walked away with gold statuettes, some after a 30-year uphill climb.

Black Panther was a big winner, taking home Oscars for Best Costume Design (Ruth E. Carter) and Best Production Design (Hannah Beachler). Both women making history.

Carter, who thanked her 97-year-old mother during her speech, is the first Black woman to win the coveted category. Beachler is the first African American and only Black woman to be nominated and to win for set design.

Carter thanked Spike Lee for helping to launch her career in the entertainment business while Beachler thanked Black Panther co-writer and director Ryan

ing in him. Peter Ramsey won for co-directing the Best Animated Feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, making history as the first African-American to win the award.

Prolific filmmaker Spike Lee won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman after having been overlooked in the competitive categories.

Lee literally jumped into the arms of prolific actor and fellow Morehouse man BLACK PANTHER ENTOURAGE—Michael B. Jordan, from left, Le- Samuel Jackson in celebratitia Wright, Danai Guriraz, Winston Duke, Zinzi Evans, and Ryan tion of the win.

Coogler arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Dolby TheWhile Jackson held the atre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) statuette, Lee went on to discuss slavery, Black Coogler stating, “I stand night off with a win for History Month, his grandhere because of this man Best Supporting Actress mother, a Spelman College who offered me a different for her role in Barry Jengraduate, and his alma perspective of life,” says the kins’ If Beale Street Could maters: Morehouse College Moonlight and Lemonade Talk. Her role was small and New York University. production designer. but mighty and the decoThe filmmaker said, Ludwig Göransson won rated actress cried as she “Make the moral choice the Best Original Score thanked her mother. between love versus hate. category for Black Panther.

Mahershala Ali became a Let’s do the right thing,” He also thanked Coogler, two-time Best Supporting when accepting his award. his collaborator while the Actor Academy Award-win- The academy finally did two were students at the ner with his win for Green the right thing by acknowlUniversity of Southern Book. Ali thanked his edging the contributions of California’s film school. grandmother for her sage African Americans in front Regina King started the advice and always believof and behind the camera.

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METRO

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

Students learn about Black History to join Black Greek Letter organizations—formed initially because Blacks were barred from joining traditional fraternities and sororities. He spoke of their camaraderie and their dedication to service. He then asked if anyone had seen the movie, “Stomp the Yard,” before introducing a step team from Phi Beta Sigma that left the students with a rousing presentation before they departed.

“I think B.’s (Marshall) done a great job here and I always support his events,” said Abney, himself a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc, one of the “Divine Nine” historically-Black fraternities and sororities.

“It’s important to give these students this information because some of this history they don’t know—and it’s their hisFAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY, AERION ABNEY tory.”

HISTORY FROM A1

posers like Ravel, Debussy and Gershwin, to the point where there is no element of modern music that hasn’t been touched by those African roots.

It even influenced a presentation by Aerion Abney, who, along with McKeesport mayoral candidate Fawn Walker-Montgomery and Pittsburgh Public Schools CTE Director Angela Mike, served as event hosts.

Abney, who was a Democratic state House District candidate in 2018, urged students heading to college

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Roger W. Davis Becomes first African American President of Community College of Beaver County

ROGER W. DAVIS earned his B.A. in English from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an M.S. in Adult Education from Coppin State University and his doctoral degree in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University.

DAVIS FROM A1

came here from Rockland Community College in New York, he was the first Black executive vice president.

Before that, he was the first Black special assistant to the provost at the University of Maryland’s University College.

“And before I went to New York, I was also the first Black vice president at Bauder College in Atlanta—yes, in Atlanta,” he said. “Here, given the outreach we are doing to underserved communities, I think it’s an asset.”

Dr. Davis is also determined to see that the college is a big asset in the revitalization of Beaver County. He is excited about the opportunities the Shell cracker plant is already spinning off, and that the college is training students for.

“Plastics companies that will use the polyethylene beads from the plant—I think every warehouse in the county is taken,” he said. “But we also have a casino coming to Big Beaver. There are a lot of opportunities for young African Americans, and we want to be the glue that sticks people, programs, models and opportunities together.”

As to that, Dr. Davis said he has a vision for each of the college’s schools. First, he wants to strengthen retention in the college’s Business, Arts, Science and Technology School.

“We have students who get 30 credits, transfer, get 10 more and then, ‘life hap-

pens’ and they quit with nothing to show for it,” he said. “We have to see what strategies we can put in place to get these general studies students to complete either their associate degree or certificate program and get some kind of meaningful credential be-

ing bonuses are going from $20,000 to $50,000 because of retirements,” said Dr. Davis. “And it’s not just pilots. It’s air traffic control.

There’s s not a tower in the country that doesn’t have one of our graduates in it.

The federal government school in Oklahoma has

“After a thorough and rigorous vetting process, we are proud and excited to announce Dr. Davis as the next president of CCBC. He is a dynamic, approachable forward-thinking leader who will continue to advance the college and drive its strategic plan forward.”

Dr. Robert Postupac CCBC Board Chair fore they move on.”

He also wants to expand the college’s two most successful programs: nursing and aviation.

“We need to build more clinical space for our nursing program. We have partnerships with Geneva and Clarion colleges, but it could be bigger,” he said.

He also wants to double the size of the aviation school.

“In less than 10 years, there’s going to be a shortage of 100,000 pilots. Most of our students leave as flight instructor, and to get needed hours to fly go to regional carriers, then major carriers—their sign-

more students from our college than any in the nation.

We have people all over the world working. And where do they send their kids when it’s time for college?

They send them back here.”

And all of these programs—process technology, criminal justice, nursing and aviation—are growing because of the Pell Grant program that funds the college’s High School Academies, which allows high school juniors and seniors to earn a year’s worth of college credit. Currently, 54 school districts across southwestern Pennsylvania take part in the program.

There are challenges

though, Dr. Davis said. Getting students, particularly poor and non-traditional students who use public transportation to the college and back, is one of them. The Beaver County Transit Authority has only three routes, runs a very limited schedule and is planning service cuts.

“You can’t have a vibrant county without good public transportation. We have evening classes, so we sent some folks to testify at the last meeting,” he said. “But it can’t be all on them. I think Higher Ed has to evolve, so we’re looking at satellite locations. We won’t need a lot of space, a couple classrooms. But I think we need to go where the people are.”

That’s worked out for him, Dr. Davis said. At age 49, after 20 years—and several moves—in higher education, he’s where he wanted to be.

“I always wanted to be a president—I just didn’t think it would be here. But I’m glad it is,” he said. “This was the warmest welcome I’ve ever received when I came here—especially after New York. Nobody talks to you in New York. My first day here a woman starts up a conversation in Kuhn’s market. It feels right here— I’m in three tennis leagues, there’s great food—an awesome soul food place in Ambridge, Annie Lee’s Southern Kitchen—people are social, they’re happy. It’s just great to be in a place where humanity is celebrated.”

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Wheatley: ‘You have to be a vested owner’ Shop ‘n Save in Hill District to close March 20 WHEATLEY FROM A1

KDKA-TV that they were leaving because Shop ‘n Save ownership told them the store would close on March 20.

The Courier spoke with two current Shop ‘n Save employees on Feb. 23 who said that store management never officially told them that the store was closing— they found out like everyone else, “on the news.”

Jake Wheatley, the Pennsylvania state representative which encompasses the Hill District, told the Courier in an exclusive interview on Jan. 10 that local officials had known “for some time” that Ross wanted to close the store.

“He’s been saying this for months that he wanted to leave,” Rep. Wheatley told the Courier. “He’s been trying to leave for a while because he felt like it wasn’t what he initially bargained for.”

Out of the $11 million that it cost to build the store, Ross reportedly only invested $1 million of his own money. The remaining $10 million came from a mixture of public and private sources, including the Pittsburgh Penguins and Urban Redevelopment Authority each contributing $1 million. Money also came from The Reinvestment Fund, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the McCune Foundation, and the Heinz Endowments, according to a 2010 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

As Hill District officials were head-over-heels at the time of the store’s grand opening in October 2013, Rep. Wheatley told the Courier that in hindsight, “I think government was at fault” for giving Ross “a free space basically, and he didn’t have any vested interest financially in making this (a grocery store in the Hill District) happen.

So his store, in my opinion, was run that way.”

Representative Wheatley

added: “So I don’t think we’re disagreeing that he needs to go. I think all of us can agree, he’s not the right operator for the Hill District.”

Representative Wheatley said Ross knows how to run a grocery store.

Ross, a McKeesport High School graduate, has fabulous-looking stores in McKeesport, Connellsville and Mount Pleasant, according to Rep. Wheatley.

But because “the government and the foundation community basically built his store, they basically put his equipment in there…he came in there with his food product, but it was basically shovel-ready for him,” Ross didn’t care as much about the Hill District store as his other stores, according to the state Rep. “We know he knows how to do it (run a store), but I don’t think he (Ross) really wanted to be in the Hill,” Rep. Wheatley told the Courier.

“He didn’t make the money that he wanted, but he will tell you that he felt he didn’t get the support that he thought he should have gotten from the Hill House.”

Hence, the non-payment of rent. As far back as May 2018, the Courier has confirmed.

“After significant attempts to salvage this arrangement, we no longer believe its continuation is advantageous to our customers or the community as a whole,” said Ross, in a statement first reported by the Post-Gazette on Feb. 20. “I remain a steadfast believer in the vigor of this community and am hopeful that the Centre Heldman Plaza will be revitalized in the near future.”

As shoppers picked up some of the hot foods at Shop ‘n Save on your normal Saturday afternoon, Feb. 23, one man, who did not want to be identified but was a jitney, expressed to the Courier that he heard

Blacks’ risk of sudden cardiac death three times that of Whites CARDIAC FROM A1

years. It found that by age 85, the risk for sudden cardiac death was: •9.6 percent for African American males;

DR. ELISEO GUALLAR •6.5 percent for White males; •6.6 percent for African American females, and •2.3 percent for White females.

Lead author of the study, Eliseo Guallar, M.D., Ph.D., from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, said income and educational disparities were the main factors explaining the racial differences in risk.

According to the study, income, education, hypertension, diabetes, and other cardiovascular risk factors accounted for about 65 percent of the difference.

“We wanted to explain the risk of sudden cardiac death and identify factors that could explain the differences,” Dr. Guallar said.

“We found that overall, African Americans had approximately double the lifetime risk of sudden cardiac death compared to Whites.

African American women had about triple the risk compared to White women.”

“Low income and education are associated with unhealthy behaviors, low disease awareness and limited access to care, which could all contribute to poor outcomes,” he added.

“However, our understanding of the mechanisms for racial differences in sudden cardiac death is still incomplete and additional research is needed.”

Still, the researchers say their findings point to the need for better prevention methods and access to cardiac care, especially among African Americans. Those efforts would include control of cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and expanding the number of people trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), especially in predominantly African American neighborhoods.

plenty of complaints “about the food being outdated” and “stale” in the store.

Suber added: “It’s kind of expensive in there, too. It’s more expensive than other Shop ‘n Saves I’ve been in.”

“To make these types of things work, because the margins (in the grocery store business) are always so close, you need an operator who really wants to be in the area,” Rep. Wheatley said. “Gotta be flexible with what you’re offering, how you’re offering it, how you are employing people, how you are investing in people that you employ, all of that. MISLEADING?—This digital sign outside the Centre Heldman Plaza in the Hill District says that Shop “You have to be a vested ‘n Save is “Now Hiring.” But it’s common knowledge that the store will be closing March 20, according to reports. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.) owner.”

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 5, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report

I’m over the moon As I sit here and watch the Blackest ever Academy Awards, I am over the moon. First, to see Regina King go from 227 to the Oscars is amazing.

I love Regina King, she is a wonderful actress and then to see someone that I met in person, actually took a selfie with, win for best costumes, my mind is blown. When they called Ruth Carter’s name for Black Panther I felt like we all won.

Thanks to Fashion Afrikana and Demeatria Boccella I met Carter twice and each time she was gracious and friendly. And also thanks to Boccella I was able to meet Spike Lee a few years ago. He was not quite as friendly as Carter but he did allow me to tell him that I was a big fan. He probably thought of the movie “Misery” and turned around and ran—I guess he didn’t want to be hobbled. When I saw Spike win a long-overdue Academy Award I was very happy for him as well.

I tuned into the Oscars just in time to see Pittsburgh’s own Billy Porter on the red carpet.

I thought he did a great job, I loved his energy and then when I got a full view of his tuxedo dress I was blown away.

And the best picture goes to “Green Book.” I just saw “Green Book” and the movie deserved to win. It was moving and told a real story. I now want to know more about Don Shirley.

This year when the Oscars were over I felt like there was true diversity and the people that won should have won. Yes the Oscars really made me happy this year, but what really warmed my heart this year was receiving the Alpha Alpha Omega 2019 Community Excellence Award.

You can see the pictures on this page. When I received the letter, at first I thought it was a request for coverage for their Founders Day Luncheon, but when I got to the second paragraph and found that I was going to be honored I was over the moon.

I could not believe it.

This is such a special honor. My sister and niece are both members of Alpha Kappa Alpha and I knew they would be happy for me and would come to Pittsburgh to participate in the honor.

When I was younger I never thought that I would receive awards, I thought they were primarily for athletes. I can’t run fast or jump too high so I thought I was out of the running for award collection. My first awards were won while I was on the radio and then I received an acting award and then I joined Toastmasters and found that I could win awards for something that I do well which is speak in public.

I am truly honored to be recognized by organizations in my own hometown. It is really a good feeling. I can only imagine what it feels like to win an Oscar. I just wanted to thank the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha for honoring me.

MEMBERS OF AKA SPANNING THE DECADES—Tyler Nicole Pannell joined in 2018 and Alma Burgess in 1941

PROUD MEMBERS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA—Ruthie Rea, Evelyn McMullen Stephens

PROUD MEMBERS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA—Jill Phillips, Lynne Hayes Freeland and Fawn Robinson

111th Founders Day Celebration

by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor

This year the women of Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, celebrated 111 years of history of their sorority and service to all mankind. Their 2019 theme, “Foundations of Sisterhood Through Hope, Faith and Excellence,” served to capture their legacy and work in the Pittsburgh community and across the globe.

The weekend of February 15 was a special one for the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha. They were honored to be joined by their Great Lakes Regional Director, Carrie J. Clark from Detroit. Clark joined the group on Friday for a night out at the Duquesne University Rotunda. On Saturday, Feb. 16, a rededication service was held for AKAs only prior to the center-

2019 COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARDEE DEBBIE NORRELL, middle, with Rhonda Taliaferro, Beverly Norrell Aitch, Kea Norrell Aitch, and Carrie J. Clark. (Photos by J.L. Martello) piece of the weekend, The Founders Day Luncheon at the Doubletree by Hilton in Monroeville.

During that Founders Day Luncheon yours truly

PROUD MEMBERS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA— Alexis Clipper, 14 years, Dottie Debow, 14 years

received the 2019 Community Excellence Award.

The award was presented

by Bonita Pannell, Founders Day co-chairperson, Dr. Rhonda Taliaferro, Chapter

President and Toni Kendrick, Founders Day chairman and the 28th Great Lakes Regional Director. I said that I was honored to receive such a prestigious

LARUE FREDRICK UNDERGRADUATE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS—Tiana Fleming-Hogan, Alexis J. Walker, Alexis N. Scott

UNDERGRADS TELL THE FOUNDERS STORY

MEMBERS OF DIVINE NINE IN THE BUILDING—Michael Arrington, Robert Powell and Davie Huddleston

award from the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Also on the day the 2019 LaRue Fredrick Undergraduate Achievement Award was presented to: Tiana Fleming-Hogan— Duquesne University, Alexis Scott—Duquesne University and Alexis Walker —Robert Morris University. Each young lady received $2,000.

With Lynne Hayes-Freeland as mistress of ceremonies guests enjoyed a delightful lunch and a brief skit performed by a group of undergraduates that told the story of the founders of the AKA Sorority. Martha Hunt served as honorary chairperson and the Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter was honored to be joined by one of their most senior members, Alma Burgess, and one of the most recent members, Tyler Nicole Pannell.

PROUD MEMBERS OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA— Donna Pollard, a 24-year member who went to Georgetown, Sarah Sumpter, Pitt, 50 years

PAST AND PRESENT REGIONAL DIRECTORS— Carrie J. Clark and Toni Kendrick

DEBBIE NORRELL AND A FEW FRIENDS—Cyrstal McCormick, Jan Bates, Debbie Norrell and Peggy Harris

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Youth Enrichment Services named 2019 Champion in Action East Liberty nonprofit awarded $35,000 in funding by Citizens Bank The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Youth Enrichment Services (YES), a nonprofit providing socially and economically at-risk youth the opportunity to achieve success through participation in mentorship, education and enrichment programs, has been named a 2019 Champion in Action in the category of Youth Leadership. The award, announced jointly by Citizens Bank, WPXI-TV, Trib Total Media and Pittsburgh Cares, includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding as well as promotional and volunteer support for the organization’s outstanding work, according to a release.

Youth Enrichment Services (YES) provides empowerment, experiential opportunities, academic enrichment and summer employment as positive pathways to future success. YES partners with local organizations to create synergy and generates transformative stories, national accolades and positive research outcomes.

Champions in Action is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program designed to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in local communities. In partnership with WPXITV, Trib Total Media and Pittsburgh Cares, the program provides support for nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions to communities throughout the Pittsburgh

region.

“Youth Enrichment Services enables young people to become leaders among their peers and within their schools, homes and communities,” said Mark Latterner, Pittsburgh Market President, Citizens Bank, in a release.

“They are a true Champion in Action, using community-centered programming and partnerships to provide youth with enrichment opportunities that help them reach their potential.”

“WPXI is pleased to recognize Youth Enrichment Services as our Champion in Action for Youth Leadership,” said Kevin Hayes, General Manager of WPXITV, in a release. “YES demonstrates a passion for helping young people recognize their goals and dreams.”

“Trib Total Media recognizes the power of the mentorship provided to young people in the Pittsburgh region

by Youth Enrichment Services,” said Jennifer Bertetto, Trib Total Media President and CEO, in a release. “YES paints a bright future for youth by creating successful, empowered and confident leaders.”

To date, the Champions in Action program has awarded 332 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint and more than $9 million in contributions and promotional support. In the Pittsburgh region, 44 nonprofits have been honored as Champions in Action, receiving more than $1.2

THE CHECK PRESENTATION—Mark Latterner, Pittsburgh Market President, Citizens Bank; Dennis F. Jones, PhD, Executive Director at YES; and Damany Lewis, WPXI anchor. (Photos provided by YES) million.

“YES makes a daily commitment to improving the lives of citizens throughout our region,” said Dr. Den-

Action award and we plan to use it as continuing validation of the value we bring to our children and families.”

Citizens Bank; Public relations support including media coverage from WPXI-TV, and Trib Total Media, including public

colleagues, and from Pittsburgh Cares at the nonprofit’s events; Promotional support highlighting the Champion in

YES’ mission is to provide socially and economically atrisk youth the opportunity to achieve success through participation in mentorship, education, and enrichment. nis F. Jones, Executive Director, Youth Enrichment Services, in a release. “We could not be more pleased with the Champions in

STUDENTS FROM YES recently celebrated the holiday season together by painting at Paint Monkey.

Together, each girl selected a design they loved and re-envisioned it to their liking, making masterpieces of their very own. Painting with their sisters gave the girls an opportunity to bond and advance their growing sisterhood.

STUDENTS FROM YES went on a college tour to the University of Maryland, as well as other colleges, in November.

Youth Enrichment Services is located at 6031 Broad St. #202, in East Liberty. For more information on YES, call 412-661-7834.

As a Champion in Action, Youth Enrichment Services will receive: A $35,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from

service announcements and television profiles; Volunteer support from Citizens Bank, WPXITV, Trib Total Media

Action in Citizens Bank branches; and exposure on the Citizens Bank, WPXITV and Trib Total Media websites.

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RELIGION

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Mass Sunday 10:00 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

www.cathedralofhope.com Worship on Sunday: Journey Worship........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship........11 a.m.

Taize Prayer Service (Wed.) 7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

You Are Welcome at our Meetings for Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue http://www.quaker.org/legacy/pghpamm

Seminary at the Tabernacle 43 Belvedere St., Crafton, PA 15205 Sept. 10, 2018-May 16, 2019 Sr. Pastor Tony Armstead, MDiv Christian Leadership School (CLS) a Four-year Program currently offering Four non-credited courses in four years.

Teaching includes Doctorate and Master of Divinity Teachers.

When: Fluctuates Mon. or Thurs., 6:308:30pm Cost: $75 per class, plus any required books Contact: Rev. Marjorie Davis, Ph.D. 412335-2832

New Destiny CME Church 114 North Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-231-7882 Rev. Kornelus Neal, pastor The Rt. Rev. Marvin Thomas Sr., presiding bishop

THE CENTER FOR URBAN BIBLICAL MINISTRY ALUMNI, at the annual fundraiser, Jan. 19. (Photos by Jacquelyn McDonald)

The Center for Urban Biblical Ministry Alumni Annual Brunch and Fundraiser

by Jacquelyn McDonald For New Pittsburgh Courier

The Center for Urban Biblical Ministry (CUBM) Alumni at Geneva College met at the Comfort Inn in Penn Hills on Jan. 19 for their annual Brunch and Fundraiser. The collaborative mission, which began 25 years, ago brings a unique Christian-centered, biblically-directed college degree initiative to Pittsburgh ministers and those interested in being equipped for faithful and fruitful service to God and community.

The program included presentations from state Representative Austin Davis and Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett. CUBM Alumni President, Rev. Beverly Jackson, greeted those in attendance and congratulated the 2019 graduates.

“Still Standing, Walking By Faith” was the theme emphasized by Keynote Speaker, Apostle R. Christopher Bell, Senior Pastor of Living Way Christian Fellowship Church in Pittsburgh. Pastor Earlene Coleman of Bethlehem Baptist Church in McKeesport served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Sunday School....................................9 A.M. Morning Worship Service............11:00 A.M.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

PASTOR EARLENE COLEMAN

LADY MYRA BELL, APOSTLE R. CHRISTOPHER BELLE, PASTOR BEVERLY JACKSON

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

GRADUATES—From Left: Arland Grace, Pamela Louise Tarpley, Tynetta Clanagan, Karla Threadgill Byrd, Debra Robinson, Rev. Earlene Coleman, Darlene Regan.

Church Circuit LOCKMAN, RUMFORD

Mr Rumford ockman, , of Atlanta, GA passed Tuesday, February 12, 2 1 Funeral Mass was held at 10:00AM Tuesday, February 1 , 2 1 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church acy St W, Marietta, GA 30060. Interment was 11:00AM Thursday, February 21, 2 1 at Georgia National Cemetery 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr., Canton, GA 30114. Visitation was Monday, February 1 , 2 1 at our SO TH D A B Chapel regory B evett Sons Funeral Home 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy, Decatur, GA 30034 (404) 2415656

SECOND BAPTIST PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY

MARCH 3—The Second Baptist Church Family invites all to celebrate their Pastor, Rev. Donald P. Turner’s 48th Pastoral Anniversary, at the church, 108 W. 12th Ave., Homestead. Theme: “Chosen and Committed to the Challenge” (1 Corinthians 1:27). On Sunday, March 3 at 4 p.m., Rev. Douglas James Burwell, Pastor, Clark Memorial Baptist Church, will be the preacher. On March 6 at 7 p.m., it will be Rev. Dr. Richard W. Wingfield of nity Baptist Church On Sunday, March 1 , at 1 3 , it will be Rev Roy Sims, Pastor, Mt ion Baptist, and at 4 p m , it will be Rev. Michael Peterson, Pastor, Mt. Olive Baptist Church. For more information call 412-461-8235.

TRIEDSTONE PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY BANQUET

MARCH 10—Triedstone Baptist Church in Rankin will have a Pastoral Anniversary Banquet for Rev. Nathaniel and Rev. Terri Pennybaker.

It will be held at Kingston Hall, 100 Kingston Drive, Monroeville, at 5 p.m. The guest preacher will be Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. Donation is $40 per person. The banquet will be preceded by Sunday Service at 11 a.m. at the church, 18 Harriet St., Rankin.

For more information, call 412-271-3000.

ANTIOCH USHER/MISSIONARY DAY

MARCH 17—Antioch Baptist Church, 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley, is inviting all to their annual Usher and Missionary Day with friends and family at 1 45 a m Antioch Baptist’s very own Pastor Travis C Coon will bring forth the message The theme for this year is, “ aboring in ove ” Dinner will be served immediately after service All are welcome For more information call 412 41

To place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar, Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier, 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh PA 15219 - or Email us! religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

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LAUREL HIGHLANDS COUNCIL OF THE BOY SCOUTS — SCOUTREACH PROGRAM

31st Annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Dinner Celebration Thursday, Feb. 21 Fairmont Hotel, Downtown Photos by J.L. Martello

THE COLOR GUARD SCOUTS FROM TROOP 790, during the Whitney M. Young Jr. Dinner Awards. The purpose of the awards dinner is to recognize, among others, those who have provided outstanding service to the development of Scoutreach. David Motley is the Dinner Chairman, and Scoutreach Board Chairman is Andrew Hughey.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER RON LAWRENCE, JUDGE LIVINGSTONE M. JOHNSON

THOMAS BLANK is presented the service award by George Brevard of Troop 760.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER, AMBASSADOR RON KIRK

EAGLE SCOUT GEORGE BREVARD of Troop 760 presenting an award to Chris Smith and Andrea Geraghey.

JEREMIAH, REV. MCKINLEY, GEORGE BREVARD

ENTERTAINER New Pittsburgh Courier

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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com

‘A celebration of the Black artistic voice and creative stamina’ Black Bottom Film Festival features the classics, the present, and actress Kim Coles

by C. Denise Johnson For New Pittsburgh Courier

With two African American films in contention for the Academy Award for Best Movie (one of which won the Oscar, “Green Book”) and several other nominations for onscreen and off-screen contributions, the third iteration of the Black Bottom Film Festival is strategically placed for growth.

BBFF marks Black History Month by spotlighting the oral storytelling traditional of African Americans—captured in film. The August Wilson Center first presented BBFF in 2017 as a weekend spotlighting Black cinema and its luminaries. Michael Schultz, director of “Cooley High,” “Carwash,” “Which Way is Up,” “The Last Dragon” and “Krush Groove,” was on hand and shared his stories of working in Hollywood.

This year BBFF expanded its presence with screenings at the Rowhouse Cinema in Lawrenceville, still embracing a range of genres that include classics like “Native Son,” a 1951 adaptation based on the Richard Wright novel of the same name, Melvin Van Peeple’s seminal “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” (1971); “Richard Pryor: Live in Concert” (1979); and “Life and Nothing More” (2017), a young man’s coming-of-age story and search for purpose. The weekday screenings also included two Oscar nominees: “Hale County This Morning,” “This Evening” (Best Documentary Feature)

and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” the film in which Regina King won the 2019 Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role.

BBFF transitioned to the August Wilson Center with a screening of “Children of NAN” by local artist/educator Alisha Wormsley, a tale of a dystopian future followed by a Q&A with Wormsley.

There were also improvisational acting workshops at the August Wilson Center—one for children and another led by actor/comedian Kim Coles. Part testimony and immersion, Cole touched on several acting elements that included drama, comedy and storytelling as she engaged attendees in spontaneous improvisational exercises.

Not missing an opportunity to be timely and relevant, BBFF offered a screening of 1978’s “The Wiz” marking the 40th anniversary of the film’s release with Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Michael Jackson, Ted Ross and Richard Pryor; the screening was free to kids 13 and under.

Shorts and Q&As continued the day. “They Charge for The Sun” by director Terrance Nance was about a not-so-distant future scifi fantasy where sunlight is rare and a rationed commodity of the government.

But a young girl defies protocol and discovers the truth.

In addition, a documentary shown, entitled “Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror” was both entertainment and education. Digging deep into a century of scary

NINA BROOKS, right, with Christopher Perry, the creators of the movie, “The Lovers Lyfe,” at the third Black Bottom Film Festival at the August Wilson Cultural Center in February. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello) movies, “Horror Noire” juxtaposes the evolution of the film genre with race relations/perceptions in America through the voices of filmmakers, scholars and actors from the “Black Bogeyman” to “Blacula,” “Candyman” and the groundbreaking “Get Out.” Adapted from the seminal book by Robin R. Means, PhD, (and Peabody graduate), this in-depth examination includes observations from Jordan Peele, Keith David, Tony Todd, Rachel True, Loretta Devine and Tananarive Due, who says “Black horror is Black history.”

Dr. Means was in attendance for the Q&A with Christiane Delores after the screening.

On the final day of the BBFF (Feb. 24), there was a very intensive screenwriting workshop led by actor/director/writer Gerald Brown. His session was so well received that it ran more than 30 minutes beyond its scheduled time.

Brown’s screen credits include “Juice,” “Monster: The Life of a L.A. Gang Member” and “High Caliber;” as well as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University and a guest lecturer at New York University, Duke University, and Howard University.

“For Love of Ivy,” a 1968 rom-com with a screenplay and performance by Sir Sidney Poitier, was the feature film of the last day of the festival. Its cast

included Abbey Lincoln, Beau Bridges and Carroll O’Connor. The theme song

by Quincy Jones and Bob Russell was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and the film garnered supporting acting nominations for Lincoln and O’Connor.

An experimental short by Pamela Woolford demonstrated an intimate technique of storytelling involving multiple art disciplines, innovative use of dialogue and narrative.

Also on Feb. 24, little-known facts were revealed in “Ali’s Comeback: The Untold Story.” Filmmaker Art Jones documented all of the behindthe-scenes maneuvering involved in staging the comeback of America’s most polarizing person against the backdrop of the Vietnam and the Black Power movement. Unlikely alliances converged to make Muhammad Ali’s boxing comeback against the reigning champion Jerry Quarry a reality in Atlanta.

This stylized recollection is presented in rounds, and some of those rounds were true knockouts inside and outside the ring (especially the afterparty round!).

The film fare concluded with three shorts: “The Blue Wall: A Conspiracy Against Citizens” by actor Richard Spencer, in response to a shooting of an unarmed Black man by the police through the eyes of the Black officer who pulls the trigger; local entry “Lover’s Lyfe” written by Nina Brooks and directed

by Emmai Alaquiva; and “Pas Honteux,” a rumination about a convergence of language, gentrification and male/female relationship by John “Dr. Teeth” Tucker.

BBFF is a collaboration of festival curator Joseph L. Lewis III and fellow film aficionado Janis Burley Wilson, President and CEO of the August Wilson Cultural Center.

“The Black Bottom is a celebration of the Black artistic voice and creative stamina,” Lewis said.

ACTRESS KIM COLES speaks at an event at the Black Bottom Film Festival.

KIM COLES

ACTRESS KIM COLES in a group photo with workshop participants.

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

America’s reality crisis...

J. Pharoah Doss explains Forum B6

Classifieds Find what you need from jobs to cars to housing B4-B5

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com

B

Are you picking the wrong money goals?

by Liz Weston For New Pittsburgh Courier

KELI HAMMOND

!"#$%&#'()*+$,'#*&$'#&*(+-$ .#/#''#.$/0'$12*)3$&(22#++(*2by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier

still navigating what achieving the dream would mean, I wondered what other Black millennials were feeling. I wanted to figure out what my generation of Black Americans thought about the prom-

have an uphill climb to achieve the American Dream.

“Unfortunately, this is a very true reality.

Race is a touchy subject in this country—always has been, always will be,” Hammond said.

The American Dream is described as a national ethos: a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and upward social mobility for the family “Although I believe that millennials in and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few bar- general are struggling to identify with the riers.

American Dream, for Black millennials That’s the Wikipedia it can often feel like a dream you can’t definition.

For African American achieve.” millennials, the dream remains deferred— KELI HAMMOND and in some cases, is a nightmare.

“The American Dream, ise of the American “It’s funny because, even the idea that anyone can dream and how we can thought it’s part of our social construct, it’s still succeed through hard attain it,” Allen said.

Keli Hammond, the incredibly uncomfortwork, is one of the most enduring myths in this owner and CEO of able when it’s talked country. And one of its Washington, D.C.-based about.”

Hammond, who holds a most prominent false- B Classic Marketing & and bachelor’s degree in Adhoods,” Reniqua Allen, Communications the author of “It Was author of “Craved: the vertising from Temple All a Dream” wrote in a Secret Sauce to Build- University and a certifirecent New York Times ing a Highly-Success- cation in Change Leadful, Standout Brand,” ership from Cornell UniOp-Ed. “As I entered my 30s, said Black millennials versity, noted that race

has a way of humbling dreams quite fast.

“Although I believe that millennials in general are struggling to identify with the American Dream, for Black millennials it can often feel like a dream you can’t achieve,” she said.

“We weren’t afforded the same job opportunities or raises, we don’t have the same networks, we’re not given the same leeway if we make a mistake, and we don’t have the same access to capital or generational wealth—it’s hard every day,” Hammond said.

In a survey customized exclusively for NNPA Newswire, Branded Research asked 452 African Americans which aspect of the American Dream is most important.

A total of 30 percent said having a comfortable retirement; 21 percent said homeownership; 21 percent said SEE DREAM B2

Investment research firm Morningstar had 318 people write down their top three financial priorities, then showed them a master list of goals prepared by the researchers. Three out of four investors changed at least one goal after seeing the master list, and one out of four switched their top priority.

“We were like, ‘Wow. People don’t really know what they want,’” says lead researcher Ray Sin, behavioral scientist at Morningstar.

Other behavioral research has shown that even when people think explicitly about what matters to them when making decisions, they overlook many of their most important goals. That interferes with their ability to evaluate their choices and consider alternatives.

Among the problems: We’re better at thinking short term than long term, Sin says. Plus, we may overvalue goals that are currently on our mind.

A renter who just attended a housewarming, for example, might say her top

priority is saving to buy a home. She may forget that she really wants to be able to quit her job and travel the world for a year. She probably has other goals as well, such as retiring someday and perhaps starting her own business.

Of course, all those goals may matter to her, but “resources are finite,” Sin says.

That’s why prioritizing is so important. Someone determined to retire early, for instance, may not be able to fully fund a child’s college education or leave an inheritance.

If you want to check for your own blind spots, quickly write down your three most important financial goals. Then look at Morningstar’s master goal list and see if you want to change what you wrote: •Be better off than my peers •Pay for personal self-improvement (e.g., go back to school, learn a skill) •Experience the excitement of investing.

•Start a new business.

•Buy a house.

•Help pay for my kids’ college education.

•Stop working and do SEE GOALS B2

Casey adds backing to $15 minimum wage bill

by Marc Levy Associated Press Writer

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania says he’s adding his name to the 30 fellow Democrats who are co-sponsoring legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The bill that Casey said Tuesday he’s joining would raise the federal minimum wage, set at $7.25 an hour since 2007, in six annual steps to $15.

It’s written by Vermont Sen. Bernie SEN. BOB CASEY Sanders and backed by five other Democratic senators who, like Sanders, are seeking the party’s nomination to run for president.

Previously, Casey had authored legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020.

Casey acknowledges that winning passage in the Republican-controlled Senate is a tall order, but says it’s important to build support for it now if a Democrat is elected president in 2020.

Double tap: Investors face taxes for funds that fell in 2018

by San Choe Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—As if the worst year for stocks in nearly a decade weren’t bad enough, many investors now have to pay a tax bill on top of it.

The headache for investors is a result of how mutual funds are structured and how many times the funds’ managers bought and sold shares through 2018. Because of the way tax laws work, the majority of investors with a U.S. stock mutual fund or ETF received something called a “capital-gains distribution” late last year.

Investors holding funds in a tax-advantaged account, like a 401(k) or IRA, don’t need to worry about it. But if they hold it in a taxable account, watch out. They’ll owe taxes on it, due by this spring, and the rate could be as high as 40.8 percent in a few cases. And the last thing many investors want is to pay taxes on something that has already hurt them once: The most popular category of stock mutual fund lost 6.3 percent last year.

“The possible tax hit will add insult to injury,” says Frank Pape, director of consulting services at Russell Investments.

Investors can be on the hook for taxes even if they don’t sell any shares of the fund themselves. That’s because fund managers have to tally up the gains they make each year from buying and selling stocks and bonds, and then pass them on to their investors as capital-gains distributions. Funds make these distributions to all shareholders who own the fund as of a certain date.

SCHEDULE D—This photo shows schedule D for form 1040 and instructions printed from the Internal Revenue Service web page that are used for 2018 U.S. federal tax returns. As if the worst year for stocks in nearly a decade weren’t bad enough, many investors now have to pay a tax bill on top of it. The headache for investors is a result of how mutual funds are structured and how many times the funds’ managers bought and sold shares through 2018. Because of the way tax laws work, the majority of investors with a U.S. stock mutual fund or ETF received something called a “capital-gains distribution” late last year. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) This year, the average distribution has been worth 11 percent of the fund’s net asset value, according to Russell. That’s akin to a fund with a $100 price tag paying out an $11 distribution to shareholders, who are then left with $11 in cash and a fund share that suddenly drops to $89. Shareholders will owe taxes on that $11, and the rate can range from zero for lower-income

investors to nearly 41 percent for the highest-income taxpayers if the distributions are categorized as “short-term” gains.

Not only are funds paying out higher distributions—Russell says the 11 percent average payout for this past year is up from 8 percent the year before—more funds are also giving them to their shareholders—86 percent of all U.S. stock funds,

up from 65 percent.

Chief among the reasons is how long this up market for stocks has lasted, even with last year’s decline. The S&P 500 hasn’t had a 20 percent decline since the spring of 2009, making this the longest-running bull market on record. That means when fund managers sell a stock today, they’re likely recording a gain for it.

Also adding pressure is the continued migration by investors out of actively managed funds looking to beat the market and into index funds. Investors pulled a net $301 billion out of actively managed funds last year, according to Morningstar, and managers need to return cash to those shareholders. That can trigger more sales of stocks and bonds, which lead to even more gains.

So, how to avoid these tax headaches?

The easiest way is to put your funds into a 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account.

But IRAs and the like come with restrictions on when you can pull out the money.

For more flexibility, the industry has come up with a category of investments devoted to minimizing taxes, and they’re called tax-managed funds. They trade less often and use other methods to minimize their gains distributions. Index funds can also have smaller distributions than actively managed ones, because they tend to do less trading, but they are by no means immune.

The key thing is not to let the pain of taxes be the No. 1 factor in making a decision.

Look for the move that leads to the best after-tax returns rather than the one that has the least taxes.

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BUSINESS

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Morris Brown College names Dr. Kevin James as interim president The Morris Brown College Board of Trustees announced today it has appointed Dr. Kevin James as Interim President, effective March 1.

“I am honored to have been selected by the board to serve at the helm of Georgia’s oldest HBCU founded

by Black people,” said James. “I look forward to working with the board of trustees, alumni, staff, and other shareholders to resurrect this historic college back to prominence. My first order of business is working to obtain accreditation, ensure financial stability, build a strong relationship with alumni, and enrollment growth.”

In his nearly 20-year career as a higher education administrator, executive business leader, and motivational speaker, James is committed to improving his community through education and empowerment. He has served in various senior-level administrative roles within colleges across the Carolinas and Georgia and civic organizations, most recently serving as Interim CEO of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. In this, he oversaw the day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and external relations for the non-profit organization of 10,000+ members who volunteer through

College to the next level,” Jackson said. “After an exhaustive search, we found these qualities in Dr. Kevin James. He has served in various leadership capacities with enthusiasm, and I am confident that he will play the key role to resurrect Morris Brown College.”

A native of Columbia, S.C., James attended South Carolina State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders and Social Sciences from Winthrop University; a master’s degree in Business Management, Leadership, and Organizational Effectiveness from Troy State University; and a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

He is also a graduate of the Higher Education Institute at Harvard University.

DR. KEVIN JAMES a host of mentorship and community service initiatives across the country and internationally.

Bishop Reginald Jackson, Chairman of the Morris Brown College Board of Trustees, welcomed James’s appointment. “We needed a leader who holds not only out-

standing values and a passion for helping sustain HBCUs, but one who has vast experience in higher (This article was originally education, the accreditation process, and fundrais- published on atlantadailyworld. ing to take Morris Brown com)

Founders of After Life Mortuary Services breaking new ground

by Brianna A. Smith For New Pittsburgh Courier

The funeral service industry has long been a male-dominated one, but times are changing as more women are entering into the profession and breaking down stereotypes.

Madeline Lyles and Dana Taylor are staking their claim as the founders of the first mortuary service owned and operated by women in Memphis.

After Life Mortuary Services opened at 2207 S. Lauderdale St. on Oct. 8.

The business mission is to provide services of embalming, storage and other preparations and to help those within the community who need assistance with funeral arrangements.

“After Life Mortuary Services believes that it’s time out for financial stress and struggles for families during their time of bereavement,” said Lyles. “It’s time out for fish fries, GoFundMe accounts and the embarrassing fundraisers that families have to do, in order to have the finances to bury a loved one.”

Lyles and Taylor are not new to funeral services.

“We’ve been in this profession for over a decade and people have been seeing our work throughout the tri-state area, at multiple funeral homes,” said Lyles.

COMMITTED—Madeline Lyles and Dana Taylor are staking their claim as the founders of the first mortuary service owned and operated by women in Memphis.

“It’s just a matter of them learning who has actually been behind the scenes creating the pleasing presentations they see at funerals.”

Asked why the funeral service industry has long been male-dominated, Lyles and Taylor embraced this reflection: “Because of the nature of the profession, one where much stamina and fearlessness is needed. From a historical point-of-view, men have al-

ways upheld that position.

“Decades ago, women were more reared and encouraged to be nurses, office workers, kitchen staff, etc. Being a mortician was a man’s position. Most women would marry into the profession.”

Lyles said when people learn that she and Taylor are morticians, their first comment often is, “Oh, I never would’ve thought you were a mortician. …They

look at us and think we’re teachers or nurses, and if they see us in the funeral setting, they think we only do hair and makeup.

“It’s comical to see their facial expressions, especially when we do removals.

It’s like, ‘A woman is here to pick up the body.’ Everyone runs to the room, to see it all take place.”

At After Life, said Taylor, “We go out of our way to provide exceptional ser-

vice to each of our clients.

We understand that everyone’s needs are different and can change at the last minute, and we’re ready to promptly and professionally provide services that will ensure your satisfaction.”

Big on outreach and community service, Lyles and Taylor provide an apprenticeship through their alma mater, Northwest Mississippi Community College, as well as a summer camp, for ages 13-18. The focus is on education regarding funeral services and the importance of knowing how to make funeral arrangements, having insurance, what a death certificate is and more.

“We know that planning isn’t easy, but we are dedicated to making sure your loved ones are properly cared for by us, and placed with a funeral service provider that will meet your current needs,” said Taylor.

“We have made a great mark in the history of our city, as well as in funeral services,” Lyles said.

“We are beyond grateful to have done so. God revealed our purpose to us, and through funeral services we will give back to those in need. We’re here to help and serve others.”

(For more information about After Life Mortuary Services, contact@almsofmemphis.org, www.almsofmemphis.org; call 901-600-3999.)

The American Dream remains deferred for Black millennials DREAM FROM B1

setting up their children for success; 15 percent said owing a business; 7 percent said a college education; and 6 percent said having a nuclear family.

When broken down by gender, 22 percent of men and 34 percent of women said having a comfortable retirement was most important.

Twenty-two percent of men identified homeownership as most important as compared with 21 percent of women.

When broken down by age, 24 percent of those between 18 and 24 identified

setting up their children for success was most important and 21 percent of the same age group said having a comfortable retirement and owning a business is paramount.

Twenty-eight percent of African Americans between 25 and 34 identified home ownership as most important followed by setting up their children for success (27 percent); and having a comfortable retirement (19 percent).

Overall, African American consumers are most likely to say that the most important aspects of the American Dream are having a com-

fortable retirement, homeownership and setting children up for success.

African American women are more likely than African American men to say that having a comfortable retirement is the most important aspect of the American Dream.

Younger African Americans value homeownership, setting up children for success and owning a business while older African Americans value a comfortable retirement most.

“The American Dream isn’t what I strive for [because] my goal is to be successful in my chosen cre-

ative path of singing and to travel the world doing that – not to be tethered to a job I don’t like, to pay a mortgage I don’t want in order to live permanently anywhere,” said New York musician Risa Branch.

“I finally paid off my student loans. I want the freedom to be wherever I want to be,” Branch said.

“If I did get the surplus funds to buy a house, I’d rent it out and use the investment to fund a more mobile lifestyle.”

Hammond argued that Black millennials want equality, opportunity and freedom. “We want the

same business and home loans, we want the same job offers, we want the same – everything,” she said.

“I’m college-educated, well-read, and well-traveled. I’m a business owner and a homeowner, and even with all of that, I’m keenly aware that I am still very much an underdog,” Hammond continued.

“Freedom means you don’t struggle financially or live paycheck-to-paycheck.

Freedom means you’re able to relax sometimes and not worry about all the ways that you have to work to dispel racial myths and stereotypes.”

Are you picking the wrong money goals?

GOALS FROM B1

something I love.

•Go on a dream vacation.

•Relocate in retirement.

•Care for my aging parents.

•Give to charity or other causes I care about.

•Feel secure about my finances in retirement.

•Feel secure about my finances now.

•Leave an inheritance to my loved ones.

•Retire early.

•Pay for future medical

expenses.

•Avoid becoming a financial burden to my family as I grow older.

•Manage my debt.

Something you may notice about this list: Many of the goals involve feelings.

Goals that resonate on an emotional level can help people maintain the discipline they need to stick with a financial plan, says Ryan O. Murphy, head of decision sciences at Morningstar Investment Man-

agement.

“When it starts to become more emotional, it becomes more personal,” Murphy says. “This abstract thing of ‘save more money for later’ may not be a goal that really gets people to move now, today.”

Even the goals that don’t seem emotional, like managing debt, can be transformed into something more powerful if you consider the feelings around them. Paying down debt

can make you feel more comfortable and secure and less stressed, for example.

Morningstar researcher Samantha Lamas, a recent college graduate who just started paying her student loans, has firsthand experience with goal blind spots. Lamas initially thought paying off her debt was her top priority, but during the study realized that saving for retirement was important as

well. Accelerating her student loan payments might have meant missing years of company matches, tax breaks and tax-deferred compounding she can get from contributing to her retirement accounts.

“I no longer think of my financial goals as a zero-sum game where I’m forced to either save for retirement or pay down debt,” says Lamas. “I can achieve both, simultaneously, if I’m thoughtful about it.”

BUSINESS CALENDAR Training Seminar

MARCH 5—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will host Cybersecurity for Small Businesses, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15282. Presenter Albert Whale will cover data protection systems, data back-up & storage, who can access data, and training employees on recognizing potential breaches and attacks. Cost: $35. For details, call 412-396-6233.

Training Event

MARCH 6—In collaboration with AARP, the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present Work for Yourself@50+, 5:307:30 p.m. at the Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Rd. Pittsburgh, 15235. The free workshop presents stepby-step information on how to start a business and generate additional income, as well as get access to additional resources and mentors to get started on the self-employment journey. For details, call 412-3966233.

PowerBreakfast

MARCH 15—The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pa will present Mark A. Nordenberg, former chancellor and chair of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Politics who will discuss the institutes impact on local communities, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rivers Club, One Oxford Center, Pittsburgh, 15222. Cost $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Call 412-392-0610 for details.

Workshop

MARCH 18—The Chatham Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship will host HR Basics For Start-up and Small Businesses, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Paramount Co-op, 233 Merchant Street, Ambridge, Pa. 15003. The workshop will cover recruitment, new-hire paperwork, policy, and benefits basics. Cost: Free, but registration is required. Call Anne Flynn Schlicht at 412-3651448 for details.

Workshop

MARCH 20—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present First Step: Business Essentials, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15282. The workshop covers Business structure and formation; fictitious name registration, Employee issues, Insurance, Financing options, taxation and more. Cost: $25. For more information, call 412-3966233.

Website Seminar

MARCH 28—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present Boost Your Website’s Visibility SEO 101, 9:30 to 11: 30 a.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15282.

In this workshop, our presenter, Chris Vendilli will talk about key techniques to optimize your website and increase your website’s visibility. Cost: $35. For more information, call 412-396-6233.

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Guest Editorial

Racial insensitivity through fashion brands The chief executive and chief creative officer of luxury fashion powerhouse Burberry is the latest fashion brand to apologize for racial insensitivity Burberry officials apologized for putting a hoodie with strings tied in the shape of a noose on their London Fashion Week runway.

The knotted strings surfaced after a show when a model hired to walk (but not wear the outfit) complained both before the show and on Instagram, saying the noose not only evoked lynchings, but also suicide.

Marco Gobbetti, the brand’s CEO, said in a statement Tuesday that Burberry is “deeply sorry for the distress” the top has caused and has removed it from the autumn-winter collection, along with all images featuring the look.

Riccardo Tisci, Burberry’s creative director, also apologized, saying “while the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realize that it was insensitive.”

Model Liz Kennedy should be commended for taking to Instagram the day of the show, posting a photo of the hoodie with a long message directed at Burberry and Tisci.

“Suicide is not fashion,” she wrote. “It is not glamorous nor edgy and since this show is dedicated to the youth expressing their voice, here I go. Riccardo Tisci and everyone at Burberry it is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway.”

She added, “Let’s not forget about the horrifying history of lynching either.”

Her courageous post prompted dozens of negative social media comments directed at Burberry and Tisci.

“A massive brand like Burberry who is typically considered commercial and classy should not have overlooked such an obvious resemblance. I left my fitting extremely triggered after seeing this look. Feeling as though I was right back where I was when I was going through an experience with suicide in my family,” Kennedy wrote on Instagram.

The Burberry incident comes after Gucci removed a sweater from the market last week after complaints that the oversized collar designed to cover the face resembled blackface makeup. In December, Prada stopped selling baubles that also prompted complaints of racist imagery.

Gucci and Prada companies announced initiatives to foster cultural diversity and awareness among their employees to avoid future missteps.

That’s well and good, but how about stop making racist appeals to draw attention to sell fashion.

They are not being edgy. They are being racist. Do they need to be faced with boycotts of their products for them to reconsider their racist conduct?

The companies should have known better and must be held accountable to do better in the future.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune.)

Letters to the editor for publication The New Pittsburgh Courier welcomes all responsible viewpoints for publication. All letters should be typewritten and contain writer’s address and phone number for verification All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Address all letters to: Letters to the Editor New Pittsburgh Courier 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 You may fax your letter to 412-481-1360, or via e-mail to letters@newpittsburghcourier.com

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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019 B3

‘Respect Us’ campaign gains a support!

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—During President Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns, I worked really hard to elect him. Friends often joked that I was supporting him before Michelle was. That was probably a stretch, but I supported him very early. Supporting him remained true during his entire presidency. You can imagine my shock when I looked at his favorite songs list and saw Cardi B! If you don’t know her, please look up her lyrics. Find a song called “Twerk.”

When you read the lyrics and see the women, you’ll understand why I nearly passed out.

I’m one of the leaders of the Respect Us campaign where we’re leading a movement to rid the airwaves of disrespectful, hateful music. It pains me to call it music that Cardi B, Kanye West, Nikki Minaj, 21 Savage and others do because the words used are nothing but hate against Black women and often the Black community. I told myself President Obama had never really heard the words used by Cardi B because a lot of rappers sound like they’re performing in another language!

Fast forward to the Obama I supported so vigorously. He was speaking at a meeting of “My Brothers’ Keeper—a program he initiated.

I read an article a few days later

by James Hohmann. The title was “Barack Obama Criticizes Pop Cul-

masculinity (and presumably other things). Pop culture isn’t to blame for everything, but there’s a lot of disrespect in hateful rapping. As a Black woman, I was pleased to hear him say, “We tend to rise to the expectations that are set for us.” He reminded the young men to be kind and not bully people, and that would have an impact. He told them to treat young women ture for Promoting the Wrong Values with respect. He said, “They’re not objects. They’re humans with the to Young Men.” He was talking with young men about defying stereotypes same aspirations and desires, and they’re just as worthy of respect as about what it means to be a man. men.”

I perked up as I read on. He lecHe touted the importance of retured the men about not worshipping specting and listening to women. He money at all costs, and told them said, “Often times, historically, ractheir worth is not measured by how ism in this society sends a message much money they have or how famous they are. He told them he knew that you are less than and weak, so we feel like we’ve got to compensate a lot of rich people who’re really by exaggerating certain stereotypmessed up. ical ways that men are supposed He cautioned against bullying and to act.” He went on to say, “That’s a being selfish while urging them to seek causes greater than themselves. trap that we fall into, that we have I wanted him to get to the part about to pull out of. If you’re confident about your strength, you don’t need not only respecting themselves, but to show me by putting someone else respecting women. He did. He said, down. Show me how strong you are “If you’re very confident about your in that you can lift someone else sexuality, you don’t have to have up and treat someone well and be eight women around you twerking respectful.” … because you know I’ve got one My Brother’s Keeper is a program woman, who I’m very happy with. that shows who Barack really is. In And she’s a strong woman.” I love that lecture, he gave credence to our this man for his love and respect for Respect Us campaign.

Michelle!

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is national president He blamed pop culture for amplifying toxic messages about modern of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary

Will reparations become Democrats’ campaign theme?

A new refrain could be taking center stage during the 2020 Presidential Campaign.

Senators Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, both 2020 presidential candidates, said they support reparations for African Americans to redress the legacy of the slavery.

The senators’ statements came as many are observing the 500th anniversary of the transatlantic slave trade and the 400th year since the first African was brought to Virginia.

“I think that we have got to address that again. It’s back to the inequities,” Harris said during in an interview with The Breakfast Club radio show. “America has a history of slavery. We had Jim Crow.

We had legal segregation in America for a very long time,” she said.

Harris continued: “We have got to recognize, back to that earlier point, people aren’t starting out on the same base in terms of their ability to succeed and so we have got to recognize that and give people a lift up.”

When she told the radio show’s host, Charlamagne Tha God, that “Livable Incomes for Families Today,” the Middle Class Act tax cut plan is one way to address the rising costs and the inequities of living in the U.S., the host asked if her comments were about reparations.

“Yes,” Harris said.

She also noted the “systemic racism” in the criminal justice system.

“We have a problem with mass incarceration in particular of Black

Stacy M. Brown

Commentary and Brown men,” Harris said. “There is no question that no mother or father in America should have to sit down when their son turns 12 and start having the talk with that child about how he may be stopped, arrested or killed because of the color of his skin,” she said, addressing police brutality.

Warren also said she supported reparations for both African Americans and Native Americans.

“America has an ugly history of racism,” Warren said after addressing Democrats at an annual state dinner in New Hampshire, according to The Boston Globe. “We need to confront it head-on. And we need to talk about the right way to address it and make change.”

Warren later expanded on her ideas for Native American reparations in a statement, writing that, “tribal nations have unique interests, priorities and histories, and should not be treated monolithically.”

“I fully support the federal government doing far more to live up to its existing trust and treaty responsibilities and that includes a robust discussion about historical injustices against Native people.”

She continued: “Tribal nations have a government-to-government relationship with the federal government, and they deserve a seat at the table in all decisions that will affect the well-being of their people and their communities.”

Another Democratic Presidential hopeful, Julian Castro, also has said he endorses reparations.

A 2017 article in Quartz, noted that to “repair this breach, it’s becoming increasingly clear that reparations for black slavery and its legacy—including Jim Crow—must be part of the equation.”

The article continued: “Facing what activist Randall Robinson calls ‘the debt’ to people of African descent, those of us who are low on melanin content (aka ‘white’) will have to address the often uncomfortable history of how lighter skin color conferred, and continues to confer, economic advantage. To do otherwise is to live a destructive lie, perpetuating a perverted myth of deservedness that holds back our entire society and each of us individually.”

As Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote in his groundbreaking 2014 Atlantic article, reparations are “the price we must pay to see ourselves squarely.”

“Reparations,” he continued, “beckons us to reject the intoxication of hubris and see America as it is—the work of fallible humans. An America that looks away is ignoring not just the sins of the past but the sins of the present and the certain sins of the future,” Coates said.

Director Spike Lee wins first Oscar at 91st Annual Academy Awards Director Spike Lee, who was famously passed over for Best Film and Best Director for his 1992 film “Malcolm X,” won his first Oscar at the 91st Annual Academy Awards.

Wearing a purple suit and hat and seated in the front row at the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Lee was nominated for two Oscars: Best Adaptive Screenplay for “Blackkklansman,” and for Best Director of the same film.

Though Lee did not win for Best Director for “Blackkklansman,” the evening featured a great deal of diversity as the Director of the film “Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón, was awarded for Best Director.

Lee’s production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983. Lee, 61, has created several memorable films including, “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986), “School Daze” (1988), “Do the Right Thing” (1989), “Mo’ Better Blues” (1990), “Jungle Fever” (1991) and “Malcolm X” (1992).

When Best Actor nominee Denzel Washington, who starred in “Malcolm X,” lost to Al Pacino for his performance in “Scent of A Woman” it was considered one the biggest snubs in Oscars history. Overall, “Malcolm X” won no major awards.

“It was so funny and so horrify-

Lauren Victoria Burke

Commentary ing because it was based on the truth and truth is so precious

these days,” said legendary singer and film director, Barbra Streisand, as she introduced Lee’s film “Blackkklansman,” at the Academy Awards.

Though Lee was born in Atlanta, he was raised on New York and has made Brooklyn, NY his hometown.

(Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC.)

CLASSIFIED New Pittsburgh Courier

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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

QA AUTOMATION ENGINEER III

Proofpoint, Inc has an opening in Pittsburgh, PA: QA Automation Engineer III Req B 1 Analy e product requirements & develop test plans & test cases. Mail resume to Proofpoint, Attn Julianna Orti , 2 Ross Dr , Sunnyvale, CA 4 Must include Req to be considered.

UI ENGINEER

American agle Outfitters, Inc ’s Pittsburgh, PA, office seeks a I Engineer to architect, design, engineer, and implement key front-end components of A O’s platform, including the application tier and the browser. Send CV with cover letter, references, and salary requirements to: American Eagle Outfitters, Inc , Attn Sarah auterbach, Re I ngineer, Hot Metal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

SENIOR DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR

American agle Outfitters, Inc ’s Pittsburgh, PA, office seeks Senior Database Administrator to provide database administration services for a growing Omni-channel retail business using diverse database technologies to streamline code development life cycle. Send CV w/ cover letter, references, & salary requirements to: American Eagle Outfitters, Inc , Attn Sarah auterbach, Re: Senior Database Administrator, Hot Metal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

MANAGER – TRANSIT ANALYSIS

Port Authority is seeking a Manager – Transit Analysis to manage the procedures surrounding the collection, analysis and interpretation of data from various sources as it relates to providing transit services to the public and planning for future changes to those services. Manages the Planning Analyst and their performance. Advises Director of Planning on the evaluation of transit services and opportunities for continued growth and innovation with regard to Authority goals and objectives.

Essential Functions: •Coordinates and oversees the collection, analysis and interpretation of data from various sources.

Ensures integrity and accuracy; researches causes of inconsistencies and anomalies and makes recommendations to resolve.

•Develops policies and procedures that maximize transparency and timeliness of public-facing, transit-related data while simultaneously decreasing staff time spent responding to individual requests for data.

•Works collaboratively within Planning and with various departments and other agencies to identify roadblocks to increasing efficiency, effectiveness and equity of transit services and uses data to drive suggestions for growth.

•Manages the daily activities and development of the Planning Analyst. Sets goals and objectives, monitors performance and encourages growth.

Job requirements include: •BA/BS degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Business Administration, Analytics, Information Systems Management or related field Directly related experience may be substituted for education on a yearfor-year basis.

Minimum of five 5 years’ experience in data analysis, strategic planning or transportation planning.

•Demonstrated ability to gather, analyze, and interpret complex data through understanding sampling methodologies, data integrity and data cleansing methods.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word and Excel and PowerPoint.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of SQL or other database languages s to modify existing and create new queries against established datasets.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of eographic Information Systems Arc IS or other mapping tools •Effective and professional communication skills.

Preferred attributes: Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Transportation Planning, Business Administration, Analytics, Information Systems Management or related field •Demonstrated experience in visualization of data for presentation and exploration purposes, from both a conceptual visualization ability and use to tools Tableau, PowerBI or similar •Supervisory experience.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Jennifer Turner Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 JMTurner@portauthority.org EOE

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SENIOR QA ENGINEER

American agle Outfitters, Inc ’s Pittsburgh, PA, office seeks a Senior QA Engineer to perform software quality assurance functions throughout the project development lifecycle from inception to release in an ecommerce and mobile ecommerce environment. Send CV w/ cover letter, references, & salary requirements to: American Eagle Outfitters, Inc , Attn Sarah auterbach, Re Senior A ngineer, Hot Metal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

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PROCUREMENT CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR

Port Authority is seeking a Procurement Contract Administrator to assist the Managers of Contract Administration within the construction, parts/ materials and professional services staff in all administrative activities involving construction contracts and professional services agreements; and in the review and implementation of regulations and resolution of related claims. Evaluate construction contract invoices, parts/material and professional services consultant invoices, entry of contractual information related to construction contracts, parts/materials and professional services agreements.

Essential Functions: •Reviews and reconciles Pending Change Notices, Change Orders and Pay Estimates for construction contracts and profession service agreements to insure accuracy of amounts and information in accordance with contract documents and the Contract Administration Procedures Manual for Construction Contracts and Professional Service Contracts.

•Responsible to assist Contract Specialist with pre-audit review of purchasing files Assist Contract Specialist in creating and maintaining professional service, parts/ materials and construction procurement files •Provides administrative support to Contract Specialist related to RFP and competitive bid preparation, solicitation/award process, contract monitoring and closeout for construction, procurement and professional services agreements.

Provides administrative support for preparation and processing of all work orders tili es PeopleSoft to perform appropriate essential functions related to construction contracts, parts/materials and professional services agreements, including verification of appropriate funding availability.

Job requirements include: High School Diploma or D •Associate degree in Business Administration, Procurement or related field from an accredited school Related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-foryear basis.

Minimum of three 3 years administrative support experience with emphasis on database and spreadsheet applications.

•Professional and effective communication skills.

•Strong organizational and people skills, multi-tasking capabilities, detail oriented with good math skills, and the ability to work with minimum supervision.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows and Microsoft Word and Excel.

Preferred attributes: •BA/BS Degree in Business Administration, Procurement or related field •Experience in contract administration. alid PA Driver’s license •Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Office Programs and Oracle’s PeopleSoft or similar system •Additional contract administration experience.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Jennifer Turner Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 JMTurner@portauthority.org EOE LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION

Jay Arthur Gilmer, Esq., 5700 Bunkerhill Street, Apartment 2207, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of the Fictitious Names Act of Pennsylvania that an application for registration of a fictitious name was filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the conduct of a business under the fictitious name of TRAC Services for Families, with its principal office or place of business at 3 Fourth Avenue, Suite 310, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The names and addresses of all persons who are parties to the registration are: Three Rivers Adoption Council, 220 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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SAFETY SPECIALIST – RAIL OPERATIONS & FACILITIES

PUBLIC NOTICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FY 2019

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE

Port Authority is seeking a Safety Specialist – Rail Operations & Facilities provide technical and field support to the Deputy Chief Safety Officer and all Rail Division Management as needed.

Essential Functions: •Assists Division Directors and Deputy Chief Safety Officer in identification and resolution of employee and operations safety issues.

•Provide safety support during all construction projects including design specification review, site inspections and regulatory reviews.

•Conduct periodic reviews of work zones along the rail alignment to ensure compliance with Rail SOP’s •Work with Rail Operations and Maintenance groups to address safety issues concerning equipment and facilities.

•Conduct periodic reviews at various rail locations to determine operational and maintenance rule compliance.

•Assist the Director of Rail Service Delivery and Deputy CSO with periodic reviews and updates of the rail rulebook and SOP’s Job requirements include: •BA/BS degree in Safety, Business Administration, Analytics or directly related field from an accredited school.

Minimum of three 3 years’ experience in safety, emergency response, investigative/police work, analytical or related field •Ability to complete the National Safety Council’s Advanced Safety Certification course within one 1 year of hire.

•Effective and professional communication skills including report writing. alid driver’s license •Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred attributes: •BA/BS in Safety Science, Occupational Safety and Health, nvironment Health and safety or related field from an accredited school •Current holder of Transit Safety and Security Certificate TSI •Experience in State Safety Oversight of Rail Transit.

•Experience in program compliance work and corrective action plans.

•Mass/rail transit experience, and especially in a union environment. ualified accident and in ury prevention provider as defined by Pennsylvania Worker’s Compensation Regulations.

Certified safety professional or associate safety professional designation.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to: Amy Giammanco Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 AGiammanco@portauthority.org EOE LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

NOTICE OF TRUST ADMINISTRATION

The Trustee named below gives notice of the death of SARA J. MUNGER, late of Borough of Whitehall, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, who died on January 4, 2019. During her lifetime, the said Decedent established the S. J. Munger Revocable Trust by that certain trust agreement dated March 5, 2004 and as the same was amended and restated by that certain First Amendment and Restatement of Revocable Trust Agreement of Sara J. Munger dated November 29, 2011, of which Edward James Ruane, Sr. is the trustee. The Trustee requests all persons having claims against the Decedent to make known the same in writing to him or his attorney, and all persons indebted to the Decedent to make payment to him without delay: Edward James Ruane, Sr., Trustee, 441 Saratoga Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa 15236 or to: Todd A. Fuller, Atty., Brenlove & Fuller, LLC, 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

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Notice is hereby given that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 10:00 AM, in the Allegheny County Economic Development AC D th floor Conference Room located at One Chatham Center, Suite 900, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 1521 regarding the County’s Annual Action Plan for FY 2019. One Chatham Center and the ACED 9th Floor Conference Room are accessible to persons with physical disabilities If special arrangements, including physical accommodations or limited nglish proficiency P accommodations, need to be made in order for citizens to participate in the public hearing, please call Mr. Bud Schubel, Manager of Operations, at 412 35 1 44 to make those arrangements.

Allegheny County is undertaking the development of an Annual Action Plan, as required by the S Department of Housing and rban Development, to determine the types of pro ects that will benefit County residents. Part of the Annual Action Plan planning process involves outreach to citizens for input on housing, economic development, and community development needs across the County. Citizen comments are important and will help to determine housing, economic development, and community development needs for FY 2019.

The purpose of this public hearing is to accept citizen comments for the use of Community Development Block rant CDB , HOM Investment Partnerships Program HOM , and mergency Solutions rants S funds Allegheny County anticipates receiving Federal funds for these programs from the S Department of Housing and rban Development H D All interested citizens are encouraged to attend this public hearing as they will be given the opportunity to present oral or written testimony concerning the Annual Action Plan for FY 2019. Written comments may also be addressed to Mr. Bud Schubel, Manager of Operations, One Chatham Center, Suite 900, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or by email at howard. schubel@alleghenycounty.us. Oral comments may be made by calling 412 35 1 44 All comments must be received at the AC D Office, One Chatham Center, Suite 900, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, no later 4:00 PM on March 27, 2019.

Bud Schubel ACED, Manager of Operations LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of MARIAN E. NIEMAN a/k/a MARIAN NIEMAN, Deceased of Bethel Park No. 021901124 OF 2019. Deborah J. och, xtr or to c o Jacqueline H Brangard, Esquire, Scolieri Law Group, P.C., 1207 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

America’s Best Weekly 315 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Classifieds 412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority A COSA is accepting etters of Interest and Statements of ualifications from Professional Engineering Firms who wish to be considered for the following: Retained Consulting Engineer The obligations and duties of the Retained Consulting Engineer include Preparing and filing an annual report in compliance with trust indentures and state law, attending monthly Board of Directors meetings, perform periodic inspections of facilities for regulatory compliance, participate in the preparation of operating and capital budgets and provide other services that may be requested on an as-needed basis that may arise during the term of service. These may include design services and construction management services for capital projects that typically have a construction cost less than $500,000.00. Other services may include user rate studies, assisting in securing capital funds, and evaluation of process performance or new technologies.

The term of the service is three years. Two additional Option Years may be exercised at the discretion of the Authority.

The Retained Consulting Engineer is not precluded from proposing on future separate engineering design or construction management services opportunities for large capital improvement pro ects as a lead firm or as a sub-consultant.

Interested firms shall submit eight bound paper copies and one electronic copy CD or memory stick in a sealed envelope plainly marked: tate ent of ua ifications for Retained Engineering Services Allegheny County Sanitary Authority 3300 Preble Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Attention: Suzanne Thomas An Informational Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., March 13, 2019, in the ALCOSAN Auditorium at 3300 Preble Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233 to present and clarify the goals and purpose of the Request for ualifications All questions should be submitted, in writing no later than 2 PM March 2 , 2 1 , to Suzanne Thomas at Suzanne. thomas@alcosan.org.

ALCOSAN intends to award the services to one lead firm to perform all services. All submittals must be received no later than 2:00 PM on April 5, 2019 at the ALCOSAN Contracts Department. Please allow time to process through security If the documents are sent via courier, it is Consultant’s responsibility to ensure the documents have been received. Late submittals will not be considered and will be returned unopened. Additional information and instructions may be obtained by visiting: http://www.alcosan.org/ BusinessOpportunities/RFQs RFPs/tabid/182/Default.aspx ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities, disadvantaged and women’s business enterprises to submit qualification statements or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to the selected Firm. The Firm selected shall be required to utilize minority, disadvantaged, and women’s business enterprises to the fullest extent possible. The goals of the A COSA ’s Minority and Women Business Policy are listed on the ALCOSAN website at www. alcosan.org.

Kimberly Kennedy PE Director of Engineering and Construction

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

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NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania To: All individuals who were residents at Oak Hill Apartments on January 1, 2013, whose Public Housing “flat rents” were increased on that date.

Notice is hereby given that the Court has preliminarily approved a Settlement Agreement in the case of Lewis et al v. Corcoran Jennison Management Co. et al., Civil Action No. GD-15-022336.

The lawsuit alleges that the owners and management of Oak Hill Apartments improperly increased the “flat rents” at Oak Hill on January 1, 2013 and that tenants affected by this were over-charged rent as a result. Under the Settlement Agreement, Class Members will be entitled to claim payment from a Settlement Fund. The amount of the payment will be based on a percentage of the rent s/he allegedly overpaid, based on records produced in the litigation. A copy of the Settlement Agreement is available on the Court’s website. The Court will conduct a hearing on whether to grant final approval of the Settlement on April 15, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 815, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Any Class Member who believes the Settlement is not fair, reasonable and adequate may object to the Settlement and testify at the fairness hearing if they mail their written objection and notice of intention to testify on or before March 22, 2019: CLASS COUNSEL Kevin Quisenberry, Esquire Community Justice Project 100 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 434-5814 Any questions about the Settlement should be directed to Class Counsel.

This notice was approved by Court, Hon. Robert J. Colville presiding.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on March 27, 2019 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2527), for the following: Electronic Proposal Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org) B190208 Front End Loader B190210 4 Wheel Drive Diesel Powered Work Trucks B190211 115 LB. Steel Rail B190212A Pantograph Carbon Collector Strips B190214 Cisco Equipment & SmartNet Support No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00am March 13, 2019 at Port Authority’s Heinz location (345 Sixth Avenue, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA). Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation.

The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

To place a display ad in the New Pittsburgh Courier call 412-481-8302 ext. 128 or 129

February 21, 2019 The Office of the County Controller of Allegheny County, in conjunction with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Contract Awards Room; 7th Floor; Commonwealth Keystone Building; 400 North Street; Harrisburg, PA 17120 will receive bids through ECMS or a diskette delivered to the aforementioned address until 11:00 A.M. prevailing local time, Thursday, March 14, 2019. Bids will be opened through ECMS at approximately 11:00 a.m. and can be viewed publicly in the Contract Awards Room, for the following: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Jacks Run Bridge No. 4 Superstructure Replacement Ross Township COUNTY PROJECT NO. JA04-0109 MPMS NO.: 27332 THIS PROJECT WILL BE BID THROUGH PENNDOT ECMS As a prospective bidder, please note the following general Project data regarding: PreBid Information, Bidding Requirements, and Contract Conditions. See the Project Manual and Drawings(Proposal Report) for detailed information, responsibilities and instructions.

PREBID INFORMATION: View the Project Manual and Drawings(PROPOSAL REPORT) on the PennDOT ECMS website (http://www.dot14. state.pa.us/ECMS) or in Room 504, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

BIDDING REQUIREMENTS: THIS PROJECT REQUIRES PREQUALIFICATION OF BIDDERS, INCLUDING SUBCONTRACTORS, AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 102.01 OF COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPECIFICATIONS 2011 (PUBLICATION 408) ON THIS PROJECT. ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH ECMS AND IF NEEDED ADDENDA WILL BE ISSUED ELECTRONICALLY. INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE PROPOSAL REPORT WHICH CAN BE VIEWED THROUGH ECMS. SUBMIT YOUR BID USING ECMS OR MAIL A DISKETTE TO THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, CONTRACT AWARDS ROOM. CONTRACT CONDITIONS: U.S. Department of Labor minimum salaries and wages apply to this Project.

The County Manager reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

The anticipated Notice-to-proceed for this project is June 17, 2019 and the project is to be completed

by May 29, 2020.

The County of Allegheny, in accordance with the Davis Bacon Act and other Federal Labor Standards Provisions; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21 Non-discrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the County of Allegheny issued pursuant to such Act; Executive Order 11246; Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968; Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; and Executive Order 11625 (Utilization of Minority Business Enterprises), hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract pursuant to this Advertisement, the County will afford disadvantaged business enterprises full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and the County will not discriminate against disadvantaged business enterprises on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. It is a condition of the bidding process/contract that responsive bidders/contractors shall follow the disadvantaged business enterprise procedures in the Bidding and Contracting Documents.

Chelsa Wagner CONTROLLER COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Room 251, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on March 5, 2019, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pittsburgh Clayton Restroom Renovations Electrical Prime, REBID Pgh. Colfax K-8 Air Conditioning Mechanical and Electrical Primes Pgh. Colfax K-8 and Westinghouse Academy 6-12 Pool Filtration Repairs Plumbing Prime Pgh. Minadeo PreK-5 Unit Ventilators and Air Conditioning General, Plumbing/Fire Protection, Mechanical, Electrical and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Various Schools and Buildings Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mechanical and Electrical Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on February 4, 2019 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

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INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

NOTICE TO BIDDERS LOYALHANNA APARTMENTS 97-UNIT HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT CITY OF LATROBE – WESTMORELAND COUNTY

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time March 7, 2019.

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) POTABLE WATER PWSA PROJECT NO. PWSA117 Work under this contract includes the provisions of potable water.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o.com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Thoryn Simpson, Senior Contract Specialist, via e-mail: tsimpson@pgh2o.com, no later than February 28, 2019.

The Contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sexual preference, sex, or national origin.

The bidders will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.

The Authority reserves the right to withhold the award of the Contract for a period of 60 days after the opening of the bids.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any informality or minor irregularity in any bid or bids. The Authority also retains the right to investigate the qualifications of bidders prior to any award and to award contracts only to contractors who, in the sole judgment of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, are qualified and equipped to properly execute the specified work.

ROBERT A. WEIMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT SERVICES For ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACT ACHA – 1607

The Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) is currently seeking the services of a qualified Professional Elevator Consulting Firm to provide Elevator Maintenance Management Services for elevator systems Authority - wide.

The scope of services shall include, but not necessarily be limited to: Maintenance Specification Services; Bidding Assistance; Invoice Management; Maintenance Audits; Deficiency Report Management; Capital Planning; Incident Investigation; Service Provider Engagement and On-Site Consultation.

Interested firms are requested to respond with a written proposal that demonstrates evidence of the firm’s capabilities, including other information as requested

by ACHA. Contact Andrew Jamrom (ajamrom@achsng.com or 412.402.2464) for RFP details.

Proposals may be mailed or hand delivered to Andrew Jamrom, Architectural/Engineering Administrator, Allegheny County Housing Authority, 625 Stanwix Street 12th Floor Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. Proposal submissions must be received no later than 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

Frank Aggazio, Executive Director

SEPARATE and SEALED BIDS for the following solicitation, will be received by the Office of Procurement, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 1200 Penn Ave., Second Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, until 2:00 PM Prevailing Time March 20, 2019.

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) BULK DIESEL FUEL PWSA PROJECT NO. PWSA116 Work under this contract includes the provisions of diesel fuel.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation that can be obtained by sending an e-mail to procurement@pgh2o. com. There will be no charge for the solicitation, as it will be sent via e-mail. All questions relating to the solicitation itself shall be to Nicole Dickun, Procurement Manager, via e-mail: ndickun@pgh2o.com, no later than March 13, 2019.

The Contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sexual preference, sex, or national origin.

The bidders will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity.

The Authority reserves the right to withhold the award of the Contract for a period of 60 days after the opening of the bids.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any informality or minor irregularity in any bid or bids. The Authority also retains the right to investigate the qualifications of bidders prior to any award and to award contracts only to contractors who, in the sole judgment of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, are qualified and equipped to properly execute the specified work.

ROBERT A. WEIMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

•GENERAL CONSTRUCTION – CONTRACT – PA 28-8-062019.1.GC •ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION – CONTRACT PA 28-8-062019.2.EC •PLUMBING-FIRE CONSTRUCTION – CONTRACT PA - 28-8-062019.3.PC •EXTERIOR RESTORATION – CONTRACT PA – 28-8-062019.4.ER •MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION - CONTRACT PA – 28-8-062019.5.MC Westmoreland County Housing Authority is requesting construction bids for the referenced project through sealed bids which will be received by the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, until March 20, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. (eastern standard time). Bids shall be deposited at the Administrative Office of the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, 167 South Greengate Road, Greensburg PA 15601. Bids received will then be opened publicly.

A Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled for March 4, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. (eastern standard time). Meeting location will be at the Loyalhanna Apartments 1111 Jefferson St, Latrobe, PA 15650. Attendance is not mandatory, but highly recommended.

Electronic Bid Documents are available for downloading at www. wchaonline.com. Bidders are required to register online at the www.wchaonline.com to view bid documents. Plan holders proposing to bid shall also register their intent to submit a bid with Westmoreland County Housing Authority via email to lindam@wchaonline.com and eriks@wchaonline.com in accordance with the bid requirements.

Westmoreland County Housing Authority Michael L. Washowich, Executive Director

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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2019

Four hundred years and we still ain’t clear (TriceEdneyWire.com)—According to some historians, Afrodescendents first entered these United States in 1619 off the coast of Virginia. If we believe that narrative, Afrodescendents have been in this country for 400 years. If the people who were kidnapped and brought here had to tell the story, would they tell the same one? Would they say that we came before Columbus? That some of us might have been here even longer? There were captured Africans that came from the mother continent in 1619, but also, thanks to the transatlantic slave trade, Africans here who had come from Bermuda, Jamaica, and other places.

Why is this relevant? Because there is this misguided group of Afrodescendants, who are throwing shade at those who are not “American descendants of slaves” ADOS. Their shade is an odd version of the “am I Black enough for you” game that some folks ran against President Barack Obama, and are now running against Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Corey Booker.

What is Black enough, when we, Afrodescendant people, all have enslavement in our background? Let’s make it plain. Europeans went to the African continents, kidnapped people (sometimes with African acquiescence), brought them to the Western Hemisphere, and sold us. Goods and people flowed between England (or New England, the Americas, and Africa), including sugar, tobacco, manufactured products, guns and humans. Understand that everyone in the triangle was affected and that enslaved people were freely

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary traded between the United States and other parts of the Americas!

I am not sure what kinds of warped brains dreamed up the realities of enslavement and the ways that a minority in the South was able to control a majority. The laws that managed enslavement included laws that prevented literacy, ownership, and much else. The laws often detailed the terms of punishment if restrictive conditions were breached.

A North Carolina law said, “teaching slaves to read and write, tends to excite dissatisfaction in their minds, and to produce insurrection and rebellion.”

Disobeying this law was punishable by thirty-nine lashes or imprisonment for a free Black person, or a fine of two hundred dollars then, or about $5000 now.

People violated the laws, of course, but the warped sensibility that prohibited the dissemination of knowledge is the basis for many sick stereotypes, such as “if you want to hide something from a Black person, put it in a book.”

Fast-forward four hundred years, or even two. Why are teachers in Louden County, Virginia, forcing fifth and sixthgrade students to simulate enslavement with an obstacle course they called “The Underground Railroad”? Why were many of these students Afrodescendents? Why are the leaders of the school silent about the discipline that was ordered on the rogue teachers who took it upon their ignorant selves to construct such an exercise? Why has David Stewart, the principal of the Madison Trust School in Louden County, sent out a vapid apology for a “culturally insensitive” exercise, and not a more strongly worded condemnation of the racism implicit in this nonsense.

We have been here at least 400 years, and still, some folks aren’t clear about the ways enslavement has shaped our nation. In Virginia, where both the governor and the Attorney General (two of the top three elected officials in the state) have admitted to masquerading in Blackface, albeit thirty-odd years ago, teachers don’t see anything wrong with subjecting Black students to a reenactment of enslavement. Oh, they said they were teaching “teamwork.” Really.

We have been here at least 400 years, and our nation is not yet clear about its flawed foundations. There would be no house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which should not be called the White House, but the House that Enslaved People Built, were it not for the labor of kidnapped people and their descendants.

There would be no banking system if enslaved people were not used as collateral for European devilment. There would be no insurance industry were it not for the enslaved. But in our collective ignorance allows us, all of us, African Americans, European Americans, and others, to live in denial, pretending that there is fairness is a racist, patriarchal, predatory, capitalist society.

We have been here at least 400 years, but we still aren’t clear about the nonsense and exploitation that affects and infuses our very foundation. Our entire nation needs to go back to school to learn some history. But there is a special place in hell for teachers in Louden County, Virginia who think that enslavement is some kind of game!

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

FORUM

Black faces, Black minds—nothing new

Across America, we cannot change Black faces have Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick instead of local isbecome front-page sues that we could news. Yes, the enchange. However, I tire media satuwould conclude, a rated the country story about governwith the story that mental bodies who two of the top polispend untold sums ticians in the state of money and deny of Virginia at a Blacks their fair stage in their lives share as a story had been portrayed in Blackface. I was about an extremely critical issue. in the neighborhood grocery store and We as Black people have been subthere were some shoppers who acted as jected to the over-exposure of the negaif it was the worst thing to ever happen tivism of Black faces and Black minds. in this country.

What do I mean?

I said to them, “Do you recall when we Persons with Black faces and Black were in the theatre and the movie would minds rob, burglarize, shoot and sell be turned off and White men with Black drugs to other Blacks. faces would appear (Amos & Andy) and In 1989, the most over-qualified perthe audience, 95 percent colored, would son to ever run for the mayor of Pittslaugh and even clap?” burgh was a Black attorney, Byrd R. I get upset with the media for over-fo- Brown, and his defeat was the result of cusing on situations that may be more five dyed-in-the-wool Black persons… sensational but not that important. I yes, people with Black faces and Black also get upset with American Black peo- minds.

(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a contributor to the ple who continue to over-focus on critical issues that are national conditions that New Pittsburgh Courier.)

To Tell The Truth

False reports, post-racial denial, and America’s reality crisis In 2014, Michael MAGA hats were Brown, an unarmed J. Pharoah Doss the new KKK Black teen, was hoods, it was refatally shot by a ported that in White police officer, Chicago, Black/ in Ferguson, Misgay actor Jussie souri.

Witnesses Smollett was assaid Brown had his saulted by indihands up, and one viduals wearing witness claimed he red MAGA hats heard Brown say, and the attack“I don’t have a gun, ers put a noose stop shooting.” And the picture was around his neck. After an investigation painted that Brown was gunned down the Chicago police declared the incident by a trigger-happy racist cop. a hoax and charged Smollett with filing But the same witnesses confessed a false report. to the grand jury that Brown held his But the initial public response was a hands up at shoulder level for a brief unanimous condemnation of racial vimoment, then he dropped his hands olence, and one media host lamented, and charged the officer.

“This is the state of America in 2019.”

The phrase, “Hands up, don’t shoot” The insinuation was that racism in may have never happened.

2019 was rampant, but that notion is But activists continued to use “hands just as fraudulent as “Hands up, don’t up, don’t shoot” as a rallying cry against shoot.” another narrative, the increase of exThe current state of America can be trajudicial killings of unarmed Black defined as a state of post-racial denial. males by American police forces. This After the election of America’s first too, was statistically inaccurate, but Black president in 2008, the national that didn’t matter, because the ulteri- dialogue centered around a single quesor motive was to suggest the election tion: Is America finally a post-racial soof the first Black president changed ciety? The answer was a resounding... nothing and racism was more prevalent No! Then the term was banned from than ever. any racial discussion, because “post-raSince most people believe America is a cial” was characterized to mean colracist society, first reports about White orblind or a society where racism no racism are accepted without question. longer existed. But that definition was Last month a video segment showed inaccurate. The term post-racial first a Covington Catholic high school stu- appeared in the New York Times in dent, wearing a red MAGA hat, smil- 1971. Its original context did not imply ing at a Native American playing a the disappearance of racism, but an era drum. The public rushed to judgment when race relations were not the bigand accused the teenager of mocking gest problem. So, when the term was the Native American’s ancestry with re-introduced in 2008 the implication the smirk of White privilege. But after was that racism was not the preventive a review of two hours of video footage, force it was in the past. this turned out to be another false narThe implication was rejected, false rative, and an attempt to prove White narratives prevailed, and post-racial racism was on the rise during the denial has turned into America’s reality Trump presidency. crisis.

(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Not long after the Covington incident, where it was first suggested that red Pittsburgh Courier.

Check It Out

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Raynard Jackson

Commentary When can Blacks be homosexual, illegal and Muslim?

Media appointed Black leaders, once again, have sold out Black folks. This is nothing new.

These organizations and their people have been doing this for decades; but the consequences seem to be more devasting now than ever before.

To radical liberal groups like the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus, the National Urban League; to radical Black liberal quasi journalists like Roland Martin, Joy Reid, Joe Madison, Jason Johnson, Richard Princess; to presidential candidates like Sen. Kamala Harris and Sen. Corey Booker, I have a series of questions.

When can Blacks be homosexual? When can Blacks be illegal? When can Blacks be Muslim?

These media appointed groups and individuals have allowed other people’s issues to become our issues when they have absolutely nothing to do with the interests of the Black community.

When did the promotion of homosexuality become a vital issue within the Black community or a Civil Right? I didn’t read that in any of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches.

These Black elites have allowed the radical homosexual movement to highjack the Black community’s agenda. The homosexual community is one of the most racist groups in American when it comes to Blacks. Don’t believe me?

Well, just look at what former homosexual football player Michael Sam had to say: “You [the homosexual community] want to be accepted by other people, but you don’t even accept someone just because of the color of their skin?”

When did securing amnesty for those in the country illegally become the number one issue in the Black community? So, let me make sure I understand. These same liberal Black elites constantly complain about the high unemployment rate within the Black community, the lack of jobs for Black teenagers, the lack of money for social programs for the poor in the Black community; but yet they promote policies, amnesty, that devastate the very people they claim to represent and greatly exacerbate the very problems they claim the government needs to solve. Huh???

When did Islam become the dominant religion in the Black community? An overwhelming majority of Blacks are Christians, not Muslim; but you wouldn’t know that based on the amount of energy and time that is given to the defense of Islam by these fake Black leaders.

Juxtapose the Congressional Black Caucus’ defense of Islam in the public square with their silence when Christianity was pissed on by Joy Behar from the TV show The View.

She said that if Vice President Mike Pence thinks Jesus talks to him he has a “mental illness.” Not one word from any Black Civil Rights group denouncing Behar’s remarks.

I often joke that the best way to get attention as a Black Republican within my party is to be a Black Democrat.

Similarly, the best way to get these media appointed Black leaders to pay attention to our community is to be homosexual, illegal, or Muslim.

But, if you are actually attracted to a person of the opposite sex, you are considered a freak.

If you actually believe in taking care of American citizens versus illegals and those who want to immigrate to the U.S., shame on you!

And God forbid that you really do believe in Christianity; and don’t even think about actually having traditional values like marriage being reserved for a man and a woman.

Isn’t it amazing that President Trump’s raison d’etre for his campaign was protecting the American worker from foreigners? In eight years under Obama, he never talked about the harmful effects of illegal immigration on the Black community.

The groups listed above are supposed to be promoting policies that benefit the Black community, not those that destroy the Black community.

These organizations represent their membership, but not the Black community. There is a difference.

The rank and file of the Black community do not support the radical homosexual agenda; do not support amnesty for illegals; and believe in traditional Christian values.

So why is this not reflected by these Black groups and radical liberal quasi Black journalists?

The answer is quite simple. They have been bought and paid for by the purveyors of radical liberal thought and use them to keep the Black community in bondage. Their very existence is dependent upon Blacks being addicted to insidious government programs where every aspect of their lives is being controlled.

I was once told that the sign of a great teacher is one who makes himself increasingly unnecessary. Within the Black community, you have a whole cottage industry that is predicated on Blacks being dependent on the drug of government programs.

If the Black community is to become whole again, these elitist Blacks must become unemployed.

If we decrease the Black teenage pregnancy rate, how would Planned Parenthood make money? If Blacks stopped killing each other and stopped selling drugs, who would fill up all the beds in jail?

A large portion of the Black middle class exists and thrives off the negative pathologies within the Black community. There is absolutely no incentive within the Black liberal elite class to solve the problems within our community, because in doing so means making them unemployed.

Just a thought!

(Raynard Jackson is a Pulitzer Prize nominated columnist and founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future.)