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AUGUST 7-13, 2019

Janera Solomon leaving the Kelly Strayhorn Theater Moving ‘into this next chapter’ of her life

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

JANERA SOLOMON

Janera Solomon came here with her family from Guyana when she was 9. By 25, she and her sister were selling steel drums they’d made—they learned from their father—at the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival. By age 35, she had already been the

executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty for two years. Now after 11 years at the helm, she is stepping down at year’s end.

The KST board announced the transition in an Aug. 2 press announcement.

“I am very proud of the tremendous growth, accomplishments, and prominence that the Kelly

Strayhorn Theater has achieved during the past 11 years. We have a great team and wonderful supporters,” Solomon said in the release. “While I have a mix of emotions as I move into this next chapter of my life, I will continue in the work that has become so important to me; supporting SEE SOLOMON A11

WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK POLICE RECRUITS?

Overall percentage of Blacks on force trending down

$1.00

50 of 61 homicides Black lives

11 of 12 victims in July were Black

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

Pittsburgh police Officer Calvin Hall and Rev. Sheldon Stoudemire were men who dedicated their lives to stopping the violence in Black neighborhoods and improving the lives of residents—and they were killed for their efforts. Two others who seemed to be preying on their communities with violence and drugs were killed in encounters with law enforcement officers.

Simply put, it was a very unfor-

by Christian Morrow and Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writers

In 2015 when the American Civil Liberties Union announced at a press conference that the city had settled a lawsuit over discriminatory hiring practices in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, industrial psychologist Leaetta Hough noted in her analysis that the previous hiring process was so rife with bias that it turned an average Black application rate of 20 percent into a 4 percent hiring rate.

Two weeks ago, Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman Tim Stevens noted that, according to its 2018 annual report, released July 15, the Bureau graduated 84 recruits, four of them African Americans, or 4.7 percent. In a letter to the Bureau and the mayor, Stevens called the situation a “disappointment and a setback.”

It seems like that setback is continuing.

THE PITTSBURGH BUREAU OF POLICE released this photo of the latest class of recruits, dated Aug. 5. This photo shows just one African American recruit, seated at far right.

“A total of four for the second straight year continues this abysmal negative pattern, and it reinforces the need for the city to go above and beyond to find African American candidates.”

TIM STEVENS Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman

On Aug. 5, the Bureau posted a congratulatory salute to the second class of police recruits for 2019, noting it contains six women and seven veterans. However, this newest recruiting class, according to the photos posted by the Bureau, boasts just one African American. The New PittsSEE RECRUITS A7

tunate month of July. The insanity, the genocide, must stop. The New Pittsburgh Courier calls on the Black community to heed and follow Officer Hall’s words: “It’s time to make a difference.”

Let’s make it clear—the violence must stop.

JULY 1—Ricky Deon Moultrie, a 20-year-old Black male, was discovered in a car in East Hills. He had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh SEE HOMICIDES B6

Did you know about the city’s free financial counseling services?

by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer

What’s the best way to build credit, or to eliminate credit card debt, get student loans or reduce student loan interest, or

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invest for retirement? The average person doesn’t have the expertise to address these issues and isn’t well-off enough to hire a professional. But now they don’t have to—they can access the professionals who have the expertise, one-on-one, for free, thanks to the City of Pittsburgh’s Financial Empowerment Center.

Though the city announced the office’s creation on May 9, FEC Program Manager Rebecca Johnson told KDKA Radio’s Lynne Hayes-Freeland the next day that it had actually started operating in March.

“We’ve actually seen 100 clients already,” Johnson said. “And it can be used for any financial issue people are looking for help with.”

And it can be used by anybody. There are no income restrictions. But to make sure people of modest means can access

the services, the center set up offices with partner organizations all over the city: Advantage Credit Counseling on the South Side; Nova Place on the North Side; Pittsburgh Community Partners in Oakland; the Homewood YMCA; the Carnegie libraries in Carrick and the West End; and several other sites. The services are even available at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks.

Pittsburgh’s Small Business and Redevelopment Manger, Henry Horn Pyatt, said during the same radio show that it was critical to make the services as easily accessible as possible.

“So we have community partners who are already doing good work—and they’re where the buses run,” he said. “This is free to everyone. It’s a public service—it’s not a rip-off or a scam, or some 800-number

trying to sell you a loan product. No one is going to try to sell you anything…it’s just you talking to another human being who wants to help you out.”

The idea for these centers came from a program started in 2008 in New York City. It has been expanded in other cities through the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. Now, thanks to the fund, and partnerships with Neighborhood Allies and Advantage Credit Counseling, professionally trained counselors at the Pittsburgh FEC can help individuals and families manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products.

To that last point, Sarah Dieleman Perry SEE FINANCIAL A11

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AUGUST 7-13, 2019

NATIONAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

White man as Black man exposes Southern racism, embarrasses racists

by Michael Coard For New Pittsburgh Courier

A few days from now on August 9, it’ll be exactly 71 years ago that an explosive series about Southern racism, written by Ray Sprigle- a White investigative reporter from Pennsylvania who made himself appear Black—was published in 1948. Sprigle, who worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, wanted to see for himself how many among the South’s ten million excruciatingly poor and forcibly uneducated Black residents endured de jure racism in the form of Jim Crow laws and de facto racism in the form of day-to-day inhumanity by White men, White women, and even White children. However, he wasn’t a “bleeding heart liberal.” Quite the contrary, he was a conservative Republican who simply wanted to see, in his words, “that justice was done to a group that is grossly oppressed.”

He was also a Pulitzer Prize winner who received that prestigious award in 1938 for having exposed Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black as a former member of the KKK in Alabama.

Before I get into the details of Sprigle’s story, I must admit that I initially was kinda leery about him when I came across information that he had concocted a type of quasi-blackface disguise to report about racism. I had to think long and hard about whether he was appreciating (i.e., battling) Black oppression or appropriating (i.e., profiting from) it. As a result of extensive research, I ultimately concluded that he not only appreciated Black folk’s struggles but also used his admitted White privilege to expose and condemn the outrageous bigotry that made such struggle necessary. Prior to taking on his new Black appearance, he

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met with several Black men and women, including leaders of Black organizations like Walter White, national executive secretary of the NAACP. And those Black people not only gave Sprigle their blessings but also

humanizing, impoverishing, and suffocating racism for poor Blacks that those white readers didn’t know about, didn’t want to know about, or simply lied to themselves about.

He made it clear that de-

(Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) assisted him in creating a “Black look” consisting of appropriate skin tone and appropriate clothing. After initially and unsuccessfully attempting to darken his skin using different types of chemicals and other products such as walnut juice, he decided to leave the cloudy East Coast and relocate temporarily in Florida where, after completely shaving his head and mustache, this 61-year-old man relentlessly immersed himself in powerful sunlight on beaches for nearly a month, creating a deep tan that led people to describe him as “a light-skinned Negro.”

In addition to appearing Black, Sprigle, while traveling through Georgia, made it his business to constantly hang out with the man he called his “trusted guide,” John Wesley Dobbs, a voting rights activist who was the son of parents who had been enslaved. Dobbs had become quite influential amongst Blacks in Atlanta and throughout Georgia as a community and political leader. Accordingly, he provided the perfect cover for Sprigle. As an interesting aside, I must note that Dobbs’ first grandson was Maynard Jackson Jr., who in 1970 became the city’s first elected Black mayor.

Dobbs traveled with Sprigle, who had begun using the pseudonym James R. Crawford, for 30 days and close to 4,000 miles throughout the Deep South while telling people they were “Masonic Brothers.” Together, they worked, lived, ate, and faced demeaning hardships along with poor Black sharecroppers, farm hands, and families of lynching victims.

Sprigle’s riveting report, entitled “I Was a Negro in the South for 30 Days,” appeared as a 21-part series in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Black-owned Pittsburgh Courier, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and over a dozen other newspapers but nowhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

It exposed to the average White readers the hellish horrors of brutalizing, de-

spite the 13th Amendment in 1865 ending slavery, the 14th Amendment in 1868 providing equal protection, and the 15th Amendment in 1870 granting voting rights to Black men, Black folks’ “rights... ran only as far as the nearest White man said they did.” During a televised debate, he condemned the blatant and relentless mistreatment of poor Southern Blacks, describing it as “the whole vicious and evil fabric of discrimination, oppression, cruelty, exploitation, denial of simple justice, denial of rights to full citizenship and the right to an education, which the white South imposes upon the Negro.” His series was powerfully compelling not only because of its substance but also because it was the first of its kind. In fact, it was published eleven years before publication of the seminal book, “Black Like Me,” by White author John Howard Griffin. Sprigle’s entire 21-chapter series can be read at http://old.post-gazette.com/sprigle/default. asp.

In it, you’ll find many compelling points made by him but none more compelling than his statement that “I quit being white and free and an American citizen when I climbed aboard that Jim Crow coach. ...From then on, until I came up out of the South four weeks later, I was Black and in bondage—not quite slavery but not quite freedom, either.”

Hmm... “Black and in bondage—not quite slavery but not quite freedom, either.” That’s the song real Black people were forced to sing everyday before 1948, everyday during 1948, and everyday after 1948. In fact, we’re still singing it altogether in harmony right now in 2019.

(Michael Coard can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and at AvengingTheAncestors.com. His “Radio Courtroom” show can be heard on WURD 96.1FM and his “TV Courtroom” show can be seen on PhillyCam/ Verizon/Comcast.)

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune.)

Week of August 7-13 August 7 1970—Four people, including the presiding judge, are killed during a courthouse shootout in Marin County, Calif. A group of Blacks led by 17-year-old Jonathan Jackson stage an assault on the courthouse in a bid to free Jackson’s brother—famed Soledad Brother and militant activist George Jackson. Jonathan was among those who died. Professor and communist Angela Davis was charged with providing the guns for the bloody escape attempt but she would later be found not guilty.

August 8 1865—Explorer Matthew Henson is born in Baltimore, Md. MATTHEW HENSON Henson would become the first person to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909. However, it was his boss Robert E. Perry who would receive widespread public recognition and a presidential citation for the honor. But in later years, records would show that Henson actually beat Perry to the top of the world. Henson would comment that when Perry discovered that he had beat him to the North Pole, he became “hopping mad.” Years would pass before Henson would gain some recognition for his accomplishment.

Nevertheless, to this day, most history books still continue to give the honor to Perry.

August 9 1936—Sprinting sensation Jesse Owens wins a total of four Gold Medals at the Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

Born in Lawrence County, Ala., Owens gained international fame for his victories in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump and the 4?100 meter relay. His victories undermined Adolph Hitler’s claims of White, JESSE OWENS especially German, superiority over all other peoples. However, Owens disputed claims that the Nazi leader was so infuriated with him that he refused to shake his hand. According to Owens, during his only encounter with Hitler, “the Chancellor waved and I waved back.” The pack-a-day cigarette smoker died at the relatively young age of 66 on March 31, 1980.

1963—Whitney Houston, one of the greatest singers of the past 50 years, was born on this day in Newark, N.J. Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born into a family of accomplished singers. Her mother was Thelma Houston—an excellent gospel and R&B performer and her cousin was song stylist Dionne Warwick. During her heyday in the 1980s, Houston sold approxWHITNEY HOUSTON imately 170 million albums including such hits as “You Give Good Love,” “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know?” and “The Greatest Love of All.” The singer was found dead in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton Hotel room on Feb. 11, 2012, hours before a pre-Grammy party. She was 48.

1987—Lawyer and entrepreneur Reginald Lewis completes the largest business acquisition ever accomplished by an African-American when he purchases Beatrice Foods in a leveraged buyout for $985 million. Under his leadership, the firm would soon become the first Black-owned company to achieve more than $1 billion in annual sales. Lewis made the Forbes magazine list of the 400 richest Americans in 1992 with an estimated net worth of $400 million. Unfortunately, the Baltimore, Md., native would die of brain cancer at the age of 50 on Jan. 19, 1993. His contribution to telling Blacks how to achieve economic success came in his book entitled “Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?” August 10 1867—Famed Black Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge dies REGINALD LEWIS in Poland. Aldridge was born in New York, where he developed a love for the theater. But prejudice in America forced him to go to England to practice his craft. Despite running into racism there as well, he was able to find work. He came in for harsh criticism when paired with White female actresses. But after performing Shakespeare’s Othello, he was proclaimed “an actor of genius” by several newspapers. (Note: There is some authority that Aldridge actually died on Aug. 7.)

1981—A nationwide African-American boycott of the giant Coca Cola bottling company ends after the firm reaches an agreement with Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Operation PUSH. Coke agreed to pump at least $34 million into Black businesses and increase the number of African-American-owned distribIRA ALDRIDGE utorships. Critics would later charge that the beverage giant reneged on the deal and the amount of money pumped into Black businesses never came to more than $11 million.

August 11 1868—One of the greatest White heroes of Black history dies in Washington, D.C. His name was Thaddeus Stevens.

Stevens, a congressman from Pennsylvania, and Sen. Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, led the Radical Republicans movement, which favored punishing the South for starting the Civil War and taking land from the former slave owners and giving it to the former slaves. He headed the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and he used his power at every turn to aid Blacks. Indeed, many of the pro-Black measures and legislation of the period attributed to President Abraham Lincoln were THADDEUS STEVENS actually initiated by Stevens and Sumner. After Lincoln’s assassination, Stevens led the move to impeach President Andrew Johnson in part because Johnson, a Southerner, opposed many measures which would have benefited Blacks. More than 20,000 people attended his funeral in Lancaster, Pa. 1921—Accomplished writer Alex Haley is born on this day in Ithaca, N.Y. Haley is best known for co-writing the “Autobiography of Malcolm X” and for “Roots”—a history of a Black family during slavery, which became a major television series during the 1970s. Haley died in February 1992.

1965—The largest, longest and possibly most destructive Black riot of the turbulent 1960s begins in Los Angeles, Calif. The Watts Rebellion lasted six days, caused between $35 million and $50 million in damage while leaving 34 people dead, more than 1,000 injured and nearly 4,000 arrested. It took place during a “long hot summer” when similar riots were taking place throughout the country.

August 12 1890—This is generally considered the day that the systematic and nominally legal exclusion of Blacks from the political life of the South began. It was the day that the Mississippi Constitutional Convention began. Barred by the 14th and 15th ALEX HALEY Amendments to the U.S. Constitution from excluding Blacks by race, the convention instead adopted a host of strategies including literacy or socalled “Education Tests” specifically designed to prevent Blacks from voting. The tests required reading and interpreting the Constitution. Blacks would be given difficult passages to interpret while Whites were either exempted or given easy passages. Soon, most Southern states adopted the so-called Mississippi Plan to exclude Blacks from voting. The racist plan was effective. In one Mississippi County, for example, there were 30,000 Blacks but only 175 were eligible to vote. Most aspects of the Mississippi Plan were not overturned until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

1922—Ophelia Devore Mitchell—the founding mother of African American modeling—is born on this day in Edgefield, S.C. Her family would move to New York during the 1930s, where she entered the Vogue School of Modeling at 17. She excelled at modeling, as well as in academics mastering Latin, German and French. She modeled professionally for several years before opening her own modeling school in 1946. Her aim was to overcome stereotypes and negative portrayals of Black women. She wrote a fashion column OPHELIA DEVORE for the Pittsburgh Courier, started her own line of cosmetics and eventually helped found the Columbus Times newspaper in GeorMITCHELL gia. In 2004, she was formally recognized by the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion and Arts Exchange for her contributions to the industry.

August 13 1881—The first African American nursing school opens at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. 1892—The Afro-American newspaper is founded. The first edition is published in Baltimore, Md., by John H. Murphy Sr. At its height, the newspaper chain would publish papers in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Richmond, Virginia and Newark, N.J. It continues to publish today in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. 1906—The “Brownsville Affair” takes place. Angry Black soldiers, who had been subjected to intense racial discrimination and insults, are accused of sneaking into Brownsville, Texas, and killing a local White bartender and wounding a police officer. Although the evidence was weak, President Theodore Roosevelt sided with Brownsville Whites and ordered 167 of the Black soldiers dishonorably discharged for a “conspiracy of silence” because they either denied involvement in the shootings or refused to say who was involved.

However, 66 years later, the Army opened a new investigation which cleared the accused soldiers and reversed the 1906 dishonorably discharges.

NATIONAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

AUGUST 7-13, 2019

Toni Morrison dies at age 88 in New York City

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Toni Morrison, the first Black woman to receive the Nobel literature prize, died Monday night, Aug. 5, in New York City. She was 88.

“Toni Morrison passed away peacefully last night surrounded by family and friends,” the Morrison family announced.

“The consummate writer who treasured the written word, whether her own, her students or others, she read voraciously and was most at home when writing.”

Morrison passed away at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

From “Song of Solomon,” to “Tar Baby,” to “Beloved,” Morrison rose to the top of the literary world and had an unmistakable impact on most everyone, from the common man to the first Black president in the history of the United States.

“Toni Morrison was a national treasure, as good a storyteller, as captivating, in person as she was on the page. Her writing was a beautiful, meaningful challenge to our conscience and our moral imagination. What a gift to breathe the same air as her, if only for a while,” President Obama tweeted on the morning of Aug. 6.

President Obama awarded Morrison with a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

“Beloved” won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988 and solidified Morrison as one of the best, most influential writers of all-time.

Morrison was born in 1931 in Lorain, Ohio, about 30 miles west of Cleveland.

She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., then worked as a book editor beginning in 1964. According to the Associated Press, she championed emerging fiction authors such as Gayl Jones and Toni Cade Bambara, helped introduce U.S. readers to African writers such as Wole Soyinka, and worked on a memoir by Muhammad Ali and topical books by Angela Davis and Huey Newton.

She had two children from a previous marriage, Slade Morrison and Harold Ford Morrison. Slade Morrison died in 2010 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

On Twitter, Aug. 6, former President Bill Clinton, an ardent supporter of Morrison, called her a “world-class human being.

Her words stirred our souls & challenged our consciences to confront injustice, large or small, wherever it exists. How blessed we are that she gave us her gifts.

Hillary and I are grateful for her life and the kindness she showed us.”

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate

Stacey Abrams said on Twitter that Morrison “was a towering intellect, a brilliant scribe of our nation’s complex stories, a heartbreaking journalist of our deepest desires, and a groundbreaking author who destroyed precepts, walls and those who dared underestimate her capacity.

Rest well and in peace.”

REMEMBERING TONI MORRISON—In the photo above, Toni Morrison is pictured in an undated photo with her sons, Slade Morrison and Harold Ford Morrison. In the photo at right, former President Barack Obama shares a moment with Morrison.

Morrison died on Monday evening, Aug. 5, in New York City.

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AUGUST 7-13, 2019

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

‘AROUND TOWN’ WITH RICCO

LARIMER

ALIVE!

Saturday, July 27, 2019 Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello JACKIE WILSON, having fun at the Larimer Alive Festival.

JAZ’MERE FIELDS, 8, on the bounce house slide…!

5-YEAR-OLD SAIGE GRANT sees herself with the face paint…

DONTIKA HALL, DESIREE POLLARD eating the Italian Ice…

‘AROUND TOWN’

with Courier photographer Ricco J.L. Martello

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

AUGUST 7-13, 2019

‘AROUND TOWN’ WITH RICCO

Larimer Alive Festival growing with each year What would a festival be without ribs, a bounce house, The Bill Henry Band, and…farm animals?

Yep, the horses and baby goats interviewed by the New Pittsburgh Courier told us they had an outstanding time entertaining the hundreds of children at the annual Larimer Alive Festival, held July 27.

Let’s not forget about the bounce house, the foam

machine, face-painting, balloons, the jerk chicken, ribs, ice cream, numerous community organizations, the Ques, DJ Howie, and numerous musical performances.

Each year around late July, the Larimer Consensus Group presents the Larimer Alive Festival along a shut-down Larimer Avenue to highlight the consistent progress

MIKA HARRIS, 16, feeding the goats at the Larimer Alive Festival, July 27. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

MUHAMMAD ABDULLAHI gets some books to read…

the Larimer community is making in housing options, economic prosperity, and the unification of neighborhood residents.

The daylong event also featured WAMO 100.1 FM on-air talent Kiki Brown as host, and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto addressed the crowd.

The Larimer Consensus Group also holds Christmas parties for neighborhood children, and has meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Kingsley Association, 6435 Frankstown Ave. More details about the Larimer Consensus Group can be obtained by calling FACE PAINT!—Carolyn Chavis, also known as CJ, and Fatimah Abdullahi 412-441-1476.

NASHYA SMITH, 10, and Kamiyah Hall, 10, blowing bubbles in the foam…

UNCLE RICK’S SMOKEHOUSE had the BBQ lit…! (Photo via Facebook)

“MAMA ROSE” holding her famous jerk chicken…

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HEALTH

AUGUST 7-13, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Take charge of your health today. Be informed. Be involved.

ESTHER BUSH

The Pittsburgh Study This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on a major child and adolescent health and wellness initiative called The Pittsburgh Study. Liz Miller, community engagement colead of the University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, spoke about this topic.

LM: Good afternoon, Ms. Bush. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to talk about the Pittsburgh Study with you as the Urban League has been an integral partner in conceptualizing this community-partnered study. As you know, the Pittsburgh Study is a large undertaking where we are trying to learn together with community members about what works to ensure children and adolescents are healthy, thriving and meeting their academic goals. The Pittsburgh Study will be looking at interventions to improve the health and wellness of pregnant women, infants, toddlers, school-age children and adolescents.

EB: Yes, Liz. Last year, I had the opportunity to speak at a planning retreat for the Pittsburgh Study about the importance of building trust.

One of the key ways in which trust is built is by listening to and involving community members as active participants in the research. One of the shared principles that came out of that retreat was the importance of doing research “with” people and not “on” people.

LM: Absolutely. We’ve been meeting with community members across our county to hear what they believe thriving children look like. Community members have shared with us that “thriving” means having lots of love and support and safe environments free from oppression and pollution.

EB: I’m so glad that you mention oppression. This is so important to talk about because far too many children are living in neighborhoods with concentrated disadvantages where, because of discrimination and institutional racism, they’re not afforded the same opportunities as children in more privileged environments. We need to have interventions and policies that recognize these inequities and work to correct them.

LM: Indeed. I’m so happy that many community organizations and people from diverse backgrounds are getting involved. We’d love to have interested community members join the different groups working on the Pittsburgh Study.

Community partnerships help make sure that our science is meaningful and relevant.

EB: I think the Pittsburgh Study reminds us that it truly takes a village to nurture our children.

Thank you so much for having this conversation with me, Liz. I really hope that more people get involved and excited about the Pittsburgh Study.

I look forward to next month, as well, when we discuss sleep and how important it is for healthy kids and successful learning!

How are we supporting our children?

Most people would describe Pittsburgh as a city of people who are devoted to spending time with loved ones and loyal to neighbors and communities. We also know that the future of our families and communities very much depends on people so deeply important to us—our children.

So, how are we supporting our children? What are we doing well, and what needs to change in order to keep them healthy and thriving?

If you have ever wondered how best to serve children in Allegheny County, you will find like-minded people in the Pittsburgh Study.

The Pittsburgh Study is community-partnered research. It is focused on the best ways to support children and adolescents in Allegheny County to be healthy, thriving and meeting their academic goals.

It will be the largest longterm community-partnered intervention study to follow children from birth to adulthood. The Pittsburgh Study addresses health equity by supporting, evaluating and optimizing proved programs to help children, adolescents and families. It will investigate the most pressing factors influencing the health of the county’s youth along their developmental paths.

“The Pittsburgh Study looks at the whole child, at their physical, social, emotional and psychological health and their academic performance,” says Anna K. Ettinger, PhD, MSW, MPH, senior research scientist in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

“We’re focusing on health equity and disparities—from preterm birth and infant mortality rates to childhood reading levels to youth violence. But it isn’t only about observing and collecting data. We’re looking at what already works well and

ANNA K. ETTINGER, PHD

ELIZABETH MILLER, MD, PHD

introducing interventions as needed based on feedback from community partners.”

There are two opportunities to become involved in the study—one as a partner in the research to help

be a part of the research team—a team that includes community members. One of the study’s main principles is to develop research with people—not on people.

Partnership and equity are

design, plan, evaluate and steer the study and the other as a participant in the study itself. Being a partner in the research involves serving on a scientific working group and playing a part in learning about child thriving.

What is unique about the Pittsburgh Study is that the people who want to help children are being asked to

intentionally built into the organization of the study. The leadership of each working group is required to include at least one academic researcher and one community partner. Each scientific group will be comprised of at least 50 percent community members. One of the study’s shared principles (see elsewhere on the page

Hopes for partnership

Theresa R. Jenks, Pittsburgh Study ambassador, Westside, and Elizabeth Miller, Pittsburgh Study coleader, had the opportunity to talk about the motivation behind being a partner in the Pittsburgh Study work.

E: Why are you involved in the Pittsburgh Study?

T: I am involved in the Pittsburgh Study because I believe that the study can change the way my community thinks about research—the African American community has been wronged in so many cases in the past. I believe that when research is with people, not on people, and if the research is for the growth and education of people to understand health issues and health history better, we can change the path and direction of our communities’ health and wellness (especially mental health).

E: What is meaningful to you and the communities you serve about being involved in

the Pittsburgh Study?

T: The one thing that I would say is meaningful is to keep the community engaged in all aspects as much as possible so that every step is transparent to the community and the community has full ownership in the study.

E: What do you hope will emerge from this work together?

T: My hope for the Pittsburgh Study is that the community gets education and any and all access to become more healthy and knowledgeable about what it takes to be healthy, happy and thriving in all communities no matter what barriers exist. I wish I would have been more educated about healthy habits for myself and my family when I was a young, single mom putting everyone first and myself not even on the list. If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.

for a complete list of the Pittsburgh Study’s shared principles) is that everyone involved is heard, learned from and included.

“We thought that if this is going to be a Pittsburgh study, it has to be owned by the community,” says Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD, Edmund R. McCluskey Professor of Pediatric Medical Education and professor of pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, chief of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and coleader of the Pittsburgh Study. “Our goal

veal which trajectories tend to help children thrive and which interventions bend the curves best.

“The study is definitely going to be unique because we’re all learning,” says Val Chavis, project director with the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s East Hills Family Support Center and Pittsburgh Study coleader.

“I’m a community partner, along with other community partners, community members, doctors, researchers and scientists at the table.

We’re all humble enough to share ideas and say that not one person knows everything but that each person at

is developing science and doing discovery that matters. The only way to ensure that is to have community partners help to design the study.”

The study started by engaging community members in defining what thriving in childhood and adolescence means to them. The study is also assembling and aligning existing data from the county, schools and other sources. It will fill in gaps in knowledge, combining survey data, health assessments, environmental and community information.

Analyzing the data will re-

the table knows something.

“I would encourage people to be involved because I truly think this is history in the making. This is something that’s going to help generations to come. Come share ideas, be creative and have ownership in this research. Research only gets better when it involves people from all backgrounds.

Here’s your opportunity.”

For more information on how to become involved with the Pittsburgh Study, contact Marcela Souza at mab472@ pitt.edu or 412-692-8026 or visit www.pittsburghstudy. org.

The Pittsburgh Study Community Partners

The Pittsburgh Study is collaborative to its core. Study partners are numerous and include the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, UrbanKind Institute, Healthy Start, Allies for Children, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh and the Shear Family Foundation.

For more information on how to become involved with the Pittsburgh Study, contact Marcela Souza at mab472@ pitt.edu or 412-692-8026 or visit www.pittsburghstudy.org.

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AUGUST 7-13, 2019 A7

WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK POLICE RECRUITS? Current Pittsburgh police force is just 13 percent Black RECRUITS FROM A1

burgh Courier could not confirm at press time if there were any other African American recruits for this class that were not pictured.

As the Courier reported July 17, the first graduating class of 2019 had three Black recruits. So, at best, the results for this year will be the same as last year— four new African American Pittsburgh police officers.

Reached by phone, Stevens told the Courier he found the news “very troubling, with a capital V.” “Obviously, our letter is only two weeks old, but in a year, they haven’t corrected anything,” he said.

“A total of four for the second straight year continues this abysmal negative pattern, and it reinforces the need for the city to go above and beyond to find African American candidates.”

Police Chief Scott Schubert could not be reached for comment on the second 2019 class, but responding to Stevens’ letter, Chief Schubert said outreach efforts include its Summer Cops & Kids Camp program, its Citizens Police Academy, Student Police Academy and the Public Safety CTE program at Westinghouse High School.

The annual report also says the Bureau “regularly attends recruiting events with Human Relations & Civil Service at com-

munity events, churches, colleges, and convention centers in Pittsburgh and in surrounding states. In addition, HR&CS has continuous recruitment cycles, consistent with civil services laws, to shorten the time frame between recruitment and hiring.”

According to the Bureau’s 2018 annual report, there were 28 Black female and 89 Black male members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (117 total), which accounted for 13 percent of the entire force.

That number of 13 percent is down from the 2010 data, which show that there were 47 Black female members and 96 Black male members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (143 total), which accounted for 17 percent of the entire force.

It’s also important to note that in 2010, Pittsburgh had a Black police chief— Nate Harper.

From 2010 to 2018, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has seen its African American members drop by 26, or 4 percent.

“The Bureau wants a more diverse police force,” Mayor Bill Peduto’s office told the Courier in a statement provided by public information officer Chris Togneri, Aug. 6. “Of course, here in Pittsburgh we are facing the same issues and challenges as other major city Police Departments in terms of recruiting.

“We also understand that

change doesn’t happen overnight. But we are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, and our actions demonstrate that commitment.”

The statement also stressed that the Bureau’s commitment to inclusion begins at the Police Academy, “where every recruit is given Implicit Bias training to better understand the decisions we make as officers on a daily basis.

“Recruits also participate in the Inside-Out Program, in which they and active officers travel to local prisons, multiple times, for face-to-face conversations with inmates to help them understand​why people offend and to help develop the guardian mindset,” the statement read. “We designed this program, in cooperation with Duquesne University, based on a model in which college students visit and interact with inmates. To our knowledge, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is the only police department in America that sends recruits and officers into prisons to take classes with inmates. Other regional departments will soon participate as well.”

Pittsburgh NAACP President Richard A. Stewart Jr. said the organization is actively talking to young African Americans about choosing law enforcement as a career. “It’s a good career,” Stewart said. “It’s what you make of it. Stop

PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICERS ERNEST HORTON, ANTHONY MITCHELL AND CALEB STEVENSON are the only Black officers to graduate from the Academy so far in 2019. (Photo by J.L. Martello) listening to that rhetoric out there, this is about what you want to do. I did it for 30-some years, I retired, I left a good mark as far as I’m concerned.”

Stewart spent a year and a half as a Pittsburgh police officer before being a member of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s department for 30 years before retiring in 2005.

Stewart said he feels the city is doing a better job in trying to recruit African Americans to become officers, “but we just can’t find enough Black recruits to consider taking the test or passing the test.”

Stewart added: “We gotta find a different way of getting at these young folks,

something that they can sink their teeth into.”

Currently, there is a position posted for “Police Officer” on the City of Pittsburgh Careers page on its website: how to apply; where to apply; $15.41 per hour while in training; $44,710 first-year salary; requirements—60 college credits, valid driver’s license, clean record—testing, and more.

Stevens reiterated that B-PEP is open to meeting with the city and the Bureau to see what the community can do to help increase the number of Black applicants.

“It’s not all on them, but they have to take the lead,” he said. “I know that they

are committed to this. But there’s a negative history with the police and a lot of emotion based on that.”

He said the community has to overcome that if it wants a diversified police force.

“We know there are a lot of Black people unemployed and some are not averse to being police officers,” he said. “The community has to realize that if someone puts themselves out there as an officer they have to be supportive enough, adult enough and fair enough not to call them ‘Uncle Toms’ or ‘turncoats.’ We have to be receptive of those who take the gamble to put their lives at risk.”

LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier

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AUGUST 7-13, 2019

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

Debbie Norrell

Lifestyles Report It’s almost that time Here is a shoutout to all of the people that tell me that say they are interested in going to “Diner en Blanc Pittsburgh.” The date has been announced, mark your calendars for Sept. 13. Now I’m sure your next question is where it will be. I can’t tell you that and it’s because I don’t know. According to their website, at the last minute, the secret location is revealed to thousands of friends who have all been patiently waiting to learn where “Dîner en Blanc” will take place.

Thousands of people, dressed all in white, and conducting themselves with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette, all meet for a mass “chic picnic” in a public space. I’ve seen some people do some detective work and try and figure out where “the big white party” will be held. This year is year five and I’ll be excited to see this year’s location. Actually the location is the least of your worries.

Once again I am sharing with you all of the things you will need to do to make this an enjoyable experience.

First you need to register. Go to Pittsburghdinerenblanc.com and register and pay your fee. It is not a free event and if you go to the website you will find out what the fee covers.

One thing that I will tell you is a portion of the fee covers the location costs. Planning a big event like this is not easy or cheap. Let’s talk about the details.

We spoke about dressing in white and yes, white means white, not beige or cream. I say be as fly or sharp or extra as you like. Who knows, you may win a prize for your attire.

This party is your opportunity to go over the top and that is what I love about it. Plan your meal that you’re going to bring and I recommend that you bring it in something that has wheels. Remember you will bring your meal, table linens, dishes and flatware in white, white cloth napkins for the napkin wave and don’t forget a lighter to light your sparkler. And you will bring your own table and chairs. Thirty minutes before the event takes place you will find out from your team leader where to go and you will walk from your waiting area to the location. Your team lead will instruct you how and where to set up your table and chairs.

This is not like going to Highland Park for Sunday Jazz and setting up your stuff wherever you like. When you register you will be assigned to a group and then you will find out where to meet prior to the main event.

It is to be a uniform set up. Once it is done it is a sight to see. I have enjoyed each Diner en Blanc that I have attended and this year will be number four for me. If you plan to attend follow the rules and have fun. Look for me and my camera.

(Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.)

REMARKS—Lorraine Stanley-WM

SPECIAL GUESTS—Alpha J. Jordan-GWM and James C. Harris-GWP

REMARKS—Paul Hibner-RWSGW

An Evening of Elegance, Emeralds & Pearls

by Debbie Norrell

was elevated to Grand Associate Matron under the Lifestyles Editor administration of Alpha The invitation said to J. Jordan, Grand Worthy wear beautiful shades of Matron and James C. Hargreen or gold for an Eve- ris, Grand Worthy Patron. ning of Elegance honoring Wooten has been employed Rowinea R. Wooten, Grand with General Nutrition CorAssociate Matron, Allies poration since 1994 as the Administrative Assistant to the CMO and two vice presidents in the inventory planning/replenishment and merchandising department.

The evening was a celebration of her accomplishments that led to her appointment as Grand Associate Matron. In July 2020, she will be elected and installed as BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS TO THE HONOREE—Rowinea R. Wooten and Joyce Bethune—PWM (Photos Grand Worthy by Debbie Norrell) Matron with memberships over 2,800 in the comSOLOIST—Shena Devine-Way PWM monwealth of Pennsylvania.

Guests enjoyed a cocktail Silver Leaf Chapter No.45 Deborah Grand Chapter, hour, a scrumptious dinner Order of Eastern Star Inc. and a fabulous candy table Prince Hall Adopted, Com- that was overflowing with monwealth of Pennsylva- green and gold candies. In nia. The location was the the tradition of the EastEdgewood Country Club in ern Star flowers and gifts were presented to Wooten Churchill on June 14.

Wooten was recognized by and nearly 200 guests from the New Pittsburgh Courier across the state enjoying an in 2018 and selected as one evening of elegance.

The event chairs were of the Women of Excellence.

She joined her Eastern Star Joyce Bethune PWM and chapter in 2002 and her po- Denise Raiford. Wooten beEMCEE—Denisa L. Gloster-Young-PWM sitions within the organi- lieves her mission is: givzation have been vast and ing service to others while rewarding. In July 2018 she achieving happier lives.

EVENT CO-CHAIR—Denise Raiford

FRATERNAL GUESTS—Dr. Stanley Jones Jr., Charles Washington and Rev. Dr. William Rocky Brown III

WE ARE FAMILY—Laura Walker Smith, Gerri Robinson Ervin, Rowinea R. Wooten, Roxie Walker, Phyllis Jackson and Wanda Pryor-Jones

BEAUTIFUL GUESTS—Patricia Taylor-GAM and Marvalinda Montgomery-PGWM

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

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Artmaking with Women of Visions Inc.

WOMEN OF VISIONS INC.—The August Wilson African American Cultural Center was the site for the latest art exhibit from Women of Visions Inc., which ended in July. In the left photo, it’s Ruth Alice Ward’s “Acts of Courage, 2019.” In the right photo, it’s Harriette A. Meriwether’s “Climbing the ladder to success, 2019” highlighting legendary educator Dr. Helen Faison. Women of Visions Inc., was founded to recognize the art of African American women, providing exhibition opportunities, mentoring, and professional development in the arts that’s not easily obtainable or available. Artists featured in this and other local exhibits include Ruth Bedeian, Tina Brewer, Naomi Chambers, Mayota Hill, LaVerne Kemp, Mary Martin, Janet Watkins, Charlotte Ka, Jo-Anne Bates, Ruth Richardson, Altha Pittrell, Lynne Barrow, Christine Bethea, Elizabeth Asche Douglas, Celeta Hickman, Ashley A. Jones, Njaimeh Njie, Tereneh Idia, and Annette Jackson.

HARRIETTE A. MERIWETHER’S “Climbing the ladder to success, 2019,” highlighting legendary educator Dr. Helen Faison.

ANNETTE JACKSON’S “Black Gold, 2019.”

LAVERNE KEMP’S “The elder tree, 2018.”

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AUGUST 7-13, 2019

RELIGION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 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: Summer Worship Hour...10 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 www.quaker.org/pghpamm/

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

MOTHER WILMA BEAUFORD, EVANGELIST BETTY MAIZE, FACILITATOR/FIRST LADY MARTHA FOSTER (Photos by Courier photographer Jacquelyn McDonald)

BISHOP JAMES M. FOSTER

The 42nd Pastoral Anniversary Banquet

Honoring Bishop James M., Lady Martha Foster The accolades flowed easily for Bishop James M. and Lady Martha Foster on Sunday, July 28 at the Georgetown Centre, 526 E. Bruceton Road in Pleasant Hills.

“A Man After God’s Own Heart” was the theme at the 42nd Pastoral Anniversary Banquet given by his family and church members. The intimate gathering of guests applauded many times as Facilitator, Evangelist Betty Maize spoke of the character of a “Father in the Gospel” and daughter, Evangelist Linda

Foster, read a poem of endearment about her wonderful dad. Many spoke words of admiration and encouragement while sharing testimony of being led by a prayerful leader. Bishop James Miles Foster continues to serve as Pastor of Trinity Church of God in Christ, 2216 Jenny Lind Street, McKeesport. Reverend Marvin C. Moreland, Pastor of Deliverance Temple Church of God in Christ in Aliquippa, was the featured speaker.

—Jacquelyn McDonald

REV. ROSALIND MARTIN, FIRST LADY MARTHA FOSTER, CARMELITA SINKLER, DARLA BROWN

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT!

ANGEL BARR reads a tribute.

EVANGELIST ANE STONE-WATKINS, Psalmist.

Church Circuit Jerusalem Baptist trip, concert

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

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

PASTOR MELVIN BROWN, LADY CHARESE MORELAND, PASTOR MARVIN C. MORELAND

EVANGELIST BETTY MAIZE, facilitator.

EVANGELIST LINDA FOSTER, daughter of the honorees.

Italy sings Gospel in Pittsburgh The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Pittsburgh Gospel musicians Trini Massie, Nikki Porter and Keith Moncrief will host an Italian Gospel Experience on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 250 North Highland Ave. in East Liberty. The historic concert will feature a 40-voice choir from Gospel Connection’s annual conference held in Assisi, Italy, where Massie, Porter and Moncrief have been clinicians for several years. In Italy, the choir numbers over 300 vocalists.

“Hearing over 300 Italians sing Gospel music is a glorious experience to behold as a clinician and we are very excited to welcome our Italian

brothers and sisters in concert, along with our Pittsburgh music ministries and friends,” said Porter, Minister of Music at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, in a release.

The concert will also feature recording artists Adam Brock from American Idol, Zanetta Wingfield, Kim Lankford, Moncrief and the Kingdom Light Ministries International Praise Team, Porter and the Eastminster Church Praise Team and Massie and the Mount Ararat Baptist Church Mass Choir.

The concert is free. A free will offering will be received. For more information, call 412-3617788 or email nporter@eastminsterchurch. net.

AUG. 16—The Jerusalem Baptist Church Gospel Choir is sponsoring a concert on Friday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. Rev. Gregory Coleman and wife, Cachet Coleman, along with JBC Minister of Music, Tanya Pugh, and others will lift their voices in praises to our God. A Free will offering will be taken. Also, JBC is sponsoring a trip to “The ARK Encounter & The Creation Museum” in Williamstown, Kentucky, on Aug. 13, 2020. Reserve your seat on the bus with a $25 deposit. The total cost of the trip is $280. Payment plans are available or $150 is due by Dec. 15, 2019. The final payment is due by April 2020. No refunds. Please see Deacon Ruth Fielder at 412-922-0474 or Deacon Edna Watts at 412-921-0445 for more information and a detailed flyer. Jerusalem Baptist Church is located at 123 Steuben St., West End. Rev. Theodore E. Pugh is the senior pastor.

Antioch Church Anniversary

AUG. 18—Antioch Baptist Church, 332 Elizabeth St., Sewickley, will celebrate their 129th Church Anniversary at 10:45 a.m. at the church. The guest speaker will be Rev. Gerald Lastor, pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church, Pittsburgh. Dinner will be served after service. All are welcome. Please call 412-741-7688 for details. Reverend Travis C. Coon, Pastor.

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

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AUGUST 7-13, 2019 A11

Janera Solomon leaving the Kelly Strayhorn Theater She’s moving ‘into this next chapter’ of her life SOLOMON FROM A1

community anchor institutions and bringing diverse communities together through the arts.”

During her tenure, Solomon forged a number of alliances and partnerships within the region’s arts and foundation community, and as a consultant to entities such as the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, the August Wilson Center, Brooklyn Museum of Art, and several others with Toronto-based, cultural planning firm Lord Culture, she extended the KST’s footprint nationally and internationally as an arts destination in Pittsburgh.

As such, she helped to quadruple the theater’s annual operating budget from $300,000 to more than $1.35 million. That, in turn, enabled her to launch the KST’s innovative inclusive “Pay What Makes You Happy” ticketing model. She also managed the successful merger of the KST with the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, expanding the theater’s programming and impact.

“Janera has been an outstanding visionary leader,” said Board Chair Yvonne Campos. “She has put KST on the map. We are very

thankful for her dedication these past 11 years. It is our priority to find the best person who will lead us. It’s our job to carry her legacy forward.”

In a 2018 article posted to her LinkedIn page, Solomon said the KST can, and must, be a vehicle for cresting neighborhood equity through the arts.

“We are inextricably linked to our community—a mosaic of diverse neighborhoods, artists and fans,” she wrote. “By our mission, we are here be a catalyst for creative expression that

many great moments, it would be hard to choose.

But, I would say, every time I see our theater filled with people, is a great moment.

Even, when the theater is not filled, when the work or the conversation is meaningful, we are fulfilling our purpose. Those are great moments.”

And what about those steel drums she was selling at the Three Rivers Arts Festival? “I grew up with art. It is a part of my life,” she said. “And, those experiences with community festivals (like Three Riv-

“Janera has been an outstanding visionary leader. She has put KST on the map. We are very thankful for her dedication these past 11 years. It is our priority to find the best person who will lead us. It’s our job to carry her legacy forward.”

YVONNE CAMPOS Kelly Strayhorn Theater Board Chair

bridges our diverse neighborhood.”

In an exclusive interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier, Solomon said that her tenure as executive director was filled with “so

ers Arts Festival and Harambee) taught me early lessons about the value of artists and art to communities. Those moments set the stage for my work since; it is my love and appreciation

Financial counseling offered can help them get bank accounts. This is of Neighborhood Allies noted that people for everybody. Everyone can use a bit of exwho use check-cashing services are taking pert advice—and the person to go to when you need expert advice on your finances is a big financial hit.

“Those without bank accounts can accu- a certified and trained financial counselor.”

(To meet with one of the FEC’s counselors, call mulate $40,000 in fees over a lifetime by using alternative financing,” she said. “We 1-800-298-0237 or email fecinfo@advantageccs.org.)

FINANCIAL FROM A1

JANERA SOLOMON was an original member of the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab 40 honorees back in 2003, illustrated in this photo. After 11 years as executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty, she’s leaving the post on Dec. 31. for artists and creative expression that fuel my work at KST, and all that I do.”

Solomon told the Courier that the hardest part of running the Kelly Strayhorn Theater was the balancing act of fundraising,

earning revenue and meeting a mission for arts organizations. But she’s “grateful for our supporters and proud of all we have accomplished the past 11 years.”

What’s next for Solomon, after she departs the Kelly

Strayhorn Theater on Dec. 31?

“I’m looking forward to a bit of family time and creative time,” Solomon told the Courier, “to explore some percolating creative ideas!”

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BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

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Will Smith invests in app that helps teens with financial literacy

by Sequoia Blodgett For New Pittsburgh Courier

(BlackPressUSA)—Will Smith recently became an investor in Step, a mobile-based banking service app for teenagers, through his Dreamers fund.

Step allows teens to easily send and receive money from their family and friends, get real-time notifications, and they don’t have to deal with the monthly or overdraft fees and no minimum balance that traditional banking customers incur.

The platform’s lead investor is Stripe. Other investors include Nas, Jeffrey Katzen-

berg’s Wndrco, Ronnie Lott, Matt Rutler, Kevin Gould, and Moat founders Noah and Jonah Goodhart. Those investments translate into $22.5 million in funding.

This isn’t the company’s first round raised, however. Prior to this, the company closed a previous round with Crosslink Capital, Collaborative Fund, and Sesame Ventures.

“Schools don’t teach kids about money,” CJ MacDonald, the CEO, and co-founder said in an interview with TechCrunch.

“We want to be their first bank accounts with spending cards, but we also want to teach

financial literacy and responsibility. Banks don’t tailor to this, and we want to be a solution for teaching the next generation of adults to be more responsible with money in the cashless era.

It was easy with cash to go to the mall but now everyone is using their phone for Uber and more.”

The funding will be used to bring Step’s first product to market, banking accounts with payment cards attached. This will be done in partnership with Mastercard and Evolve.

Step currently has a waitlist of over 500,000 potential users waiting for access to the prod-

WILL SMITH uct.

Step isn’t the first company attempting to tackle this problem.

Other startups include Current and Greenlight. What makes Step different? The offerings.

Step directly addresses teens by giving them ownership over their finances. The parents still have access but, Step puts the

teen in control. Those under 18 can sign up for accounts without parental or guardian consent gaining access to an account with extremely limited functionality. The overarching goal for Step is to financially empower the youth.

(This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.)

Charlene Crowell

Commentary

Capital One Bank data breach puts another 100 million consumers at risk

HISTORIC ROLE—Ebony and Jet magazine helped shape our nation’s history.

Ebony Magazine photo archive sold A consortium of foundations placed the winning bid to purchase the archive of Johnson Publishing Company (JPC), publisher of the iconic Ebony and Jet magazines.

The archive, which includes more than 4 million prints and negatives comprising the most significant collection of photographs cataloguing African American life in the 20th century, was purchased

for $30 million as part of an auction of the assets of JPC in connection with its Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing.

The foundation consortium—the Ford Foundation, The J. Paul Getty Trust, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation—will donate the archives to the Smithsonian National Museum of

African American History and Culture, the Getty Research Institute, and other leading cultural institutions for the public benefit to ensure the broadest access for the general public and use by scholars, researchers, journalists, and other interested parties.

Speaking after the sale, Ford Foundation president Darren Walker said, “We’re thrilled with the outcome. This archive is a

national treasure and one of tremendous importance to the telling of black history in America. We felt it was imperative to preserve these images, to give them the exposure they deserve and make them readily available to the public.”

“There is no greater repository of the history of the modern African-American experience than this SEE EBONY B3

A second major disclosure of major consumer data breach was announced on July 29 by Capital One Bank. That same day, the FBI arrested a suspect was charged with stealing the personal information on March 22 and 23. The apparent focus of the financial theft was credit card applications filed with the bank between 2005-2019.

Those most vulnerable are two types of consumers: small businesses whose company credit card applications included personal Social Security numbers, and other customers who linked ‘secured’ credit cards to other accounts For these two developments to occur on the same day, suggests a tacit agreement between one of the nation’s 10 largest banks and the country’s top law enforcement agency.

But why did it take four months for consumers to learn their personal data has been at risk for four months?

Ranked number 145 on the Fortune 500 company list, Capital One has 45 million customers in the states of Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. In the second quarter of this year, the bank reported net income of $1.6 billion.

According to the bank, the data breach affects approximately 100 million consumers in this country and additionally 6 million Canadians. An estimated 140,000 Social Security numbers used for credit card SEE CAPITAL ONE B3

Black Wealth 2020 adds HBCUs to its economic empowerment agenda

by Hazel Trice Edney For New Pittsburgh Courier

(TriceEdneyWire.com) —The short-term economic impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is $15 billion—rivaling corporations such as Bank of America in its more than 177,000 employees.

Yet, according to the U. S. Department of Education, approximately 60 percent of all Black college students have no expectation of family financial contributions to their education. That’s a family financial expectation far lower than that of Whites. Approximately 30 percent of White college students have no expectation of family financial contributions to their education. That number is approximately 48 percent for Latinos and 38 percent for Asians.

The economic impact of HBCUs, their struggle to stay afloat, and the dire financial disparities faced

by HBCU students are the reasons that Black Wealth 2020, a catalyst for Black economic equality, recently decided to add

HBCUs as a forth leg to its three-pronged focus to grow Black wealth through Black-owned businesses, Black banks and Black homeownership.

“We’ve got to keep on pushing this agenda. And hooking up with HBCUs is a big way of doing that,” said Michael Grant, former president of the National Bankers Association, and a founder of Black Wealth 2020 in a meeting just before the principals voted unanimously to expand its vision to acknowledge HBCUs as being “central to strengthening the American economy.”

Grant added, “If we’re serious about building Black wealth, how can we not have a focus on our youth and the next generation?”

The vision expansion was inspired, in part, by a presentation by Dr. Lezli Baskerville, president/ CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, also a principal of Black Wealth 2020.

“But for HBCUs, there would be no African American middle class today.

And that’s a fact and that’s

documented,” Baskerville told the group. “And just the existence of HBCUs in our communities—even the ones that are not thriving today—ends up collectively to generate about $15 billion in short term.

And that doesn’t include anything other than what the campuses, including employees and students, spend in surrounding communities.”

Billionaire Robert Smith’s Morehouse initiative has challenged Black Community on support of HBCUs In an initial move to encourage support for HBCUs, Black Wealth 2020 principals have also sent a thank you letter to Black billionaire businessman Robert Smith, chairman/ CEO of Vista Equity Partners, who touched hearts across the nation when he announced that he would pay off all of the student loans of the Morehouse College class of 2019.

The letter applauded Smith, saying, “With student debt nationally at over $1.4 trillion and with the average college student leaving school $30,000 in debt, your gift

not only relieved an enormous financial burden from the graduating class from Morehouse and their parents, you have challenged all African Americans of means to think bigger about how to use their wealth to improve the lives of others within our race.”

Members and supporters of the Black Wealth 2020 coalition include the National Association of Blackowned Broadcasters; the U. S. Black Chambers, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; National Bankers Association; The Collective Empowerment Group; the National Association of Real Estate Brokers; The National Black Caucus of State Legislators; Marc Morial of the National Urban League; NAFEO; Congresswoman Maxine Waters; former SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns; John Rogers, CEO, Ariel Investments; Andy Ingraham, CEO, National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers; and Marcia Griffin, CEO, HomeFree USA. “We thought it fitting that a coalition committed

DR. LEZLI BASKERVILLE to building wealth should take the opportunity to acknowledge and praise your commitment to uplifting our people,” the letter told Smith.

HBCUs struggle for funding to the detriment of the nation In her presentation to Black Wealth 2020 on the state of HBCUs, Baskerville made the case that student loan debt is inevitable for students who are forced to borrow because

their families cannot help.

But, she said, financial issues also hinder even good students from making it through college in the first place.

Baskerville drew heavily from a report compiled by noted national economist Bill Spriggs, who has contended that HBCUs are the key to diversifying technology, currently among the top paying SEE WEALTH B3

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

BUSINESS

Ebony photo archive EBONY FROM B1

archive,” said James Cuno, president of The J. Paul Getty Trust. “Saving it and making it available to the public is a great honor and a grave responsibility.”

The sale of the archive is a coda to the story of a company of great significance to the African American community. Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation, added that the partnership to preserve and make publicly available this profound collection of African American history and culture represented a tremendous opportunity. “The preservation and accessibility of this singular and remarkable photographic archive exemplifies Mellon’s values and is of immeasurable service to picturing the vast and varied range of African American life.”

“This iconic and unique collection will stand the test of time, documenting an essential part of American history over an extraordinary period,” said MacArthur president Julia Stasch. “We are pleased to collaborate to acquire the archive and to preserve it for the benefit of scholars, the public, and future generations forever.”

Johnson Publishing’s iconic archive offers a remarkable insight into everyday of life in Black America—up-close and personal pictures of artists, celebrities and leaders which provided much needed representation in the media. The historic images also capture moments of grief and horror like the mutilated body of Emmett Till in his coffin and Coretta Scott King at her husband’s funeral.

The catalog will be transferred to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Getty Research Institute, pending final disposition.

“The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is proud to collaborate with the consortium and the Getty Research Institute on this important endeavor to preserve and share the richness of these iconic publications,” said Lonnie Bunch, the founding director of the museum and Secretary of the Smithsonian. “Ebony and Jet magazine helped shape our nation’s history, allowing Americans—of all colors—to see the full panorama of the African American experience. Together, our organizations will ensure these images, stories and the history of these publications are well-preserved and available to the public and future generations.”

Black Wealth 2020 WEALTH FROM B1

fields in the U. S. job market.

“In the pipeline of people who generate wealth in the African ancestry community, there is not today a challenge in terms of Blacks getting into college. Bill’s data shows that there is no disparity in the percentages of African Americans and their numbers and Whites that are going into college and enrolled in these high needs areas. The gap happens when they get in,” Baskerville said. “It’s not that they’re not prepared, it’s not that they can’t get in and could not thrive, it’s that once they get in, they don’t have dollars.”

Among other facts that Baskerville noted from the Spriggs report: •Despite the challenges of the institutions and the financial challenges of the students, HBCUs are performing above average and do very well in moving students from low income families to the top 20 percent.

•Generally, many universities now have more students drawn from the top 1 percent of the U. S. income distribution than the bottom 40 percent of the U. S. income distribution.

•With a declining number of White students, and a growing share of low income students, HBCUs are an under-resourced asset for growing the US economy; therefore an increased investment in HBCUs would expand their unreached capacity.

According to the U.S Department of Education, there are currently 107 HBCUs operating in the U. S. All have struggles with funding.

“HBCUs Punching Above Their Weight”, a recent report by the United Negro College Fund, the premier fund-raising organization for HBCUs, says despite their difficulty with fund-raising, HBCUs are still succeeding beyond expectations given their struggles.

“Given their small average size and a history of being under-resourced, the enrollment, degree and economic impacts of HBCUs on African Americans in their respective states are significantly greater than one would expect,” says an introduction to the report.

Principals of Black Wealth 2020 have vowed to push for the growth of HBCUs as parts of their respective agendas and encourage other major organizations and the general public to do so.

“It certainly means that for nearly 150 years, we’ve had institutions of higher learning that have produced some of the best and brightest African Americans and we certainly still recognize the benefits that accrued to the African American community because of the historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Weaver, a Black Wealth 2020 principal who represents the Collective Empowerment Group, an economic initiative involving approximately 800 Black churches. “It’s only fitting that Black wealth 2020 would have a relationship in which we can find ways to collaborate and to partner to create even greater synergy within the African American community with the historically Black Colleges and Universities.”

Don’t skip the work

by Morgan A. Owens

cause life is not going their way, but then when asked, “Did you do XYZ?” they only did X. You For New Pittsburgh Courier can’t skip to the next level without mastering the (BlackPressUSA)—My father always told me I level you are on currently.

Often, we get wrapped up in someone else’s journeeded to “pay my dues” in life and I never truly understood what that meant and why I needed to. ney and want to compare theirs to ours. Truth is, My life was planned: you go to school, you go to you never know what work they did behind the scenes to get to where they are today. People only college, you graduate, and you get a good job. show you what I learned the they want to show hard way that life you. The struggle isn’t a step-byand work are ofstep puzzle and ten left out. the pieces will The work can be not fit perfectly unsexy. I totally or easy together. get it and underIt doesn’t matter stand. We often if you went to a find ourselves unprestigious school motivated to just or come from a even start. Our great family— checklist is next no one is going to us but then we to just hand me seem to use every success. I have to excuse and disearn it. traction to delay Not just MORGAN A. OWENS us from diving millennials into what needs The media has inundated us with various articles and studies to be done.

This is where determination kicks in. If you trustating that millennials feel entitled and privileged. I can agree to a certain point, but I think ly want to succeed you have to start. There is no magic pill, secret sauce or easy button—the magit applies to more than just millennials.

I feel many of us feel so eager for success or ac- ic is in the action. Here are a couple ways to help colades that we forget to do the steps. To appre- you navigate the work: •Do it with purpose. Don’t confuse purpose with ciate the journey of highs and lows, to learn from passion. Many of us lead with passion because we our mistakes and from our achievements.

I talk in my book “Finding My Sparkle” about are ready for an end result such as a paycheck how I hated the way I looked, but had to take a or an award. At the end of the day, purpose will prevail due to it being your calling. Many people working in corporate or as an entrepreneur lead with purpose because it’s what we truly love doing. We wouldn’t endure the sacrifices, long nights, stress if we weren’t truly doing it for purpose. I’m not saying you can’t have passion about your purpose, but make sure purpose is your number one focus.

•Don’t skip the steps. Make a plan.

Want to move up the corporate ladder?

Map out a 5-year plan on how you’re going to get to your desired position(s).

Along the way you may need to complete additional educational or professional development courses. Do them. You can’t jump from an assistant to the vice president overnight.

•Do it over time. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Social media can be very misleading where people seem to pop out of nowhere with the perception that are doing great things.

Most certainly, they have been working hard at their career or business for a while, but their work is just now starting to “bloom” from the seeds they have planted. Stay consistent and you will see growth soon. deeper dive into what I was doing about it. I was •Do the work. There isn’t much explanation complaining, I was living in my feelings of sad- needed for this one. You have to devote the time, ness—but what was I doing to change it? I had to sweat and tears into making your goals realiput in the work. ties. Seek out mentors that will help you stay In that case, it was making a plan to change my accountable, steer towards what you need to do, eating habits, working out more and overall mak- and give constructive criticism (and not just a ing a lifestyle change. This applies to everything pat on the back). Wake up, get dressed and do in life, including climbing the corporate ladder or the work, every day. building a successful business.

Need more motivation? Stay connected with me at Master current level www.morganaowens.com and IG miss_ morgan86.

(This article originally appeared in the Florida Courier.)

Too often, I see clients and others give up be-

Capital One Bank data breach CAPITAL ONE FROM B1

applications and another 80,000 bank account numbers all place affected consumers in financial jeopardy.

“I sincerely apologize for the understandable worry this incident must be causing those affected and I am committed to making it right,” said Richard Fairbank, Capital One’s CEO. The bank has also pledged to provide affected customers with free credit monitoring and identity.

For consumer advocates, however, Capital One’s mea culpa was too little, and much too late.

“I wouldn’t say that consumers can or should “breathe a sigh of relief,” cautioned Aracely Panameño, the Center for Responsible Lending’s Director of Latino Affairs.

“The latest data breach speaks to the lax cybersecurity systems currently in place at major financial institutions and national credit reporting agencies (NCRAs).”

Equifax, one of three NCRAs, waited two months to disclose its cybersecurity breach that occurred in July but was kept from the public until September that year. During that delay, 147 million unsuspecting consumers— the equivalent of 58 percent of the US adult population—did not know that their personal data—including federal income tax records, as well as employee records for government employees and those of Fortune 500 firms—was at risk. Nor did recipients of major government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security learn that they too were affected.

In response to Equifax’s mas-

sive cybercrime, a surge of 50 federal class action lawsuits were filed in at least 14 states and the District of Columbia in September 2017, following the public disclosure.

“This settlement is a slap on the wrist of Equifax,” continued Panameño. “The restitution fund is up to $425M, which is equivalent to $2.89 per impacted consumer (147M); the initial restitution fund is only $300M. The average monthly cost for credit monitoring is $20. These 147 American consumers will

have to worry about identity theft and financial fraud in perpetuity. Yet under the settlement agreement, consumers must request benefits by January 22, 2020.”

Similar reactions came from other consumer advocates.

“It’s disappointing but not unexpected that consumers face yet another breach of our sensitive financial information,” said Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC). “People should take the most effective measure to prevent identity theft involving new credit accounts by freezing their credit reports. It’s free as a result of a new law last year.”

According to NCLC, credit card

customers are not liable for any unauthorized use of over $50.

By contrast, consumers with bank accounts in most cases are not liable for unauthorized debit card or other electronic transactions so long as the fraudulent transaction are reported within 60 days of receiving their bank statement. Further, lost or stolen debit cards must be reported within two business day of learning of the loss or theft.

For Ed Mierzwinski, U.S. PIRG’s Federal Consumer Program Senior Director answers to consumer questions were also a key concern.

“How did this happen,”, asked Mierzwinski. “And how is Capital One going to prevent future breaches? We need answers to ensure that increasingly frequent, large breaches such as this, Equifax and others don’t become the new norm.”

Neither America, Canada the United Kingdom, or any other nation needs or wants yet another financial breach. Only time and additional investigations will reveal just how many more consumers may be affected by these or other delayed announcements.

“The hackers made out with all the data needed to wreak havoc in the lives of 147 million American consumers for the rest of their lives,” concluded Panameño. “They need remedies that are commensurate with that risk.”

(Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Communications Deputy Director. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.)

AUGUST 7-13, 2019

BUSINESS CALENDAR Chatham Workshop

AUG. 10—Chatham’s Women Business Center in partnership with SCORE Pittsburgh will present a Build Your Business Workshop for women interested in starting or expanding their business, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Eastside Campus, 6585 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh 15206.

Business experts and seasoned entrepreneurs will discuss the following topics: business planning, marketing and sales, financing, legal issues and business lessons learned.

A continental breakfast will be provided. Cost: $10.

For more information, call Anne Flynn Schlicht at 412-365-1448.

Training Program

AUG. 21 through SEPT. 25—The Chatham Women’s Business Center will offer “Concept to Launch” a six-week entrepreneurial training program for women in the early stages of starting a business, on six consecutive Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m., at Chatham Eastside, 6585 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh 15206.

Classes focus on: Developing a business concept; identifying target customers and markets; marketing strategies, basic financials and more. Cost for all classes is $95, but a limited number of need-base scholarships are available through a partnership with Bridgeway Capital. For more information, contact Anne Flynn Schlicht at 412-365-1448.

Duquesne Workshop

AUG. 28—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will host First Step: Business Essentials, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282.

This interactive workshop is designed to help new entrepreneurs and business startups to understand the first step of starting a new business. Topics covered include Business Structure and Formation, Fictitious Name Registration, Insurance, Environmental Concerns, Financing Options, Taxation Requirements, Major Components of the Business Plan, and Financial Statements & Projections. Cost: $25. For more information, call 412-3965884.

Cybersecurity Workshop

SEPT. 12—The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center will present Cyberscurity: Must-Haves for Small Businesses, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh 15282.

According to Forbes,43 percent of all breaches occurred at small businesses and ransomware attacks are on the rise.

However, many business owners are not sure of the steps they need to take. This workshop can get you started. Albert Whale, president -chief security officer, IT Security, Inc. will cover topics such as Data access authorization, Data back-up, Data storage, Identifying potential attacks, and Employee training. Cost: $35.

For more information, call 412-396-5884.

PowerBreakfast

SEPT. 20—The African American Chamber of Commerce returns from a two-month summer break with a presentation by California University of Pennsylvania President Geraldine Jones, 7:30 a.m. at the Rivers Club, Oxford Center, 301 Grant St., Pittsburgh 15219. Jones will give an overview of the university and of potential business opportunities for chamber members. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Call 412392-0610 for more information.

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OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Ronald Reagan’s secret past

Guest Editorial

Trump calls on Black preachers for help­— are they advisers or pawns?

Donald Trump isn’t the first president to call upon members of the clergy for guidance, assistance and support—and he certainly won’t be the last.

Most recently, Barack Obama leaned on the senior pastor of his hometown church in Chicago, Dr. Jeremiah Wright, with great frequency and aplomb—until some of Wright’s more controversial beliefs and statements caused such a backlash that Obama eventually found it prudent to distance himself from the “unapologetically Black” preacher.

Jimmy Carter didn’t need to seek solace from a man of the cloth as he himself was without question, a devout Christian and a man of unwavering faith—considered by many as the most religious president in American history. Even John F. Kennedy, a Catholic, gained accolades due to his decision to maintain an open and ongoing relationship with his family’s longtime priest.

But until a few days ago, Donald Trump had not been known as a president who spoke about his faith, God, the Church or who had a connection with any particular minister on whom he tended to rely upon when in need of advice or solace.

So, when word came on Monday, July 29, that he’d be meeting that day at the White House with a group of about 20 “Inner City Pastors” as he described them, we couldn’t help but question his motives. His aides have said the meeting had been initiated by Trump’s sonin-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, long before his recent fight with Rep. Elijah Cummings, in order to shore up African American votes next year.

But the timing seems a little too perfect. And even though public statements of support have come from folks like Alveda C. King, an anti-abortion proponent and a niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the Rev. Bill Owens, whose Coalition of African American Pastors group firmly opposes same-sex marriage, we hope that the Black community will not be so naïve as to follow Trump’s newly-formed “Squad” in lockstep without first thinking long and hard about such an important decision.

It is possible that Trump really met with the pastors to glean their advice. Perhaps he’s even open enough to follow said advice. But given what we’ve seen thus far, we can’t help but think that our Black brothers and sisters have served a purpose that we’ve seen occur throughout American history time and time…and time again. We don’t want to say they’ve sold out, but we fear that they’re little more than pawns—and that in short order they will be easily sacrificed in the name of victory in 2020.

(Reprinted from the Washington Informer)

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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Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Rob Taylor Jr.

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John. H. Sengstacke

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary Detroit at the Republican Convention and had an opportunity to size him up. I didn’t find him impressive either time. Yet, I knew people who treated him like he was a close second to God! I never thought of him as a particularly smart person; but until today many (White) people speak of him in glowing terms.

We can’t measure him against Joe Biden. They’re very different people.

Let’s measure him beside Donald Trump. Trump recently disrespected African leaders with very offensive terms. Mr. Reagan disparaged African delegates to the United Nations.

A few days ago, The Atlantic published an article where Reagan in one of his racist conversations with a questionable character named Richard Nixon tried to convince us when he got caught that he was not a crook!

Once Reagan vented his frustrations about African leaders to Nixon saying, “To see those monkeys from those African countries—damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes!”

As Trump was campaigning for President, he ran off statistics disparaging the way some Black people live. In an effort to get Black people’s support, he asked, “What have they got to lose?” Recently he referred to cities where there’re many Black people in derogatory terms. His reference to Baltimore as rat infested, and he couldn’t understand how any humans could live there—was his way of dehumanizing Black people. A few years earlier, Reagan claimed minorities were better off under him—just the way Trump says it.

Trump claims not to have a racist bone in his body, but it’s obvious there’s racism in his heart while accusing Cong. Elijah Cummings of being racist. Reagan was quoted as resorting to the old standby of turning the problem back to Black people because surely, he wasn’t racist! He challenged NAACP’S Dr. Ben Hooks to imagine looking into his (Reagan’s) heart, and he would find not a trace of prejudice or bigotry there! No, it’s always the fault of the accuser!

One of Reagan’s defenders denied that he was racist—just backward in some ways on racial issues! That sounds like racism to me. Listening to these secret tapes, maybe that statue at DCA should be retired to another place!

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is national president to the National Congress of Black Women, Inc.)

Biden’s cringeworthy backpedal on race signals weakness A criticism of former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign for president is that, at age 76, he may be too old to be running for president. His record of success at reaching the pinnacle of politics has been wrought with past failures, and some believed the moment had passed him by. But Donald Trump’s election, on the heels of a historic Barack Obama presidency—an event for which Biden, as vice president, enjoyed a catbird’s vantage—brought Biden’s centrist bona fides and street fighter style back to relevancy.

Biden—a guy who is not too far to the left, who has demonstrated the ability to bridge partisan divides and pass legislation, and who is not afraid to go toe-to-toe and blow-for-blow with President Trump—seemed like a viable candidate to beat Trump in 2020.

But then there is his history of making verbal gaffes. Despite his leadership on women’s issues and standing on the forefront of bringing LGBTQ rights to the mainstream, he is seen among his own party as being personally out of touch. It all came to the fore earlier this year when Biden got caught up in a truly absurd #MeToo debacle. As proof of his supposedly lecherous behavior toward women, a photo of him grasping hands and touching heads with rape survivor and women’s rights activist Sophie

Armstrong Williams

Commentary

Biden would not have had to work with them to get important civil rights legislation passed—including my mentor, former Sen. Strom Thurmond,R-S.C..

Harkening back to those early successes in reaching across the aisle to turn adversaries into allies—wasn’t that President Lincoln’s enduring advice about attaining political influence?—Biden spoke at a gathering in South Carolina. He said of segregationist senators: “I was in a caucus with James O. Eastland. He never called me ‘boy.’ He always called me ‘son.’ Herman Talmage, one of the meanest guys I ever knew—well, guess what? At least there was some civility. We got things done.”

One cannot imagine a more benign—and wise—approach to coalition-building than this.

But leave it up to the left, once again, to cry wolf when there’s no wolf in the room. Democratic rivals lined up to attack Biden in the most disrespectful of terms. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) demanded an apology and, when Biden initially refused, stating that his record on race speaks for itself, Booker countered: “What matters to me is that a guy running to be the head of our party…can’t even acknowledge that he made a mistake.

He knows better.”

Karasek made its rounds around the Internet—again.

It was such an innocuous and obvious attempt at empathy that, at the time it was first revealed, the photo went viral—not as proof of Biden’s “creepiness” but of his ability to connect with others’ pain and actually do something to help the plight of rape survivors. But leave it up to liberals to create revisionist history, if necessary, to find a male rapist in power around every corner.

The recent controversy surrounding Biden’s remarks about race is par for the course. They may prove that, if anything, Biden is not too old—but the rest of the Democrats may be too young. They are too young to remember the sacrifice and accommodation that civil rights leaders had to make with segregationists, who in fact were deeply entrenched in positions of power in America. It is complete(Reprinted from the New York Amsterdam ly naïve to believe that, as a rising politician in the early 1970s, Joe News.)

Trump threatens anti-fascists with being classified as ‘terrorists?’

(NNPA)—It should not surprise us that a person who would claim that there were “good people” among the fascist demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia would now move to classify an anti-fascist network as alleged “terrorists.” But that is precisely what “Agent Orange,” i.e., Donald Trump, has been intimating. Unfortunately, this is not comedic; it is deadly serious.

The network “Antifa” is a loose-knit grouping of anti-fascist activists with a range of ideological views, strategies and tactics. What binds them together, however, is zero tolerance towards fascists, neo-fascists, and other rightwing populists who threaten violence and other forms of intimidation.

Within the Republican Party, and assisted by Fox News, a chorus has arisen over the last year or so suggesting that the Antifa network is itself engaged in terrorism. Thus, when Antifa or any of its allies, defend protesters against intimidation, they, and not the fascists, are condemned by the likes of Trump, Ted Cruz, and various commentators on Fox News.

What makes this outrageous is that Trump’s own Justice Department has noted that the main domestic terrorist threat comes from White supremacists and neofascists, not from Muslim extremists or anyone on the

Bill Fletcher Jr.

Commentary

ers to free association, then turning the tables and claiming that the trade unionists were disturbing the peace.

There is so much nonsense thrown at us each day by the Trump administration, whether in the form of overt lies or racist provocations, e.g., smearing the city of Baltimore, that it is easy to become numb. We need to resist that impulse because it blinds us to the objectives of our adversaries. In this case, just as Trump uses the allegation of “racist” against the so-called “Squad” (the four Congresswomen of color Trump loves to hate) after he, himself, is charged with racism, Trump, et.al., use the allegation of terrorism against anti-fascists as a means of blurring the issue.

Let’s be clear. The objective of this administration is increased authoritarianism. It is utilizing racist provocations in order to succeed. It is an administration that is prepared to join hands with right-wing populist movements, including but not limited to neo-fascists, in order to crush dissent.

What better a way to do that than to blame the anti-fascists for chaos and intimidation, thereby sowing confusion and making it that much easier to crush his opponents.

Left. This finding is not new. During the Obama administration the threat from right-wing extremism was documented by the Department of Homeland Security, only to have said findings suppressed when Republican members of Congress suggested that this revelation was only serving the political objectives of Democrats. The facts, however, were never in dispute, as documented by non-governmental organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center.

This is an old trick being perpetrated

by Trump and his allies. It is akin to jailing and murdering Black activists who engaged in armed self-defense when attacked by extrajudicial mobs or by the police and blaming the former for violence. It is akin to the jailing and lynching of union organizers (Bill Fletcher Jr. is the former president of when they have defended their right to free speech and the right of work- TransAfrica Forum.)

Letters to the editor for publication

Allison Palm

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—While Presidential Candidate Joe Biden is struggling with being confronted with his past, let’s not forget that there were politicians with far worse records of racism than Joe. Most of us have been able to witness Joe’s evolution to become a better person. One might say, he learned from his experiences, and became someone who is much loved by many of the very people who were hurt by his earlier position on several issues such as criminal justice. I can forgive people who do better when they know better.

I think that describes Mr. Biden. I have no doubt that he has learned from the error of his ways and he has become a much better person. When you know better, you are charged with doing better, and I think that fits Mr. Biden. Surely President Barack Obama knew about Mr. Biden’s past, and still selected him to become his Vice-President. He turned out to be a good choice and that’s why so many Black people are now supporting him.

Now let’s take a look at another politician from not too long ago—President Ronald Reagan. He was our 40th President, and is often admired and quoted by many on both sides of the aisle. I was never impressed by him, but many were. I met Mr. Reagan in 1984 when I visited him at the White House with Grambling’s Coach Eddie Robinson. While I didn’t formally meet him then, I ran into him in

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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100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 August 8, 2019 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR ELEVATOR INSPECTIONS AUTHORITY WIDE REBID IFB#300-27-19-REBID

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Elevator Inspections Authority Wide Rebid IFB#300-27-19-REBID The documents will be available no later than July 29, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 11:00 A.M. on August 16, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at which time they will be opened and read aloud.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.

HACP.org.

Questions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116 Opt 1 A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 August 8, 2019 11:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

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LEGAL ADVERTISING

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Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFBs) FOR HOMEWOOD NORTH SPRINKLER FREEZE PROTECTION, AMP-20 HACP IFB NO. 600-21-19 REBID

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR INSPECTION, TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AUTHORITY WIDE IFB#300-25-19-REBID

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH will receive sealed bids for the Homewood North Sprinkler Freeze Protection, AMP-20 The construction work is estimated to begin in spring of 2020.

Bid Documents will be available on or about Monday, August 5, 2019 and may be obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s webpage, www.hacp. org. Bidders may register on the website and download the bid documents free of charge. Electronic versions of the Bid Documents, including bid forms, project manual, and drawings can be picked up in person, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement A Pre-Bid Conference and Site Visit will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.: Homewood North 901 Albertice St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208 A site visit will be conducted thereafter. Bidders shall come prepared to review all aspects of the construction site necessary to prepare a bid.

Bids will be received at: HACP Procurement Department 100 Ross Street, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Attn: Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement until 2:00 p.m. September 3, 2019 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH reserves the right to waive any informality in, or reject any and all bids.

No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the opening of bids without the consent of the HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for Federally Assisted Construction Contracts. The Contractor must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sexual preference, handicap or national origin.

HACP has revised its website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFP documentation.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH STRONGLY ENCOURAGES CERTIFIED MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO RESPOND TO THE SOLICITATION. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Kim Detrick, Director of Procurement at (412) 456-5116 Opt 1.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

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 September 4, 2019. Bids must be received in the hands of and clocked in by a PWSA Procurement Officer in sufficient time prior to the opening in order for a bid to be considered.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR 2019 WATER RELAY CONTRACT PWSA PROJECT NO. 2019-325-109-0 Work under this contract includes the reconstruction and relay of the PWSA public water system including water mains, valves, service connections, and hydrants.

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 August 28, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on August 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Authority’s conference room located at 1200 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15222. The purpose of this meeting is to give an overview of the contract requirements and to allow Bidders to ask questions.

Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten Percent (10%) of the bid for the project under construction. Said Bond shall be duly and legally executed with a Surety or Trust Company which has complied with City Ordinances/Resolutions relating thereto. A Performance Bond and Labor and Material Bond in the amount of 100% of the contract value for each awarded project will be required after award.

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 90 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.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby requests bids from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Sprinkler Systems Authority Wide Rebid IFB#300-25-19-REBID The documents will be available no later than August 5, 2019 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 A.M. on August 23, 2019 at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at which time they will be opened and read aloud.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-5116 Opt 1 A pre bid meeting will be held: Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Dept.

100 Ross Street 2nd. Fl. Ste. 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 August 15, 2019 10:00 A.M. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP’s has revised their website. As part of those revisions, vendors must now register and log-in, in order to view and download IFB/RFPs documentation.

Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

HACP conducts business in accordance with all federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, The PA Human Relations Act, etc. and does not discriminate against any individuals protected by these statutes.

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

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

Classifieds

TO PLACE AN AD IN SOUL READERS

412-481-8302 Ext. 140 E-mail: ads@newpittsburghcourier.com

The deadline for all ads to be placed is Monday at 4 p.m. All ads must be paid for in advance. We accept Money Orders, Credit Cards and Western Union “Quick Collect” payments.

Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

Call 412-481-8302, Ext. 140

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LEGAL ADVERTISING

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Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

INVITATION TO BIDDERS THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT 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 September 4, 2019.

INVITATIONS FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR UNIFORMS AND LAUNDRY, MATS AND SUPPLIES PWSA PROJECT NO. PWSA119 Work under this contract includes provisions of uniforms, laundering services, mats and supplies.

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, Sr. Contract Specialist, via e-mail: tsimpson@pgh2o.com, no later than August 28, 2019.

No bonds are required A pre-bid meeting will NOT be held.

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

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 August 28, 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) B190752A Axle Box Roller Bearings B190755 Special Trackwork Crossing Frogs B190427A1 Reman/Exchange/ New Cummins Turbochargers B190643A CCTV & Card Access System Maintenance B190753 LRV HVAC Micro Control Cards B190533AR Air Channels - LRV 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 August 14, 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.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

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50 of 61 homicides Black lives; 11 of 12 July victims Black HOMICIDES FROM A1

homicide detectives at 412-3237161.

JULY 11—Christopher Lamont Lowman Jr., an 18-year-old Black male, was found in the 100 block of Millbridge Street in Allentown with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JULY 11—Dauminique Ross, a 20-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times when he answered a knock at the door of his parents’ house on 16th Avenue in Homestead. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

Police arrested 24-year-old Rahim Thomas after finding him hiding in a home on 8th Avenue the next day.

JULY 13—Delquay Lamont James, a 21-year-old Black male, was found shot multiple times near a vacant home on Beacon Street near Hazel Way in McKeesport. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County detectives have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tip Line at 1-833-255-8477.

JULY 14—Joshua A. Makhanda-Lopez, a 30-yearold Black male, was found by police in his car with a gunshot wound to the head in an apartment parking lot in Penn Hills.

Witnesses told police two men fled the scene to a nearby house.

Three people came out of the house, but police said Onaje Dickinson, a 20-year-old Black male, hid in the basement and fired at an officer when discovered.

The officer returned fire, killing Dickinson. Allegheny County detectives have charged 15-year-old Myzle Ford as an adult in connection with the Makhanda-Lopez killing.

JULY 17—Calvin Hall, a 36-year-old Black male, died in the hospital three days after being shot in the back multiple times on Monticello Street in Homewood. The off-duty Pittsburgh police officer was walking away after trying to defuse an argument between neighbors and his cousin’s wife when he was shot. Christian Bey, 30, has been charged with Hall’s murder.

JULY 22—Matthew Khoury, a 37-year-old White male, was fatally shot at a Garfield building he owned when an argument with one of his tenants over back rent escalated. The tenant, 49-year-old Michael Wolf, has been charged in the case.

JULY 23—Omari Ali Thompson, a 31-year-old Black male, was killed in a shootout with undercover officers from the state attorney general’s office during a drug buy/bust in the Big Lots parking lot on McKnight Road in Ross Township. One of the officers was wounded in the exchange but is expected to recover.

The district attorney’s office is investigating.

JULY 27—Tareef DelTae McClellan, a 22-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in the head inside the garage of a home in the 1500 block of Versailles Avenue in McKeesport.

County police have not yet identified a suspect and are asking anyone with information to call the Tip Line at 1-833-255-8477.

JULY 27—Rev. Sheldon Stoudemire, a 57-year-old Black male, was fatally shot at the Northside Common Ministries shelter on Brighton Road on the North Side after he refused entrance to 19-year-old Gerald Adams because it was after admittance hours. Pittsburgh police said there is surveillance video showing Adams firing through a window at the side of the door.

He was arrested after a brief foot chase and is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

JULY 29—Darius Savaughn Freeman a 26-year-old Black male, was found by police responding to a ShotSpotter alert in the 1200 Block of Faulkner Street in Sheraden. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call

Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

June Homicides (13) JUNE 1—Jordan Emanuel Lewis, a 22-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times on the porch of a home in the 7500 block of Ellesmere Avenue in Swissvale. According to Allegheny County Police, Charlton Mitchell, 21, admitted to shooting the victim who, during a party earlier in the evening, had taken Mitchell’s gun from him and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t leave. Mitchell said he retrieved a semi-automatic rifle he’d placed in the bushes behind a nearby business, returned and shot Lewis. A 19-year-old female and a 24-year-old male were also injured by bullet fragments during the shooting. Mitchell is in the Allegheny County Jail.

JUNE 2—Ciquann Dudley Jr., a 17-yearold Black male was found in the 1300 block of Tube Works Alley in McKeesport with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County Police said in a press release they do not know yet why the victim was in such a remote location, nor do they have a motive. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

JUNE 3—David Herbin, a 49-year-old Black male was inside a home on Laketon Road in Wilkinsburg with a gunshot wound to the head. He died later at the hospital. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Tariq Price, 39, who was recently released from jail. Price faces robbery and homicide charges.

JUNE 11—Marion White, a 49-year-old Black male, was fatally shot after an argument escalated and Alonzo Terrel Glen, 27, shot him four times. Glen turned himself in to police a week later. He is now in the county jail.

JUNE 12—Tyrese Smith, a 20-yearold Black male, and Alexus N. Chester, a 17-year-old Black female who was celebrating her birthday, were both killed when an as yet unidentified person opened fire at a house rented for the party on McNeil Place in Pittsburgh’s Upper Hill neighborhood. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JUNE 17—Whiney Maleeca Lyn Boyer, a 25-yer-old Black female, was discovered in the basement of a Maple Street house in East Pittsburgh, after 28-year-old Delrico McClinton confessed the crime to a counsellor at the Cambria County Prison.

JUNE 20—James Rust, a 49-year-old White male, was fatally shot following an argument with his neighbor at a duplex on Horning Road in Bethel Park. The neighbor has not been identified because no charges have yet been filed.

JUNE 21—Gerald Dwain Walker, a 41-year-old Black male, was discovered bleeding from multiple stab wounds at a home in the 2100 block of Perrysville Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Perry, he dies later at the hospital. Maneca Pressley, 29, was arrested less than a day later and charged in his death. According to the criminal complaint, the couple had been arguing all day. Pressley told police Walker had assaulted her multiple times. The last time he lunged at her, she stabbed him then called 911. She is currently in the county jail.

JUNE 22—Kaine Williams, a 34-year-old Black male, was killed in the 1800 block of Sumac Street in McKeesport when Marcus Acie-Griffin, 26, got out of his white Acura with a shotgun and fired at Williams. Acie-Griffin was taken into custody after leading police on a chase through several communities before crashing over a hill in West Mifflin. He is now in the county jail.

JUNE 25—Corey Laguardia, a 22-yearold White male, was shot multiple times by a homeowner after he forced his way into a house in the 1000 block of Starr Road in Crescent Township. No charges have been filed.

JUNE 26—Christian St. John Jenkins, a 27-year-old Black male was found with multiple gunshot wounds lying in Truax Way in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Within minutes, police also responded to a second shooting a block away on Lowrie Street. That victim was last reported in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. Police have not said if the shootings are related, nor have they identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

JUNE 29—Octavia Stone, a 22-year-old Black Female, was found with multiple stab wound on Bessemer Way in East Pittsburgh.

She was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital. Though a suspect has not been named state police said Stone knew her killer. Anyone with information is urged to call the state police at 412-299-1607 May Homicides (16) MAY 1—Jakeem Booker, a 19-year-old Black male, was fatally shot while trying to force his way into a Franklin Avenue home in Wilkinsburg over a dispute with one of the occupants. Police found him on the porch with a gunshot wound to the head. Allegheny County detectives said a 17-year-old in the house feared for his family and fired one shot though the partially open door. No charges have yet been filed.

MAY 8—Bryan Jackson, a 31-year-old Black male, was found fatally shot in a home at 127 McKinne Ave. in Stowe Township after giving 25-year-old Terrence Murphy a tattoo.

County police found and arrested Murphy at a house in Ambridge later that day. He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting trial.

MAY 8—Irvin Green, a 48-year-old Black male was fatally stabbed during an altercation in the 1200 block of Evans Avenue in McKeesport. Police have not identified a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call the

Tipline at 833-255-8477.

MAY 9—James Dent Jr., an 85-year-old Black male, who was shot in the back in October inside a store next to a daycare on Jones Avenue in North Braddock, died of his injuries. Courde Daye, 20, was arrested for the shooting in December and will now face homicide charges.

MAY 9—Tre Valorie, a 26-year-old White male, was fatally shot in the head when his girlfriend’s obsessed ex, Matthew Lambert, allegedly carried out his threat to “kill anyone she was with” as the couple left Rumerz bar on Pittsburgh Northside. He is awaiting trial in the county jail.

MAY 11—Mary Kornick, a 62-year-old White female, died at Allegheny General Hospital after being shot on Route 365 in Buffalo Township in what police said was a murder-suicide. Her alleged killer Nicholas Domek, 72, killed himself at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Greenfield shortly thereafter.

MAY 12—Luke Connolly, a 51-year-old White male, was found fatally stabbed multiple times in an apartment on Third Avenue in Carnegie. A woman who was in the apartment was also stabbed before fleeing to get help.

She remains hospitalized. Police arrested 58-year-old Richard Mickens at a home on Spikenard Street in Scott, where he allegedly assault someone else with a knife, May 15. He is charged with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, rape, and several other charges. He is in the county jail awaiting trial.

MAY 15—Ivan Walls, a 45-year-old Black male from Philadelphia, was discovered by police shot multiple times behind a house on Karl Avenue in Duquesne. He died later at the hospital. County detectives say the victim and another man had just arrived at the house when shots were fired. Police are searching for the second man and have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8477.

MAY 19—Aris Payto Barclay Vann, a 22-year-old Black male, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on a porch of a home in the 2200 block of Woodstock Avenue in Swissvale. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County Homicide Inspector Andrew Schurman said the victim was there to visit friends and may have been the target of a robbery attempt. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8417.

MAY 24—Morgan Dunston, a 17-year-old Black female, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community Church on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Police do not believe she was the intended target.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 24—Michael McDonald, a 51-yearold White male, was killed when he barged into the Robinson Township home of a man he allegedly owed money to. The homeowner fired his shotgun, hitting McDonald in the chest. As yet no charges have been filed.

MAY 26—Ernest Dixson, a 31-year-old Black Male, was fatally shot inside Shooters bar on Island Avenue in Stowe Township after getting into an argument with another patron.

Police (have issued a warrant/arrested Omar Harris, 36.)

MAY 27—Isaac Harrison, a 34-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on Chauncy Drive in Pittsburgh’s Hill District after an argument escalated into gunfire. A 15-year-old girl was also wounded in the foot in the incident. Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412323-7161.

MAY 28—William Mosby, a 62-year-old Black male, was found with fatal gunshot wounds in a parking lot in the 1800 block of Homeville Road in West Mifflin. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 833-255-8417.

MAY 28—James Donovan Goodwine, a 29-year-old Black male, was found by police fatally shot in the head near the intersection of Forest Way and Collier Street in Homewood. Police have not identified a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

MAY 28—Richard Lee Greene, a 35-yearold Black male, was found by city police lying in Chartiers Avenue in Sheraden. He had been shot multiple times and died at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

April Homicides (6) APRIL 3—Vernon Lee Owens III, a 33-year-old Black male, was fatally shot by a 72-year-old jitney driver during a failed armed robbery in Duquesne. According to police, shortly after the driver picked up Owens and another passenger, he struck the driver with his gun and demanded money. When they both got out of the car, the driver shot Owens with his own gun. The other passenger fled.

Police have determined that the driver legally owned the gun used in the shooting and had a valid concealed-carry permit. No charges will be filed.

APRIL 7—Alison Fritzius, a 55-year-old White female, was found fatally stabbed on the porch of a home in the 800 block of Broadway Boulevard in Pitcairn. Police charged her boyfriend Derrick Avant in her death. He is awaiting trial in the Allegheny County Jail.

APRIL 8—Mark Jackson, a 39-year-old Black male, was found shot in the face in a house in the 600 block of Winfield Street in Larimer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have charged Robert Harper in the shooting. Harper was already in the county jail on unrelated criminal charges.

APRIL 10—Brad Lee Lucier, a 23-year-old White male, was found by first responders shot multiple times at a house in the 1000 block of Dohrman Street in Stowe Township.

He died at the hospital. On April 15, 18- yearold Tomichael Sherrell turned himself in after

police issued a warrant charging Sherrell had shot Lucier during a robbery. Sherrell is now in the county Jail.

APRIL 13—Ameer Coleman, a 19-yearold Black male, was found fatally shot inside a house in the 200 block of Fern Street in Garfield. Police have not yet identified a suspect.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7161.

APRIL 26—Armani Ford, a 23-year-old Black male was found by police fatally shot in a house in the 800 block of Vankirk Street in Clairton. County detectives have not yet identified a suspect and are asking anyone with information to call the Tipline at 1-833255-8477.

March Homicides (5) MARCH 15—Leslie Robertson, a 72-yearold Black male, was killed when he was struck by a car driven by Kakiia Williams, 33, outside the Harrison Village housing complex in McKeesport. Williams allegedly told police she was trying to run down someone else and hit the wrong person. She is now in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 18—Daniel Carpenter, a 42-yearold Black male died in the hospital one day after being shot while sitting in his car on Shetland Street in Larimer in the middle of the afternoon. Despite eye-witnesses and possible surveillance footage, Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is urged to call 412-323-7161.

MARCH 28—Calvin Walker, a 39-yearold Black male, was fatally shot when he and another man got into an argument over a parking space with Neil Chandler, 42, on West Oak Street in Homestead. Police said Chandler shot both men during the altercation. Walker died late at the hospital the other man was treated and released. Chandler is in the Allegheny County Jail.

MARCH 30—Kenneth Baptiste Jr., a 27-year-old Black male, was found by Pittsburgh police and emergency responders with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 800 block of Murtland Avenue in Homewood. He was transported to UPMC Presbyterian but died from his wounds. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Homicide at 412-323-7161.

MARCH 30—Andre Jordan, a 41-year-old Black male, was found by Pittsburgh police and emergency responders with multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway of an apartment in the 3000 block of Cordell Place in Arlington.

He was taken to UPMC Mercy where he died from his injuries. Police are asking anyone with information to call 412-323-7161.

February Homicides (4) FEB. 2—Tre-Quan Embry, a 22-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times in the head on East 17th Street in Homestead. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Allegheny County detectives have not yet identified a suspect and ask anyone with information to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

FEB. 4—Aaron Wade, an 18-year-old Black male from Munhall, was found lying in the front yard of a home on Plymouth Street in Duquesne Heights with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Pittsburgh homicide detectives have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

FEB. 18—Norman Clarence Manuel, a 37-year-old Black male, was discovered by medics lying in the street in the 400 block of Enright Court in East Liberty with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh homicide detectives at 412-323-7800.

FEB. 25—Wilbert Barber, a 58-year-old Black male, was fatally shot when answering the doorbell of a home in the 300 block of Fifth Avenue in Rankin. County police said the killers fired through the door, hitting him twice. They have not yet identified any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

January Homicides (5) JAN. 9—Jonathan Freeman, a 16-yearold Black male, was fatally shot when bullets tore through the wall of a friend’s house in the 7300 block of Susquehanna Street in Homewood where he’d gone to play video games.

Pittsburgh police have not yet identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

JAN. 11––Josiah Battle-Davis, a 26-yearold Black male, was found fatally shot in an SUV parked in the 200 block of Glenwood Avenue in Hazelwood. Pittsburgh police have not identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 412-323-7800.

JAN. 14—Tremaine Solomon, a 30-yearold Black male, was found by Wilkinsburg police shot multiple times lying in the street in the 1500 block of Marlboro Avenue. He died at the hospital three hours later. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Allegheny County police tipline at 1-833-255-8477.

JAN. 23––Heather Short, a 46-year-old White female, was allegedly strangled to death with an extension cord and dumped in a wooded area near Sutersville in Westmoreland County in November. Allegheny county police arrested Dale Cooper, 36, of West Mifflin after her remains were found.

Police said he admitted killing her because he feared she would tell a drug dealer he had robbed of $700 and an ounce of crack that it was him. Cooper is in the county jail awaiting trial.

JAN. 26—Paul McMillan, a 48-year-old Black male, was shot multiple times in the parking lot of The Lounge on Verona in Penn Hills after getting into a fight with another man inside the bar, according to Allegheny County police. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to the tipline at 1-833-2558477.

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What goes up, must come down, but when?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—President Barack Obama and his team masterfully designed an economic recovery from the George W. Bush-induced Great Recession of 2008. The man who now leads our country inherited the Obama recovery and claims credit for our robust economy whenever he opens his mouth. There are signs that the ten-year expansion is slowing, and that our 45th President may be squandering the gift President Obama gave him.

There is much to object to about 45’s Presidency—his hateful racial rhetoric, his attacks on women and people of color, his appointment of extremely young and inexperienced members of the federal judiciary, his rollback of environmental protections, his attacks on public education and more. But his economic stewardship, an arena he claims to have mastered, is as repulsive as his non-economic stewardship.

Indeed, many of his minions have, albeit gently, criticized the ways he has managed the economy.

His trade wars, especially with China, may stand at the top of the list. He says that China will pay when he, most recently, announced that he would impose a ten percent tariff on $300 billion worth of imports from China. The Chinese won’t pay. US consumers will. And US producers and manufacturers will also pay when China retaliates against us, as they have promised to do. To be sure, China has

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary been a “bad actor” in trade relationships with the United States. But 45’s intemperate and ill-advised tantrum will not only affect many in the United States (including farmers, manufacturers, and consumers) but may also play a role in slowing down the world economy.

For the first time in a decade, the Federal Reserve has reduced the interest rate by a quarter-point. Cutting the interest rate during the early recovery from the Great Recession was an effective way to lower the cost of money and, theoretically, put more money into the economy for expansion. In reality, cheaper money didn’t trickle down to homeowners or consumers, but it did generate GDP growth. Now, growth is slowing, partly because of Trump’s trade wars, and partly because his tax cuts have not trickled down and people don’t have as much money to spend as they’d like. Interest rate cuts are a clear sign that our nation’s bankers are not confident that economic expansion will continue to be robust.

Many of 45’s allies tout low unemployment rates as evidence of economic strength. And the July 3.7 percent unemployment rate, unchanged from June is, indeed, a ten year low. The Black unemployment rate, too, is at an all-time low. And last month, 164,000 more jobs were created, labor force participation rose, and the number of discouraged workers declined. Why aren’t some of us celebrating? Firstly, because wage growth is slow. In a tight labor market, with low unemployment rates, wages should be increasing by more than the 3 percent annual rate they are growing at now. Further, although there is slight improvement in labor force participation, and fewer workers holding part-time work for economic reasons, tepid wage growth suggests that while jobs are available, they aren’t necessarily good-paying jobs. What does it take to increase wages?

Slow wage growth and a slowing economy are likely to lead to a new recession. Economist Heather Boushey says that increasing inequality makes a recession more possible than it otherwise might be. And this administration does not mind increasing inequality.

Most recently, they have proposed cuts to food stamp programs that will leave at least three million people – low-income workers and their children, people with disabilities and some older Americans, vulnerable to hunger. The Senate just passed a budget that will increase military spending by more than $750 billion and will cut spending on food.

Economic expansion depends on people spending money, and too many have little to spend. The food stamp cuts give some even less. Increased prices of good imported from China gives them less to spend. And the Administration team that touts economic strength, on the one hand, is undermining both growth and poverty alleviation, on the other.

What goes up must come down. Can the 45 economic team manipulate the economy to continue expansion through the 2020 election, or will attacks on the poor result in less spending, less expansion, and an economic catastrophe?

(Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist.)

There is not a racist bone in my body (NNPA)—In America is picking a 2019, most Blacks side. The four ConRoger Caldwell and people of gresswomen at the color would like beginning of the week to believe that, called a press confer“There is Not a ence to denounce the Racist Bone in President and asked My Body” was an for a draft to be drawn accurate stateup to condemn Presment in America. ident Trump’s racist With the first language and tweets.

African American The resolution was President, Black businesses in every passed in the House last week to conmajor city, and Black political officials demn the President. in federal, state, and local municiThe amazing issue about this battle is palities, diversity is a reality. With that over 40 percent of Americans beall these achievements in one of the lieve that the President is correct, and greatest countries in the world, there at a campaign rally during the week, a is a major divide. packed house with the majority being This major divide is based on the White Republicans chanted, “Send her color of an individuals’ skin, which back.” makes no sense, until you study ecoWith the media claiming that Presnomics, politics, and business. Power ident Trump initiated and supported is based on what you own and control, the yelling, the President is being and if you close your eyes, power may forced by the Vice President and some also be based on what you take by of his consultants to distance himself force. from the chant. “After smearing Rep. Last week, President Trump attacked IIhan Omar, D-Mn., as anti-Semitic— four freshmen federal Congresswomen and letting the crowd at his Greenby claiming they are un-American, they ville, North Carolina rally roar “send should go back to their country, and her back” for more than 10 seconds— everyone is asking the question, “why?” President Trump has falsely claimed This started as a tweet-storm on that he continued his speech immediately weekend, and it has turned into a nasty after the crowd started yelling,” says battle of words, where the majority of Tana Ganervo—reporter at Raw the media is calling President Trump a Story. “racist.” This tweet-storm appeared to Send her back is a turning point, be racist and personal, very little was “With Trump’s naked hatred and discussed by the president about the cruelty captured on live television, and ladies’ policies. along with it, so was the seething anger “In America, if you hate our Country, of the hard-core Trump base. The whole you are free to leave. The simple fact nation saw in dramatic fashion that of the matter is, the four CongressTrump voters understood his meaning women think America is even more perfectly well and watched them not wicked now, that we are all racist and just agree with it but also amplify it, evil. They’re entitled to their opinion, with as ugly and hate-curdled a chant they’re Americans. Now I’m entitled as one could imagine.” to my opinion, & I just think they’re Racism in 2019 is out in the open, left wing cranks,” says President with the election of President Trump Trump. leading the way. It is easy to argue It is obvious, that the first thing what constitutes the act, and whether the President thinks comes out of his someone is a racist sometimes. But mouth, and it does not matter if it President Trump does not care what makes any sense. The president is not Blacks and people of color think. fit or mentally stable to manage AmerHe is only concerned with his base, ica as Commander-in chief, but over 40 and he feeds them red meat on a daily percent think he is doing a good job. basis. There is something fundamentalAs this new social media and camly wrong when the president does not paign rally from the President attacked care about values and inappropriate the four Congresswomen escalates to statements, because his goal is to only a higher level of insanity, everyone in make America White again.

Commentary

The president disrespects majority-Black congressional district (This is a paroand hear The Presdy of events only ident referring to J. Pharoah Doss George Schuythem as poor souls.” ler would have Professor Lamont attempted—or a started to cry. fool.)

After a hug from During a recent the hostess, Profescongressional sor Lamont continhearing, Black ued, “The leading Democratic factor of the social Congressman ills in Black and Lincoln Abraham Brown communities condemned Republican bureaucrats for is the right-wing indoctrination of detheir poor handling of the latest crisis spair spearheaded by The President.” manufactured by The President. ConThe one Democratic presidential gressman Abraham also told reporters, candidate polling under 0.5 percent “The President is a pompous, ignoraheld a press conference and said, “The mus, and his anti-immigrant, xenopho- President has reduced the English bic, policies are deplorable.” language to a racist, ethnocentric, The President heard about Congressdialect for White nationalist only. man Abraham’s remarks after a— In protest of the bastardization of Make America, America Again—rally, America’s mother tongue I will speak where audience members were given in Spanish for the duration of my advanced reader copies of The Presicampaign.” dent’s re-election manual titled —The The chairperson of the Democratic Art of Unsportsmanlike Conduct, and Party’s majority-minority district The President tweeted: Congressman fundraising committee said, “Lincoln Lincoln Abraham is a disgrace. His en- Abraham is a model congressman of tire district is a hell hole. Not exactly color. He has a model majority-mihell, but close. Hell is a godforsaken, nority district and Congressman demonic place, infested with poor souls, Abraham is a role model for poor boys no good human being would want to of color inside and outside of majoribe there. But good, decent people don’t ty-minority districts. Hopefully, the want to live in Congressman Abraham’s President’s bigotry will encourage the disenfranchised in blue states the district either.

Russian’s helped The President turn Fact check: Congressman Abraham’s red to exercise their right to vote, entire district is not a “hell hole.” 10 because the 2020 presidential elecpercent of the district is affluent and tion will be a national referendum on another 40 percent are middle class. racism.”

Across the country, newspaper headA conservative talk radio host comlines said: plained that the Democratic chairperPresident disrespects majority-Black son’s use of the term “poor boys of color” congressional district President calls majority-Black district was more racist than the term “poor soul,” then questioned if the terms were a godforsaken demonic place racist at all.

President says majority-Black disThe Democratic chairperson issued tricts are infested with poor souls a statement: As chairperson of the The hostess of Good Morning USA majority-minority district fundraising discussed “The President’s unprocommittee I don’t have the power to be voked attack on Congressman Abramore racist than The President. And if ham and majority-minority districts” the radio host can’t distinguish between with Professor of Marginalized “poor boys of color” which is an intersecStudies, Lionel Malik Lamont. Protional identity and “poor soul” which is fessor Lamont told the television audience, “This President is the most a label of inferiority then the radio host is a White supremacist, and the radio racist president—period. His latest station’s advertisers should be boycotremarks are so vicious and vile they ted. even outrank the racist diatribes of The President Tweeted: A national segregationist George Wallace. By referendum on racism? I guess Demoreferencing—poor souls —The Prescrats never heard Aesop’s fable about ident has attacked black and brown the crying wolf boy. people at the very core of their exisThe Democratic chairperson tweeted tence to dehumanize them. The term back: Aesop was a liar and a racist. “poor soul” is alt-right code-switch #2020 National Referendum on Racism. for the N-word and other racial slurs The President Tweeted: Good luck that denigrate people of color. Imagwith that. ine marginalized children growing (J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New up in majority-minority districts and Pittsburgh Courier.) these poor children turn on the TV

Check It Out

AUGUST 7-13, 2019

B7

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Commentary Why do White mass killers always seem to live another day?

Connor Betts, the mass shooter in Dayton, Ohio is an anomaly. He is an anomaly not because he murdered nine persons less than 24 hours after Patrick Crusius massacred 20 in El Paso. He is different because he was gunned down by Dayton police. That’s not the usual pattern. The pictures of Crusius being gently handcuffed and calmly being talked to by arresting officers after his rampage stood in stark and infuriating contrast to the picture of Eric Garner being body slammed to the pavement by NYPD officers and choked to death by an officer.

Garner was unarmed, harming no one, no hint of any racial or hate animus, yet he is dead. Crusius was armed to the teeth, committed mass murder, there is an alleged manifesto in which he spewed hate against illegal immigrants, most notably Hispanics, yet he is very much alive. The photos of Garner being violently assaulted by a phalanx of NYPD officers and Crusius’s kid glove treatment by El Paso officers has been looped on social media with many eyebrows raised. The operative words that are also looped repeatedly in the coverage of the mass murders was that Crusius surrendered “without incident.” Garner unfortunately never had that opportunity, and he’s dead.

The El Paso and Dayton mass killings came just days after FBI director Christopher Wray announced what has been repeatedly well documented. That’s that most of the acts of domestic terrorism have been committed by young White males and there’s a direct link between their acts and White supremacy groups or at the very least an addiction to White supremacist propaganda tracs, websites, and literature.

In more than a few cases, FBI and other law enforcement agencies had early warnings about some of the mass killers. But they still walked free. That freedom cost lives, another community ripped apart in agony, and the by now all too familiar soul search about how this could happen. Federal and local enforcement officials have been no help in giving an answer.

They bemoan the obvious fact that White nationalist groups have surged in the nation and much of the surge has happened right under their noses. Their answer is tantamount to a throw up of the hands when they flatly said they have no real answer to the threat other than make arrests when they can.

There’s no mystery why the impotence in response to the grave threat guys like Crusius pose. He is White, male, educated, and if his rantings are to be believed an America firster. He has the right racial and social pedigree that immunized him from profiling, surveillance, scrutiny, and, judging from his repeated arrest record, vigorous prosecution, conviction, and a lengthy stretch behind bars.

Countless surveys and studies have repeatedly shown that that there’s no such rarified pass from scrutiny for Black, or Hispanic males. Garner is the obvious proof of that. The only time officials have slapped the domestic terror threat on organizations and have used every weapon, legal and illegal, to destroy the alleged domestic threat were to groups such as the Black Panthers, and other Black militant organizations. They had no problem figuring out what to do about them and that’s eliminate them.

The pattern is always predictably the same in the inevitable avalanche of news clips, press reports and news features on men such as Crusius in the aftermath of their murderous attack. They are described as “troubled,” “a loner,” ‘hostile,” and “no clue he was dangerous.” Trump after one such mass murder jumped in with the stock characterizations reserved for White mass killers, as “mentally disturbed,” “bad and erratic behavior,” and with what’s hardly the revelation of the ages “a big problem.”

The Charlottesville, Virginia rampage by assorted White nationalist groups in August 2017, should have sounded loud the alarm bell that White nationalist and White supremacist groups have touched the delusional and loose wires in the heads of a more than a few impressionable, distraught, alienated, and unhinged, young White males. They have easy access to the big killer guns, and stocks of ammo. They are not routinely profiled by police. So, they can take pictures with guns, parade with guns publicly, and blast away at rifle ranges or at training sites. They have no fear of exposure or arrest.

The painful fact is that Crusius is an integral part of this sordid American saga. He could easily be the neighbor next door, the parent at a PTA meeting at a local school, or church, and always a resident of a largely White suburban community. This makes it a near impossibility to turn the mirror inward and admit that that kid who many merely write off as an eccentric, a loner, or just a plain odd ball, could easily turn into a mass killer.

Trump issued the obligatory statement condemning the El Paso carnage. This came just days after he spent an entire week and before that practically an entire presidential campaign railing at the peril of illegal immigrants. The same peril Crusius allegedly ranted about. A connection between the two?

Whether there is or not, Crusius and Betts will not be labeled a perennial menaces to society, or terror threats. The pass they and men like them continue to get remain firmly in their pocket and that’s why Crusius lives another day and Betts is an anomaly.

(Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.)

B8

SPORTS

AUGUST 7-13, 2019

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Ben made Tomlin? Kiner the greatest Pirate ever??

Pittsburgh sports host Mark Madden has it all wrong Hello all you successful rich new millennium millionaires out there in the “twitter-verse.” Are all of you self-made? Well, according to yourdictionary. com, self-made means, “something that is made by oneself or someone who has become successful through his own efforts.”

I have extracted a few excerpts from the deranged mind of Mark “mad dog” Madden that was posted online on July 26. The title of this round of Madden’s dumpster diving was: “WHEN BEN QUITS,

lin hasn’t had a starting quarterback besides Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger made a lot of receivers. He made Tomlin, too.”

There is an old saying about garbage that goes something like this. “One man’s garbage is another man’s gold.”

However in many of the perverted and distorted rants of Monsieur Madden most of his thoughtless gobbledygook is doomed to remain an “intellectual dumpster,” forever defying any “rhyme or reasoning.” Hmm, Ben Roethlisberger “made” Mike Tomlin as a coach. The “his-

Inside Conditions

Aubrey Bruce TOMLIN QUITS.” Madden wrote this: “Mike Tomlin will definitely be the Steelers coach through 2021. Ben Roethlisberger is signed to be the Steelers quarterback through 2021.

When Roethlisberger quits, Tomlin quits. The Steelers organization might see that as a good time for an extensive reboot, anyway. Tom-

tory whisperer” tells me that is pure nonsense.

Herein lies a few nuggets of Mike Tomlin’s NFL coaching history. Tomlin was hired as the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001. When the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003, the team recorded a Super Bowl-record five intercep-

tions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

As great as Steelers NFL Hall of Fame coach Dick LeBeau was (and he remains one of my idols) LeBeau never coached a defense that snatched five picks in a Super Bowl, with three interceptions returned for touchdowns. Did Ben Roethlisberger help Mike Tomlin be a better coach in that decisive Super Bowl XXXVII Tampa Bay victory?

The short, medium and long answer to that question is, “hell to the negative.”

Did Mike Tomlin coach Ben Roethlisberger to throw two ill-advised picks in Super Bowl XLV, a game that Pittsburgh lost by a mere 6 points by the score of 31-25? Negative?

If it wasn’t for former Steelers linebacker James Harrison returning a 100yard interception back for a touchdown shortly before halftime coupled with a “non-coachable,” miracle toe-tappin’ touchdown catch

by Santonio Holmes just before the game concluded, the Steelers might have been crying in their beer as the losers of Super Bowl XLIII. Another tidbit from the compost archives of Mark Madden was the following jewel: “Ralph Kiner is greatest Pirates player in history.” Madden wrote: “John Steigerwald says;

MARK MADDEN ‘if Roberto Clemente had played in any park besides spacious Forbes Field, he would have hit 900 home runs.’”

Mark Madden goes on to say this: “But the greatest Pirate ever is none of the

In seven seasons with the Bucs Kiner stole seven bases. Seven! The Pirates won two World Series with Clemente! Madden used to even consider himself a political pundit saying this in 2008 about the late Sen.Ted

“Let’s get real. Bill Nunn Jr. discovered many of the Steelers’ hidden diamonds…Bill Nunn Jr. was the diamond miner and Chuck Noll was the diamond cutter but neither could take credit for the other one’s achievements.

They both did their jobs. Mark Madden should follow their lead, shut his big mouth and do his job.” above.

It’s Ralph Kiner. The Pirates finished last three times and second-to-last twice during Kiner’s seven full seasons with the team.”

Kennedy when he was diagnosed with brain cancer; “I’m very disappointed to hear that Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain

tumor. I always hoped Sen. Kennedy would live long enough to be assassinated.”

He was fired for those unsavory remarks but did not remain unemployed very long. He now kinda shies away from politics now probably for employment’s sake.

Madden is not a garbage picker, he is a garbage creator.

Let’s get real. Bill Nunn Jr. discovered many of the Steelers’ hidden diamonds; players such as; Joe Greene, John Stallworth, LC. Greenwood, Mel Blount and Donny Shell. Bill Nunn Jr. was the diamond miner and Chuck Noll was the diamond cutter but neither could take credit for the other one’s achievements.

They both did their jobs.

Mark Madden should follow their lead, shut his big mouth and do his job.

The Steelers will win 12 games and the AFC North! :10—All you non-believers, doubters, pretenders…and let’s call it like it is…you wannabe Cleveland fans. Hear this and hear it loud and clear.

Your Pittsburgh Steelers will win 12 games, win the AFC North Division, and challenge for the Super Bowl. And that you can take to the bank! :09—Reason why? Here you go. #1. Big Ben has slimmed down and spent the offseason working on his upper core and throwing motion. #2. Call it running back by committee, if you want. But the reality is we now have three backs that are hungry, ready to go, and not complaining: James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, and Benny Snell. All different skill sets keep to the defenses guessing. #3.

Best “O-line” in football. #4.

Best sack defense in football. #5. A receiving group

that has a ton to prove. :08—Yes, Little Johnny, there are plenty holes to fill! #1. Ben can-not-throwuntimely interceptions (not that there are timely ones). #2. James Conner, “I love you man” and I got your back, but you’ve got to hold onto the ball. #3. “D-line” stop the run…when you have to stop the run. #4.

We’re sure about Devin Bush, the new linebacker.

It’s the other linebackers we have to be sure of. #5.

Of course Joe Haden is a “stop it all corner,” but the D-backs across the board have a lot to prove. :07—A belated but nonetheless very important shout out to the heaven for the late, great Connie “The Hawk” Hawkins. Born July 14 in Brooklyn, New York, 77 years ago. “Hawk”…I owe everything to you! :06—Speaking of the Hawk, and I was, for those

Overtime

Bill Neal who want to be in the know, the City of New York will be hosting a special tribute to Connie coming up the weekend of Sept. 14.

The mayor, NBA players and schoolyard legends will rename a hoop court and other dedications. Stay tuned—I’ll keep you posted, and of course Google is your friend. :05—There’s an old saying, if you can’t say anything good about someone, don’t say anything at all.

The Pittsburgh Pirates…… :04—Speaking of nothing good to say, and once again, if you were paying attention you know I was, here’s me saving you money. The hit movie just out, “Hobbs & Shaw,” starring “The Rock” and Jason Statham, was in fact not a hit and not worth your time. Two stars is the best I can do. One star for each knucklehead. :03—So, to wrap up the ongoing question as to who the best City League bas-

ketball players of all time are, here’s what the three legends had to say on my sports show, “Soul Take-— Champions Live” starring Kevin Cameron and yours truly. Bobby Byrd, Clarence Hopson and “Magic Mike” Williams all agree that a top ten list is impossible. But here are the names that rise to the top!

Kenny Durrett (Note: He’s the one name everyone agreed is the best ever), Petey Gibson, Ron Hightower, Ricky Coleman, Jeep Kelly, Dwight Clay, Sonny Lewis, Ron Carter, Larry Richardson, Sam Clancy, Ron Harris, David Kennedy, Larry Anderson, David “Dr. Death” Trent, Maurice Lucas, Kirk Bruce, Bobby Byrd, Clarence Hopson, “Magic Mike” Williams, DeJuan Blair, Kennedy Jr., Kane Jr., Darrell Porter, “Happy” Dobbs, Jason Hood, Maurice Stokes, Ed

Flemming, Warner Macklin, Darrin Walls, George Harvey, Courtney Wallace, Ronnie McCrae. See what we’re saying? This could go on for a while. All hail the City League!! :02—If Tom Brady can get a two-year contract at age 42 to play football, surely Carmelo Anthony can get a contract on any one of the worst teams in the NBA to play basketball. :01—Now more than ever you have “29” more reasons why Donald Trump and his racist words have to go! Get ready to vote. This one will be the most important one of your life! :00—Blessings and condolences to the families of the latest senseless mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. BTW . . . be aware, be very aware at all times.

Dayton is only 257 miles away!

GAME OVER.

It’s HOT outside…

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AUGUST 7-13, 2019

B9

THE SIX LOCAL BLACK VETERANS whom were recently awarded BMe Vanguard Fellowships. From left: Timothy Jones, Anette Nance, Aryanna Berringer, LaShaundra Hammonds, Gail Manker, Derrick Clark.

Six local Black veterans receive BMe Vanguard Fellowships They aim to present a more accurate depiction of Black veterans following their military service

by Leonard J. Hammonds II For New Pittsburgh Courier

Patriotism. Veteran. Service. What comes to mind when you hear these words?

With a quick Google search of the word “veteran,” the image that seems to become redundant and often engrained in the minds of most is not that of a Black veteran.

Black men and women have always been at the forefront of service to our country; from Crispus Attucks, a free Black man who was the first to give his life in the American Revolution, to Harriet Tubman, who served as a nurse, cook, and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War. BMe Community (BMe) launched the “Next Narrative for Black America” campaign and awarded the associated BMe Vanguard Fellowship for Black Veterans to six Pittsburgh community leaders. The “Next Narrative for Black America” campaign aspires to shift the discussion of racial equity from one based on denigrating distortions to one centered on the Black community’s assets and contributions to society. This is called “Asset-Framing.”

For instance, common narratives characterize Black veterans as “broken” due to post-service struggles like PTSD or addiction. Instead, one should more accurately recognize the level of patriotism displayed by Black veterans, such as the rate of enlistment among Black people to serve their coun-

try, which is dramatically higher than that of other races. You may also perhaps illuminate veterans as heroes on the homefront due to their employing over five million people.

The following 2019 BMe Vanguard Fellows will work to present a fuller and more accurate narrative of Black veterans in American life following their military service: Aryanna Berringer (Army), Director of Veteran Services, University of Pittsburgh; Derrick Clark (Navy), Community Outreach, The Mission Continues; LaShaundra Hammonds (Marine Corps), Co-Founder & Assistant Director, Hammonds Initiative; Timothy Jones (Navy), Service Navigator, Veterans Leadership Program; Gail Manker (Army), Photographer; Anette Nance (Marine Corps), Director, Saving Others Under Love.

“Pittsburgh’s highly skilled veteran population is an incredible resource for our region, but their experience and leadership potential is sometimes overshadowed by inaccurate public perceptions,” said Megan Andros, The Heinz Endowments’ Senior Program Officer for Veterans. “We believe the unique perspectives and experiences of Black veterans are not always leveraged to the benefit of the broader community, and we are especially excited to see the BMe Vanguard Fellowship program amplify their voice and impact.”

BMe Community, an award-winning network of social innovators, leaders, and champions, invests in aspiring communities. This

BMe Vanguard Fellowship elevates leaders through an elite leadership enrichment program, capitalizing on their knowledge, influence, and network to change narratives about Black veterans.

This BMe Vanguard is unlike anything in Pittsburgh. There are places that Black veterans are welcomed, but this is a place Black veterans can call home. This BMe Vanguard speaks to the unique experiences of Black veterans while investing in them to create the Next Narrative for Black America.

“BMe has given us context that is essential to our purpose as Black leaders,”

gether. There is a spiritual and intellectual power and a strong sense of love when you put us all into one room. That’s how you know you’re in the right place.”

Nance said it’s “refreshing to be surrounded by individuals who are leaders of color leading the way to make a difference. It’s awesome to also see the leaders are within arm’s reach so we can collaborate within our local community.”

“Connecting with and building relationships with other Black veterans in Pittsburgh has helped me to recognize our purpose and service to the community as a whole and the assets we bring individually and collectively to building

experience so far has been the renewed sense of self and culture it has provided me. BMe has helped me to remember how strong and important we are. We can move mountains together if only we stick together and highlight our principles and values that distinguish us.”

“BMe has been the community that I didn’t know I needed. Having risen from the ashes as a surviving male of sexual assault and homelessness.

Reconnecting with my community was a major factor in applying for the BMe Vanguard. I am humbled at the knowledge and love that BMe provides. BMe is a fellowship that every Pittsburgh Black veteran

BMe Vanguard Fellow “and look forward to all the opportunities it can bring.

Being around my fellow vets has been awesome; we have our very own dialogue and camaraderie that others just won’t understand.”

The Next Narrative for Black America promotes the advantage of using Asset-Framing to achieve greater gains for the Black community. In doing this, BMe Community has been able to invest over $3 million in Black leadership enrichment through BMe Community Fellowships since 2013. This Pittsburgh Black Veterans Vanguard is backed by The Heinz Endowments.

(Learn more about the

said Hammonds. “Also, when I think of BMe, I think of family. That’s what we are when we come to-

a better Pittsburgh,” noted Berringer.

Clark said that “the best thing about the BMe

should be a part of,” said Jones.

Manker is thankful to have been selected as a

Next Narrative for Black America and the BMe Vanguard Fellows at www. nextnarrative.net.)

B10

AUGUST 7-13, 2019

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER