2.8.23 NPC

Pittsburgh Courier Pittsburgh Courier

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first Black Lieutenant Governor

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Lee Street. In McKeesport.

That’s where Austin Davis lived, going to and from McKeesport Area High School as an ambitious teenager.

But when he was 16, the gun violence that had affected parts of McKeesport hit close to home.

“When I was 16, somebody was shot on my block,” Davis told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive in-

terview, Jan. 24. “That was kind of a jarring moment for my family, the first time gun violence had reached our neighborhood.”

Davis didn’t back down. “I decided that I wanted to do something about it,” he said, something about the crime, the neighborhood, the city that he had come to love.

Davis, a sophomore in high school, went to a McKeesport City Coun-

by Brandon Walker For New Pittsburgh Courier

On Sunday, Feb. 12, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will start at quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, in Super Bowl LVII (57). If you haven’t heard, this will be the first time both teams in a Super Bowl have an African American starting quarterback. Mahomes will be playing in his third Super Bowl appearance while Hurts will be starting his first.

These two are dif-

ferent, with Mahomes

genetically blessed with his rocket arm and Houdini-type escapability, and the son of a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born to play quarterback. Hurts, the son of a football coach, got benched for Tua Tagovailoa in the 2018 college national championship game while playing at Alabama and ever since has been doubted at every turn...until now.

But their stories are similar when “perseverance” comes into play. Mahomes was born to play quarterback, but he was also born to be a pitcher like his father, Patrick Mahomes Sr. He grew up in a bigleague clubhouse and was throwing a baseball at 5 years old better than teenagers. He played three sports in high school, and still wanted to play both baseball and football and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers.

As Mahomes’ football career progressed, he came to a crossroads when he struggled mightily on the mound as a relief pitcher as a sophomore and made the full-time switch to

football.

Mahomes had astonishing numbers in his junior year at Texas Tech, averaging 442.5 yards per game and breaking the single-game record for total yards on offensive in a game (819) in a 66-59 loss to Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners. During the 2017 NFL Draft process, he was criticized for not having the right mechanics, not winning enough games, not having the footwork, and scouts used every excuse to not draft him as high as Mitch Trubisky, the current Steelers’ backup quarterback. However, Mahomes would go into the perfect situation with Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City let him sit and learn under Alex Smith for a year and hone his skills. In 2018, he gained the starting quarterback position, and one league MVP, one Super Bowl MVP, and three All-Pro selections later, it is safe to say he was on his way to stardom.

There’s been some nitpicking recently about Mahomes, however. After he won Super Bowl LIV (54) over the San Francis-

AUSTIN DAVIS, left, was sworn-in as Pennsylvania’s first Black Lieutenant Governor on Jan. 17. By his side is the state’s

Second Lady, Blayre Holmes Davis, Austin Davis’ wife.

One-on-one with Dr. Anthony Fauci: COVID-19 and Black America

by Andre Ash Michigan Chronicle

From the beginning of COVID-19, he was the one to whom many Americans turned to for information on how they were going to make it through an historic global pandemic.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) from 1984-2022. He is a renowned physician-scientist cited for his contribution to HIV/AIDS research and other diseases. Fauci served as one of the members leading the White House Coronavirus Task Force during the height of the pandemic during the Donald Trump presidency.

In a One-On-One interview with the Michigan Chronicle, Dr. Anthony Fauci, now retired as the Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden, explored the barriers to healthcare for Black Americans, who’s at higher risk, what people should be doing to protect themselves, as well his doctor’s orders or recommendations from the White House podium as the fate of the nation hung to his every word at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Fauci argues that during the colder months there is always an uptick in respiratory illness and influenza. He recommends a booster vaccine which he believes is sufficient in treating the latest coronavirus variant.

“Not only are African Americans, usually because of the nature of their essential jobs, they have more of a risk of getting infected,” said Fauci. He bases this fact on the data he has observed over the last years and draws the connection from Black individuals contract-

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI

ing the virus at higher rates because of the contact-to-contact community engagement related to their jobs to the historical determinants of health.

“This goes back centuries and decades, dating back to the element of racism and discrimination, their health status is somewhat more tenuous than the general population.”

Dr. Fauci states the Black community has a higher level of diabetes, hypertension, obesity and heart disease. Once someone is infected with the Coronavirus, there is a greater likelihood of contracting a severe outcome which leads to hospitalization and death.

“It is imperative for Brown and Black people to utilize the availability for these very effective and safe vaccines.” He also mentions effective anti-viral medicine in market to treat the virus once infected.

Dr. Fauci had been the leading face behind getting information related to the COVID pandemic and at times, his recommendations would be contradicted by former President Trump.

“Everything that has

This Week In Black History A Courier Staple

•FEBRUARY 8

1894—Congress repeals the Enforcement Act and thus made it easier for states, especially in the South, to take away Black voting rights. Originally passed in 1870, the Act had established criminal penalties for interfering with a person’s right to vote. After its repeal, Southern states passed a host of measures including poll taxes, literacy tests and so-called vouchers of “good character”—all designed to block or limit the number of Blacks who could vote.

to do with the health of the nation, the President wants to hear about,” he said. “If there was more of a risk of the intervention that the disease then you wouldn’t recommend it.”

Dr. Fauci believes that life comes with a slight bit of risk, but says the vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and the benefits outweigh the small risk.

“The vaccines which have saved millions of lives thus far is a very safe vaccine,” he notes.

As COVID enters a third year in the United States, Fauci says he has no regrets in his forthcoming messages to the American people.

“I’m comfortable with the decisions based on the data I had at the time,” he said. “Information is available to you and you can only act on the information you have and you have to be flexible enough to change things like recommendations and guidelines depending upon the accommodation of new data and new evidence.”

Dr. Fauci retired from NIAID and his White House senior advisory role to President Biden at the end of 2022.

Omega Psi Phi revokes membership of officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death

Black Information Network

Omega Psi Phi, one of the nation’s esteemed Black fraternities, has revoked the memberships of three former Memphis police officers involved in the brutal traffic stop that led to Tyre Nichols’ death.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. said it was unaware that the three of the officers involved in the deadly traffic stop were members of the organization until Tuesday

(January 31), per The Hill.

“A few days ago, on behalf of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, we joined with all other caring, thoughtful, decent, and fair-minded people in America and around the world in extending our deepest sympathy to the family of Tyre Nichols,” Ricky L. Lewis, grand basileus, said in a statement on behalf of the fraternity. “We have since learned that three of the former Memphis police officers involved in the horrific incident were members of our organization.”

Lewis said the news that the officers involved in Nichols’ death were Omega Psi Phi members was “devastating.”

“The brutality shown in the video not only violated our moral sensibilities but also transgressed our Fraternal and established Code of Conduct,” Lewis said.

“We have the utmost confidence in the judicial process and fervent -

ly pray that the Nichols family will obtain justice.”

Graphic footage of the stop released last week shows officers kicking, punching, and striking Nichols with a baton, which led to his hospitalization and death on January 10.

Five officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith—all of whom are Black, have been fired and charged with second-degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression and one count of aggravated assault.

Omega Psi Phi declined to name the officers whose membership was revoked. In footage of the deadly traffic stop, at least one officer appeared to be donning a hooding with the fraternity’s symbol.

1925—Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the “Black Moses,” enters federal prison in Atlanta, Ga., after being convicted of what many Blacks felt were trumped up mail fraud charges. Garvey, a master of grandeur and showmanship, had built the largest Black mass movement in African American history by emphasizing racial pride, economic empowerment and the building of a Black empire in Africa. Born in Jamaica and having traveled throughout South America, Garvey had become distressed with the plights of Blacks throughout the world and organized the Universal Negro Improvement Association— UNIA—in 1914. He brought the UNIA to America in 1915 and its growth exploded. At its height, the UNIA had several hundred thousand members and owned businesses ranging from bakeries to shipping lines. Garvey’s rapid growth and increasing power on masses of Blacks are what attracted negative attention from the federal government. After his imprisonment, the organization never recovered. He died in London, England in 1940.

1968— In what became known as “The Orangeburg Massacre” police opened fire on protesting Black students on the campus of South Carolina State University. The officers responded to rock-throwing with a volley of shots, which left three students dead and 27 wounded. The students were protesting a segregated bowling alley near the school’s campus in Orangeburg, S.C. The students killed were Samuel Hammond, Delano Middleton and Henry Smith.

1978—Leon Spinks defeats Muhammad Ali and captures the heavyweight boxing championship. Ali regains the title in September of the same year becoming the first person to win the title three times.

•FEBRUARY 9

1944—Award winning novelist Alice Walker is born in Eatonton, Ga. She is known for “telling the Black woman’s story.” Perhaps her most famous novel was “The Color Purple.”

1995—Dr. Bernard Harris becomes the first African American to walk in space as part of a joint Russian and American mission. However, Harris was far from being the first Black person in space. That honor goes to a Black Cuban pilot who flew aboard the So

•FEBRUARY 10

1854— Educator Joseph Charles Price is born on this day in Elizabeth City, N.C. Largely unknown today, Price was a world-renowned scholar who founded North Carolina’s Livingstone University. He was also a powerful preacher and orator who raised funds to advance African American education throughout the nation. His basic educational theory was “educate the whole person”—hands, head and heart.

1927— Opera singer Leontyne Price is born Mary Violet Leontyne Price in Laurel, Miss. She first achieved international fame when she was selected to play “Bess” during the European tour of the George Gershwin Broadway production of “Porgy and Bess.” She became a sensation in Europe, signing contracts to sing in just about every European language. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City in 1961.

1989—Ron Brown was elected chairman of the Democratic Party, becoming the first African American to head one of the two major political parties.

1992— Renowned author Alex Haley dies. He was also a biographer and scriptwriter. Haley is perhaps best known for the novel “Roots,” which became a major television series, and for the “Autobiography of Malcolm X.” Haley was born Aug. 11, 1921, in Ithaca, N.Y.

1992— Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was convicted in Indianapolis of the rape of beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington.

•FEBRUARY 11

1644— Eleven Blacks confront the ruling Council of New Netherlands (later New York) with a petition demanding their freedom. This was probably the first legal protest action by Blacks in American history. The petition is granted and the Blacks are freed because they had worked off the terms of their indentured servant contracts which were usually for seven years. But these Blacks

had worked for up to 18 years. Shortly after this victory, however, no more Blacks were allowed such contracts but were instead treated as slaves for life.

1990—Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is released from prison on Robben Island after 27 years. He had been jailed for his militant activities against the then Whiteruled South African government and its system of rule known as Apartheid. Mandela would go on to become the first Black and first democratically elected president of South Africa (1994-1999). He enabled a peaceful transition to Black majority rule. Mandela was one of the most respected and admired men in the world. In South Africa, he was known as “Madiba”—an honorary title given to elders in his tribe.

•FEBRUARY 12

1793— Congress passes the first Fugitive Slave Law . The law made it easier for a slave owner to re-take control of a slave who had escaped to freedom. Blacks and their supporters were outraged because the 1793 law only required the “word” of a White man before a magistrate to declare any Black person a runaway slave and have him or her arrested and placed in bondage. Under the law, even Blacks who had earned their freedom or had never been slaves were placed in danger.

1900— Legendary poet James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) writes the lyrics to the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of a birthday tribute to Abraham Lincoln. In time, the song would become the Black National Anthem.

1909— The NAACP is formally founded by a group of 60 progressive Blacks and Whites in New York City. The organization, originally called the National Negro Committee, was the outgrowth of the Niagara Movement, which met in Niagara, N.Y., in 1905. The NAACP would go on to become, and remains, the nation’s largest civil rights organization.

1930— The infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is funded. More than 400 Black men from rural parts of Georgia and Alabama are lured into the program with the promise that they would be treated for syphilis. But the program was actually designed to study the effects of untreated syphilis on the body. Thus, the men were given fake anti-syphilis medicines as their diseases advanced. The unethical “experiment” went on for 40 years as most of the men gradually died. A reporter exposed the study in 1972. Several government agencies, including the U.S. Public Health Service and Centers for Disease Control, were involved. On behalf of the nation, in 1997 President Bill Clinton apologized to Charlie Pollard and other surviving members of the racist experiment.

•FEBRUARY 13

1635— The nation’s first public school is established in Boston, Mass. It was called the Boston Latin School. Blacks could not attend.

1907—Wendell P. Dabney establishes the groundbreaking Black newspaper known as The Union, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The paper’s motto was “For no people can become great without being united, for in union there is strength.”

• FEBRUARY 14

1760— The great religious leader Richard Allen is born in slavery in Philadelphia. After being required to sit in the back of a White church, Allen would go on to help found and become the first active bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Today, the church, one of the largest predominantly Black denominations in America, has more than 1 million members in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Africa. Allen died in 1831.

1817— This is the most likely birthdate of abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass . Douglass purchased his freedom in 1845 and went on to become the most influential Black leader of his day. He did most of his work while living in Rochester, N.Y. But after the Civil War, he moved to Washington, D.C.

1867— One of the nation’s most distinguished institutions of higher learning, Morehouse College , was founded on this day in Augusta, Ga., as the Augusta Institute. It moved to Atlanta in 1879 and became the Atlanta Baptist Seminary. It became “Morehouse” in 1913. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from Morehouse.

1936— The National Negro Congress is organized on this day at a meeting in Chicago, Ill., attended by more than 800 delegates representing nearly 500 Black organizations. A. Phillip Randolph, head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, is elected president. One of the Congress’ chief aims was to generate national support for the “New Deal” legislation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Chicago Defender described the Congress as “the most ambitious effort for bringing together members of the Race on any single issue.” Up until this time, most Black voters were Republicans. But the National Negro Congress and Roosevelt’s social betterment programs led to a massive African American switch to the Democratic Party.

HOMER S. BROWN MLK AWARDS

THE GROUP PHOTO OF THE HOMER S. BROWN GROUP, WITH THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, ALONG WITH HONOREES FROM THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION. THE ANNUAL EVENT WAS HELD, JAN. 16, AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE HILL DISTRICT. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDEE ALYSIA KEATING

DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE AWARDEE SUMMER LEE

ELIZABETH L. HUGHES, MASTER OF CEREMONIES

ERICA LAUGHLIN BRENDA TATE

Take Charge Of Your Health Today. Be Informed. Be Involved.

and tell

CARLOS T. CARTER

Cancer prevention and research

We are so excited to welcome Dr. Baskin to Pittsburgh. As she conducts listening sessions and reaches out to community leaders to assist with raising awareness about cancer prevention and research, what are some of the ways in which collaborating with the Urban League can be helpful?

Given that the Urban League is deeply connected to Black Pittsburgh, we can do our part to educate our clients and community about the importance of cancer prevention.

Many people think that cancer is totally out of our control. That is not true. If we maintain proper diet and exercise and take part in early screenings, it can make a difference.

Although there are environmental factors that we may not be able to change, there are things we can do to help prevent cancer!

As we think about cancer prevention in our region, what are some strategies to increase awareness about what we can do in our homes and neighborhoods to promote health and wellness including cancer screenings?

We should leverage social media to share stories where people have been able to change outcomes by having earlier screenings and taking charge of their health.  We also need to leverage any opportunity to demonstrate the importance of diet, exercise, and healthy living.

We can educate barbers, hairstylists, churches, schools, and communities to be community ambassadors to educate our people.

I especially believe that talking to kids in elementary school, while they are young, is important.

Finally, I cannot stress enough the importance of understanding family history and getting early screenings to help us avoid the untimely deaths and health related challenges that can often be prevented. Given that my dad had colon cancer, I make certain (or my wife makes me) to have regular colonoscopy screenings to manage my health.

At the end of the day, Black lives are precious and valuable, as any other group.  We must take advantage of every opportunity to take care of our health! I want my fellow Black Pittsburghers to take care of themselves like Black Lives Matter! We cannot control everything, but we can do our part to maintain our health.

Carlos T. Carter is President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh

In January, we introduced the term “social determinants of health” (SDoH), which are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

SDoH are often the result of social, political, and economic forces beyond people’s control, including slavery, segregation, and redlining. These conditions continue to impact people daily and affect their health and quality of life.

When SDoH are favorable, people live healthier lives. When they’re not, the opposite is true. In Pittsburgh, health outcomes can vary greatly depending on your ZIP Code.

For hundreds of years in this country, systemic racism has created poor health outcomes. While inequities in healthcare have improved substantially in the U.S. in the last 50 years, access to quality healthcare, insurance coverage and cost, and provider availability and representation are far from equal.

In our city, for example, cancer is the leading cause of death. Of all the Pittsburghers who die from cancer, Black people die the most — and have the shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group for most types of the disease.

Dr. Monica L. Baskin,

Associate Director of

Community

healthcare and helping to educate and empower them on ways to prevent major diseases, including cancer.

Before joining Pitt in 2022, Dr. Baskin spent 20 years in the Deep South (most recently at the University of Alabama at Birmingham) studying how to reduce health disparities through community-based programs that listen to underserved people and collaborate with communities to improve health.

She traces her career back to the loss of her father who died of colorectal cancer when he was just 51.

“No child should lose a parent to such a preventable disease at such a young age,” she states. “I’ve made it my mission to help people avoid that huge loss.”

Dr. Baskin’s years of research have confirmed the important role of a healthy diet and exercise in preventing and controlling many types of diseases, including cancer. While SDoH are often out of people’s control, taking ownership of their health isn’t, especially what you eat and how much you move.

people with cancer. “If we catch cancer early, there are often more options available with less side effects. Your quality of life is better and you have a greater chance of a good outcome,” Dr. Baskin notes.

If you’re a Black person who’s diagnosed with cancer, Dr. Baskin hopes you’ll be open to participating in a clinical trial. “There are a lot of legitimate trust issues when it comes to our country’s healthcare system that we’re trying to make right,” she says. “Skepticism from Black people is well-founded. But I do hope that if you receive the devastating diagnosis of cancer, you’ll consider joining a trial.”

Outreach

and Associate

and Engagement

Director

for

Health Equity, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, is committed to making that survival rate higher and more equitable.

Dr. Baskin is focused on giving Black people in Western Pa., equal access to quality

“One of the most important things you absolutely have control over is making a stake in your health,” she says. “Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep is a way to affirm your physical and mental health for you and for the people you love.”

Another key to cancer prevention is knowing — and communicating — your family health history.

“Who in your family had cancer and on which

side?” Dr. Baskin continues. “What kind of cancer? How old were they when they were diagnosed? Where and how were they treated? What was the outcome? These are important things you need to know, so you can share them with your healthcare provider. Being forthright with this information may mean you’re eligible for early screenings that are covered by insurance.”

In the case of Dr. Baskin’s father, who was diagnosed when the cancer was well advanced, screening may have saved his life. “With my father’s cancer, we know there were probably pre-cancerous polyps years before he was diagnosed. If he’d had an early screening, the doctor could have removed them.”

Family history also includes your past health be-

haviors, especially alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. “If you smoked cigarettes for 20 years, but gave it up 10 years ago, it’s important to tell your doctor. You might still be at risk for lung cancer and eligible for early screening.” This knowledge and communication with your healthcare provider is an important part of self-advocacy. “You know your body better than anyone,” Dr. Baskin explains. “Trust your feelings. Don’t be afraid to talk about something that’s troubling you. If it’s easier to write down your concerns and give it to your provider, do that. Healthcare providers work for you. Don’t take no for an answer.”

In addition to preventing cancer, early screening can be the first step to increasing survival rates for Black

According to Dr. Baskin, clinical trial patients — who are actually “trying” a new drug or type of treatment before it’s available to everyone — not only receive access to potentially life-changing medicine, but also impact future treatment of other Black people.

“The drugs and treatments we use today are based on clinical trials mostly done on white patients,” she explains. “That disparity is based on the trust issues I mentioned earlier and social determinants of health. We need to correct that imbalance, but we can’t do it if Black people choose not to participate.”

Learn more about who should get cancer screenings, community and cancer support, and cancer research on the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center site. https://hillmanresearch.upmc.edu/

Community ‘listening tours’ will help

UPMC Hillman end cancer health disparities

Different groups of people in this country have unequal health status. The inequality comes from a person’s race, gender, age, and financial condition. It’s also the result of education level, lack of health insurance, and access to healthcare facilities and providers.

Black Americans suffer from health disparities more than white Americans. These inequities take a toll on Black people’s physical and mental well-being. The stress can result in higher rates of preventable diseases, including cancer. To prevent disparity, UPMC Hillman is steadfast in its mission to edu-

cate and create programs that give everyone access to healthier lives. That includes partnering with community-based organizations in underserved neighborhoods.

“The most important steps in making sure people have equal access to cancer care is to identify and understand what causes disparities, so we can work together to eliminate them,” says Dr. Monica L. Baskin, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement and Associate Director for Health Equity at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

Dr. Baskin has spent her career studying behaviors related to cancer

prevention, detection, and treatment in underserved communities, including reducing racial and geographic inequities.

After more than 20 years of research in the Deep South — most recently at the University of Alabama at Birmingham — Dr. Baskin joined UPMC in 2022.

In her new role, Dr. Baskin is committed to giving everyone within the UPMC Hillman network equal access to the center’s high-quality cancer resources. That includes people who live in 29 counties in Western Pa., who need information, screening, and care.

“UPMC Hillman is mak-

ing life-changing discoveries in cancer prevention and treatment,” Dr. Baskin states. “We want everyone to benefit from them.”

To make sure that happens, Dr. Baskin is mindful of UPMC Hillman’s designation as a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“To honor that distinction, we promise to educate and care for everyone equally in our entire area — not just UPMC Hillman patients.”

One of Dr. Baskin’s first tasks is identifying, hiring, and training individuals who will serve as UPMC Hillman’s “boots on the ground” throughout the 29 counties. She and her team will

also be searching for and contacting community leaders and elders — people the community values and respects — and listening to what they have to say. “I’m calling them ‘listening tours,’ she explains. “Listening is important for understanding. Our goal is to meet with members of a community where they live and hear them tell us what UPMC Hillman is doing well and what we’re not doing well. It’s the best way to begin to understand and break down the barriers to cancer care that cause health disparities.”

The Birmingham Free Clinic offers quality, compassionate healthcare

Founded in 1994, The Birmingham Free Clinic is located in Pittsburgh’s South Side. A service of the Program for Health Care to Underserved Populations (PHCUP), it is one of six clinics locally that provide care at no cost to patients. Birmingham is one of the longest-operating free clinics in Pennsylvania. The clinic serves those who are chronically lacking health insurance, and particularly those community members who are historically excluded from traditional care access and significantly impacted by social determinants.

Staff and volunteers include physicians, pharmacists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, health professional students, Certified Community Health Workers, AmeriCorps National Service Members, and other providers. It’s also supported by individual donations, student-led fundraising events, and UPMC’s Division of Internal Medicine.

The clinic offers primary, specialty, and preventive care, health education, and medications. They provide medical and social services and case management — and help patients deal with

services that require insurance. The clinic’s goal is to give uninsured and medically underserved people uninterrupted, quality, and inclusive healthcare. That includes helping patients prevent illness and disease through education and empowerment.

Each week, the clinic offers the same kind of care you’d normally receive at a doctor’s office, such as healthcare maintenance, vaccines, and blood and urine tests. Specialty clinics for heart, hearing, skin, eye, and more are also available. Other

services focus on children’s health, mental health, dental health, and quitting smoking, among others.

A long-time partner of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the clinic is able to offer breast and cervical cancer screenings to their patients at no charge. These are crucial preventive health screenings and follow-up that their patients might otherwise never receive. Through this partnership, the clinic was able to provide 60 mammograms, with 6 biopsies, as well as 50 cervical cancer screenings, with breast and cervical health education, for 127

unique patients in 2022! Partnerships and support from flagship providers such as UPMC Hillman are critical to helping safety-net providers such as Birmingham mitigate health disparities and address social determinants and health justice for our fellow community members. Learn more on the clinic’s website at birminghamfreeclinic.wixsite.com, including Frequently Asked Questions, and learn more about other free clinics in our region at www.freeclinicspa.org

Cancer screening based on family history can increase survival rates — but only if you know

DR. MONICA L. BASKIN

‘American Menu’ tackles social injustice with hilarity, grace

by Genea L. Webb

For New Pittsburgh Courier New Horizon Theater Inc., serves up plates of poignant humor in Don Wilson Glenn’s “American Menu” as its 31st season rolls on.

Set in 1968 Texas after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a month before the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, “American Menu” takes place in a White-owned diner run by five Black women and how they deal with the turmoil that has taken place in the U.S. and the trauma happening in their own lives.

“The playwright has artfully woven in comedy to discuss issues like abortion, murder, land ownership, ignorance, Black consciousness, poverty,” said Karla “Spirit Led” Payne, who portrays the sassy Johnnie May.

“I’m living my best life in the role. She speaks her mind and she cusses like a sailor but she loves the women of the diner. She is the comic relief of the diner. This play is in constant motion. We are serving food and having more than one conversation at a time in a small space. This play is definitely a challenge and the themes are heavy. I want the audience’s first response to be, ‘wow,’ and then I want them to walk away with the heart and the struggle of the women and how they have been resilient through it.”

That resiliency is what drew Glenn to put pen to paper and write the two-act, slice-of-life play that is “American Menu.”

In 2002, Glenn won the AUDELCO award for Excellence in Black Theatre, including Best Playwright and Best Dramatic Production for “American Menu.”

“I was trying to represent the African American community in that area and laughter and humor were a part of it no matter what a person was going through,” explained Glenn, who wrote the play in 1998 in about a two-week time frame. “We are still going through all of these themes today and issues that haven’t been resolved and we see how it’s impacted our community.”

Glenn, who was born in 1965, added: “The characters in the play are the different phases I saw my mother’s life—I saw her as a young hopeful woman, I saw her become a mother and I saw her become an activist. She was a very brave woman. I remember writing it and there were a lot of assassinations that happened and there was such hope. The women are living all of this out in an apartheid-style kitchen. This country has a lot to answer to— crimes of humanity— slavery, finding people lynched in trees—these horrific things that happened to African Americans and people of color. Can this play be relevant today? Every year there’s been things happening to African Americans in this country. This play is ahead of its time because it says Black Lives Matter.”

The comedic and historical components of the play are why New Horizon Theater decided to grace its audiences with the show as its Black History Month entrée.

“We did the show back in 2006 under the direction of artistic director Ernest McCarty and we thought we waited enough to do it again,” said New Horizon Theater Inc., Chairperson Joyce Meggerson Moore. “We are happy to be doing it again. There are playwrights who, we like their plays, and we think this play will resonate with our audiences and have an impact during Black History Month. Each person depending on their historical background will be remembering or learning some things. We want to continue to keep doing shows that are a reflection of ourselves on stage. Sometimes it’s not so pretty, but that’s part of it, too. Our performers put their hearts and souls into these parts to present a well-presented play to the community.”

“American Menu” runs through Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Carnegie Library, Homewood Branch, 7101 Hamilton Ave. General seating is $25, and seniors 65 and older and student tickets are $20.

org. New Horizon Theater Inc., has brought back Lundeana M. Thomas, University of Louisville Faculty Emeritus and Full Professor, to direct its production of “American Menu.” Thomas leaned on personal experience to direct the production.

“In the 1950s, my mother worked as a cook in Youngstown, Ohio. I would be there with her while she did her eight hours. I was 16 years old and she taught me how to scramble the eggs, poach the eggs and make the hamburgers. It was an interesting environment,” said Thomas, who directed “The Green Book” for New Horizon Theater last season.

“This is an interesting play to me. It is a day in the life, a few hours, of five women—their joys, sorrows and inspirations and their working hard.

This is a little peek, but the interesting thing is that the things that happened in the 1960s are still happening today.

These five Black women are working in rural Texas where there’s a ‘Whites only’ sign in the dining room. They want someone to care about them. Although these things are still happening today, we still have dreams.”

STARRING IN “AMERICAN MENU”—Cheryl Bates, Karla C. Payne. (Photos by Richena Brockinson/Lionness Photography)

STARRING IN “AMERICAN MENU”—Tajionna Clinton, Cheryl Bates-White, Karla C. Payne.

“This is My Commandment that you LOVE one another, as I have

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is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

AUSTIN DAVIS MAKES HISTORY

cil meeting, and the first thing he noticed...?

“There was nobody who looked like me serving in city government.”

Also, “no one talking about the issue of gun violence in my community.”

Davis, with the blessing of the McKeesport mayor at the time, Jim Brewster (now a Pa. senator), started the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council to help tackle gun violence and other youth violence in the city. It included Davis and about a dozen other students from the town performing a number of community service projects and trying to come up with viable solutions to the violence problems.

“Maybe some of the other kids might have thought it was weird that we decided to get involved,” Davis told the Courier, “but there were a lot of people who encouraged us to get involved and stay involved.”

Fast forward to Jan. 17, 2023. The now-33-yearold Austin Davis is still involved in getting solutions to the problems. But on a much larger scale. He’s now known as Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, the inauguration ceremony occurring on Jan.

in Harrisburg in

ate chambers. Swornin by Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, with his left hand on the Bible and right hand firmly raised, Davis became the first Black lieutenant governor in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“This is a special day truly, for me personally and for our great Commonwealth,” remarked Lt. Gov. Davis, just moments after being sworn-in. “This day would not have been possible without the unwavering love and support of Pennsylvania’s now-Second Lady, my wife, Blayre Holmes Davis. Every day she pushes me to be the best version of myself, day in and day out, whether as an elected official or simply as a man.”

Lt. Gov. Davis thanked his parents for instilling in him “the values of hard work, compassion and empathy, the very values we hope are instilled in all of our leaders.”

The lieutenant governor called his history-making feat “a symbol of our progress, here in the Commonwealth we love, and it’s one that I hope serves as a point of pride for millions of Pennsylvanians who have never before seen themselves represented

in the halls of power.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro selected Lt. Gov. Davis, a University of Pittsburgh graduate, to be his informal running mate more than a year ago.

“Throughout his career, Austin Davis has fought for the people of Western Pennsylvania, standing up for families who work hard to make ends meet and communities that have been forgotten,” Shapiro said in a statement at the time. “I’ve always surrounded myself with people who bring different life experiences to my team—and I’m proud to endorse Austin Davis because I know he will make my administration stronger as our next Lieutenant Governor.”

The Shapiro/Davis tandem traversed Pennsylvania from the pillar to the post. Nothing is ever easy, but, at least from a Democratic Party perspective, the well-respected Shapiro had no challengers in May 2022’s Midterm Election. And in the General Election in November, Shapiro, formerly the state’s Attorney General, cruised to a 56 to 41 percentage victory over Republican challenger Doug Mastriano.

“Josh, at every step along the way, has never shied away from taking

on the biggest fights,”

Lt. Gov. Davis told the Courier. “...He’s the same person that, after the killing of George Floyd and Antwon Rose, stood up to help get a piece of police reform legislation through a Republican General Assembly...he’s always taken on the biggest fights to fight for everyday Pennsylvanians, and he’ll do just that as governor.”

Lt. Gov. Davis always pays homage to the many people who paved the way for him to make it to this premier stage.

People like K. Leroy Irvis, former Speaker of the Pa. House of Representatives, and Chief Justice Robert Nix, the first African American in the Pa. House and Chief Justice of the Pa. Supreme Court from 1984-96.

“These people paved the way for this historic moment, and I’m so mindful of the history that I carry and the privilege to serve,” Lt. Gov. Davis said.

“You are a shining example,” said President Judge Clark, before she performed the swearing-in of Lt. Gov. Davis.

“You are hope for all the little boys and girls in Pennsylvania that look like you.”

She also told Lt. Gov. Davis to be a servant leader, remain humble,

and be kind.

REV. WALKER SAYS: Be the ONE THAT LOVES OTHERS. 3 Questions...Do we LOVE JESUS? Did Our Savior lay down His Life for Us? Have we Accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior? The Courier

As Lt. Gov. Davis walks the walk, he told the Courier that he would always be “a champion for marginalized communities and communities that have felt unseen and unheard and forgotten.”

And he knows that the young people, especially the young people who are African American, are watching him, looking up to him. He knows some of them may be living in communities that don’t have the same resources that wealthy communities have. Or there could be crime issues happening in their community. His message to the young people? “Even though you’re young, it’s your community, you have a stake in it, so if you see something that you don’t like happening... get involved in the process; whether that’s your church, local community group, city government...I would encourage young people to try to stay focused.

I know there are a lot of things that can pull at young people, particularly in today’s environment, but I really encourage them to stay focused on the things that are actually going to improve their lives.”

AUSTIN DAVIS SPEAKS AT HIS INAUGURATION CEREMONY, JAN. 17. HE’S THE FIRST BLACK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY.

DAVIS FROM A1

The story of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, America’s first Black pop star

by Adam Gustafson Penn State

In 1851, a concert soprano named Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield embarked on a national tour that upended America’s music scene. In antebellum America, operatic and concert songs were very popular forms of entertainment. European concert sopranos, such as Jenny Lind and Catherine Hayes, drew huge crowds and rave reviews during their U.S. tours. Lind was so popular that baby cribs still bear her name, and you can now visit an unincorporated community called Jenny Lind, California. Greenfield, however, was different. She was a former slave. And she was performing songs that a burgeoning field of American music criticism, led by John Sullivan Dwight, considered reserved for White artists. African-American artists, most 19th-century critics argued, lacked the refined cultivation of White, Eurocentric genius, and could create only simple music that lacked artistic depth. It was a prejudice that stretched as far back as Thomas Jefferson in his “Notes on the State of Virginia” and was later reinforced by minstrel shows.

But when Greenfield appeared on the scene, she shattered preexisting beliefs about artistry and race.

‘The Black Swan’ Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield was born into slavery in Natchez, Mississippi, around 1820. As a girl, she was taken to Philadelphia and raised by an abolitionist.

Largely self-taught as a singer, she began her concert career in New York with the support of the Buffalo Musical Association. In Buffalo, she was saddled with the nickname “the Black Swan,” a crude attempt to play off the popularity of Jenny Lind – known as “the Swedish Nightingale” – who was wrapping up one of the most popular concert tours in American

history. In 1851, Colonel Joseph H. Wood became Greenfield’s promoter. Wood, however, was an overt racist and inhumane promoter known for creating wonderment museums in Cincinnati and Chicago that featured exhibits like the “Lilliputian King,” a boy who stood 16 inches tall. With Greenfield, he sought to replicate the success that another promoter, P.T. Barnum, had with Jenny Lind.

Joseph H. Wood’s museum in Chicago.

Encyclopedia of Chicago

In a letter to Frederick Douglass, Martin R. Delany, a physician, newspaper editor and Civil War hero, wrote that Wood was a fervent supporter of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and would not admit black patrons into his museums or at Greenfield’s concerts.

For Greenfield’s African-American supporters, it was a point of huge contention

throughout her career.

Critics reconcile their ears with their racism

In antebellum America, the minstrel show was one of the most popular forms of musical entertainment. White actors in blackface exploited common stereotypes of African-Americans, grossly exaggerating their dialect, fashion, dancing and singing.

For example, the popular song “Zip Coon” portrayed African-Americans as clumsily striving for the refinement of white culture. The cover of the sheet music for “Zip Coon” shows an African-American attempting to mimic refined fashions of the day and failing. The song goes on to mock its subject, Zip Coon, as a “learned scholar,” while putting him in situations where his apparent lack of intelligence shows.

Greenfield’s performances, however, forced her critics to rethink this stereotype. The Cleveland Plain Dealer described the confusion that Greenfield caused for her audiences:

“It was amusing to behold the utter surprise and intense pleasure which were depicted on the faces of her listeners; they seemed to express – ‘Why, we see the face of a black woman, but hear the voice of an angel, what does it mean?’”

Critics agreed that Greenfield was a major talent. But they found it difficult to reconcile their ears with their racism. One solution was to describe her as a talented, but unpolished, singer.

For example, the New-York Daily Tribune reported that “it is hardly necessary to say that we did not expect to find an artist on the occasion. She has a fine voice but does not know how to use it.”

(We see a similar phenomenon today in sports coverage, in which Black athletes are often praised for their raw physical athleticism, while White athletes are

SEE GREENFIELD A11

ELIZABETH TAYLOR GREENFIELD. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The story of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, America’s first Black pop star

praised for their game intelligence.)

By performing repertoire thought too complex for Black artists – and by doing it well – Greenfield forced her White critics and audiences to reexamine their assumptions about the abilities of African-American singers.

A star is born

On Thursday, March 31, 1853, Greenfield made her New York City premiere at Metropolitan Hall.

Originally built for Jenny Lind, it was one of the largest performance halls in the world. The day before the concert, the New-York Daily Tribune carried an ad that read, “Particular Notice – No colored persons can be admitted, as there has been no part of the house appropriated for them.” The ban resulted in a citywide uproar that prompted New York City’s first police commissioner, George W. Matsell, to send a large police unit to Metropolitan Hall.

Greenfield was met with laughter when she took to the stage. Several critics blamed the uncouth crowd in attendance; others wrote it off as lighthearted amusement. One report described the awkwardness of the show’s opening moments:

“She was timidly led forward to the front of the stage by a little White representative of the genus homo, who seemed afraid to touch her even with the tips of his White kids [gloves], and kept the ‘Swan’ at a respectful distance, as if she were a sort of biped hippopotamus.”

Despite the inauspicious beginning, critics agreed that her range and power were astonishing. Af-

ter her American tour, a successful European tour ensued, where she was accompanied by her friend Harriet Beecher Stowe. A singer’s legacy Greenfield paved the way for a host of Black female concert singers, from Sissieretta Jones to Audra McDonald. In 1921, the musician and music pub-

lisher Harry Pace named the first successful Blackowned record company, Black Swan Records, in her honor.

But these achievements are byproducts of a much larger legacy. In Stowe’s novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” one of the slave children, Topsy, is taken in by a northern

abolitionist, Miss Ophelia. Despite her best attempts, Ophelia can’t reform Topsy, who continues to act out and steal. When asked why she continues to behave as she does – despite the intervention of implied white goodness – Topsy replies that she’s can’t be good so long as her skin is Black because her White caregivers are incapable of seeing goodness in a Black body. Her only solution is to have her skin turned inside out so she can be White.

Stowe’s argument was not that we should begin skinning children. Rather, Topsy is a critique of the act of “othering” African-Americans by a dominant culture that refuses to acknowledge their full humanity.

After Greenfield’s New York concert, the NewYork Daily Tribune recognized the monumental nature of Greenfield’s heroics. The paper urged her to leave America for Europe – and to stay there –the implication being that Greenfield’s home country wasn’t ready to accept the legitimacy of Black artistry. But Greenfield’s tour did more than prove to White audiences that Black performers could sing as well as their European peers. Her tour challenged Americans to begin to recognize the full artistry –and, ultimately, the full humanity – of their fellow citizens.

Adam Gustafson, Instructor in Music, Penn State

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Dreams achieved at Carlow

At Carlow University, we actively support students with educational opportunities they otherwise may not have had in order to see them across the finish line as they earn their degrees and achieve their dreams. We are a community dedicated to the rich history of the Sisters of Mercy and devoted to our students’ success, both while they are at Carlow and after they have graduated. We proudly seek to be the most inclusive educational institution in meeting 21st century student needs and building a just and merciful world that values each person.

Through a faculty dedicated to teaching excellence and offering

experiential learning opportunities, Carlow helps each student become the person he or she wants to be – always with an eye for building the workforce of the future that will serve the communities where they live.

To give you a sense of what makes Carlow distinct, view our new 30-second TV commercial, featuring Carlow students and the voice of our President, Dr. Kathy Humphrey at www.Carlow.edu/TV or visit www. Discover.Carlow.edu today. We look forward to understanding your interests and sharing more information about Carlow’s programs, campus visits, easy application steps, and more.

JOSEPH H. WOOD’S MUSEUM IN CHICAGO. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHICAGO

THE COVER OF ZIP COON. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

IS POWER!

What you need to know about VA loans

In the early years of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program, only active-duty service members and returning vets were eligible for a VA loan. But now, the VA has extended the program to include servicemembers of the National Guard and the Army Reserve, surviving spouses, and some cadets. The VA program was meant to foster homeownership but has failed due to the dissemination of misleading and incorrect information.

The myths and misconceptions surrounding veterans’ eligibility for the program after receiving their first VA loan don’t seem to go away, causing some veterans to miss out on the opportunity to become homeowners.

The passing of outdated information from past beneficiaries is another concerning issue. This article seeks to equip you with the latest guidelines from VA regarding your eligibility and options regarding the VA loan program.

What is the maximum number of VA loans you can have?

The VA program is structured to take care of eligible candidates for life. That is why there are no maximum or minimum limits on the number of times a veteran can use the program. It is possible to have more than one VA loan at a time. The Department of Veterans Affairs is not the lender. Banks, mortgage companies and other financial institutions provide the loans for which the department acts as a guarantor.

Taking over a VA loan

A veteran can transfer a VA loan to another person as long as the lender allows it. Taking over another VA loan is known as a loan assumption. The lender must

first determine whether the other person meets their VA loan requirements before proceeding with the assumption process. The most significant advantage of the loan assumption is that not only veterans and active service members can assume the loan, but also anyone deemed qualified by the lender. Note, not all lenders allow loan assumptions. Therefore, if in such a situation, you should consider transferring the mortgage to the qualifying person while consulting with the lender. VA loan entitlement

Every VA member who has met the service requirements has a VA loan entitlement. The VA loan entitlement is the specific amount the Department of Veterans Affairs would have to repay a lender if a VA member defaults on their loan. This kind of protection is called the VA loan guarantee. Depending on their eligibility, veterans may access a single level or both levels of entitlement. Levels include the basic and secondary tiers. For the basic level, VA members have a $36,000 entitlement and an additional $125,800 for those who qualify for the second tier. Altogether, a veteran could have an entitle-

by Stacy M. Brown

For New Pittsburgh Courier

In 2022, the economy proved as volatile as ever, with less disposable income and greater unpredictability.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, inflation in the United States peaked at 9.1 percent in July 2022 and dropped to 7.1 percent by November 2022.

A new study found that more people are having to spend all their income on necessities, and they are counting on their next salary to meet the costs they’ll incur until then.

Researchers discovered that many people of higher socioeconomic status have had their first taste of living paycheck to paycheck this year. While researchers found that most paycheck-to-paycheck consumers can pay their bills on time, one in every five Americans still require assistance to make ends meet.

Research conducted by Pymnts.com and LendingClub Corp. revealed that by the end of the year, 64 percent of American customers (166 million individuals) will be living paycheck to paycheck. That represents a rise of

U.S. consumers, especially those who must spend every dollar they earn each month to meet their financial obligations, have been hit hard by inflation and economic uncertainty in 2022, as the authors of “The Paycheck-to-Pay-

and representing insights from a total of 45,700 U.S. consumers. The researchers determined that living paycheck to paycheck is currently the norm in the United States.

Over the past year, the percentage of consumers living paycheck to paycheck fluctuated, and while it is now comparable to a year ago, it is up 11 percentage points from a low in April 2021. Although people of all income levels have felt the pinch, the percentage of high-income people living paycheck to paycheck has increased significantly in the last two years.

3% from a year ago, or 9.3 million additional people in the United States. Almost 8 million of them made $100,000 or more per year. By the end of 2022, 51 percent of people in that income bracket reported that they were living paycheck to paycheck, up 9 percent from the year before.

check Report: 2022 Year in Review” detail.

This study analyzed consumers’ responses to the ongoing financial pressures of an ever-changing economic landscape by drawing on PYMNTS’ series of 12 unique reports, conducted in collaboration with LendingClub and released each month from January to December —

From July 2021 to November 2022, the percentage of high-income customers who reported living paycheck to paycheck increased from 34 percent to 47 percent.

While 6.8 percent of consumers making above $200,000 report living paycheck to paycheck and having trouble making

How do I reduce my taxable income?

~ Steve

ceived to date. Here’s what you do: March down to your human resources department and ask to meet with a payroll specialist. Inform the payroll specialist that in an effort to reduce your taxable income, you’d like a pay cut IMMEDIATELY! You don’t like that strategy, do you? I’m joking but here’s my point. You’re not looking to reduce your taxable income per se. You’re seeking tax advantage strategies to allow your money to grow and defer or avoid taxes. Here’s a couple of strategies that you can employ:

Maximize your 401k contribution: You can contribute up to $22,500 per year or $30,000 if you’re over 50 years old in a 401(k), 403(b), or Thrift Savings Account etc. Doing so will reduce your taxable income. More importantly, doing so increases your retirement savings so that when the paycheck stops coming in, you have a retirement nest egg you can pull money from.

Maximize your IRA or ROTH IRA contribution: You can contribute up to $6,500 per year to a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA. You can contribute up to $7,500 per year if you’re over 50. Certain rules apply to both regarding if you’re able to receive a tax deduction on a Traditional IRA or if you’re eligible to contribute to a ROTH IRA. Both are something to consider for tax advantage strategies.

Health Savings Account (HSA): If you have health insurance with a high deductible, you may be eligible to participate in

an HSA. With an HSA, you can save or invest money in this account. In 2023, for someone who only has health insurance on him or herself, you can contribute up to $3,850 per year in an HSA. You can contribute up to $7,750 per year for family coverage. There’s a triple threat tax advantage here. The money you contribute is tax deductible. The money inside the account grows tax deferred. The money you withdraw from this account for medical purposes is tax free.

Create a business: If you own a business, you can convert some everyday expenses into partially or fully deductible business related expenses. For example: You have a cell phone you use daily. You open a business and you continue to use the cell phone for personal and business purposes.

The portion of the time you use your cell phone for business is deductible as a business expense.

Thanks Damon!! The first two, I am doing right now. I could contribute more but I am paying off some bills. I’m trying to come up with an idea for a business.

I started too late in life. I have been through so many situations that I have had to use my 401k from previous jobs to stay afloat but I did have one that converted into a ROTH so I have that. I took your advice about having an emergency fund. So since January, I have saved $200 per month.

Damon says:

Steve, it sounds like you’re making the right money moves. Know this! We all have a story to tell. There’s no linear path to success—including financial success. The road is filled with roadblocks, obstacles, temptation and setbacks.

The key is to learn and grow from our own unique experiences. It’s never too late to start! Consider this: Most people never start. They work hard, make bad financial decisions, and wonder why they can’t get ahead. You’re taking the time to learn how to better manage your money. You’ve also learned what not to do from your mistakes.

******** Can you explain what a ROTH account is?

~ Nafeesa

Damon says:

There are two types of IRAs: Traditional IRA and ROTH IRA. IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account.

Traditional IRAs allow an upfront tax deduction but you’re taxed on both contributions and earnings when you withdraw money from it. With a ROTH IRA, there’s no upfront tax deduction. When you withdraw money from it, both contributions and withdrawals are TAX FREE. This allows you to keep Uncle Sam’s palms off of your hard-earned money. You can contribute up to $6,500 per year in an IRA - $7,500 if age 50 or older.

****** Aren’t there income limitations? You can’t contribute to a ROTH if you earn more than a certain amount of income? Correct? Or has that changed?

~ Tracy

Yes, there are some income restrictions with regards to using a ROTH IRA. For single filers in 2023, you can contribute up to $6,500 per year if you earn under $138,000. If your earnings are between $138,001-$153,000, the amount you can contribute is phased-out (reduced). For married filing jointly, you can contribute up to $6,500 each if your combined income is under $218,000. If your earnings are between $218,001-$328,000, the amount you can contribute is phased-out (reduced). If you’re filing separately, you can contribute to a ROTH if your earning is $10,000 or less. Note: If you’re 50 or over, you can contribute up to $7,500 per year in a ROTH.

For those who are fortunate enough to earn too much money to contribute to a ROTH IRA, there’s a little known loophole called a backdoor ROTH IRA. This strategy involves contributing money to a non-deductible IRA. This IRA has no income restrictions. Once you contribute money to the non-deductible IRA, you can immediately convert it to a ROTH IRA. Many companies are offering a ROTH 401(k). There are no income restrictions with a ROTH 401(k).

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached at 412-216-1013 or visit his website at www.damonmoneycoach.com)

A NEW STUDY found that more people are having to spend all their income on necessities, and they are counting on their next salary to meet the costs they’ll incur until then.

Although people of all income levels have felt the pinch, the percentage of high-income people living paycheck to paycheck has increased significantly in the last two years.

Unaffordable rent plagues 44 million in every state

by Charlene Crowell (TriceEdneyWire.com)—

For the first time in more than two decades of research, every state now has renters who are nearing a financial breaking point in housing affordability.

New research released by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS), and Moody’s Analytics independently reach the same conclusion: consumers are struggling with a growing percentage of their incomes going towards keeping a roof over their heads.

On January 19, Moody’s released its update on rental affordability, and concluded that “Rising mortgage rates caused many households to be priced out from home buying and would-be buyers to remain renters...

Apartment demand surged as a result and drove rates sky high. As the disparity between rent growth and income growth widens, Americans’ wallets feel financial distress as wage growth trails rent growth.”

Days later on January 25, Harvard’s JCHS went a step further by factoring race and poverty into its analysis.

“Renters living in communities of color, and in high-poverty, lower-income, and lower-rent neighborhoods were more likely to experience financial distress… More than threefifths of renters behind on their housing payments lived in communities of color, while about two-fifths lived in high-poverty or lower-income neighborhoods,” concluded JCHS.

There was a time when a single, full-time income

could financially provide for families. But today, most families are working harder than ever and still need at least two incomes to make financial ends meet. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in 2022, there was no county, metro area, or state where a person earning the federal or prevailing state or local minimum wage for a 40hour work week can afford a modest two-bedroom rental home.

Although the Census Bureau finds that the nation’s median income in 2021 was $70,784, that same figure for Black America was only $48,297. This $30K income difference is further examined by a Federal Reserve Bank wealth inequality update.

On average, according to

“Over 44 million households, or roughly 35 percent of the U.S. population, live in rental housing. And while federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and Fair Credit Reporting Act offer renters certain focused protections, there is no comprehensive set of federal laws protecting renters.”

the St. Louis Fed, Black and Hispanic families owned about 25 cents and 23 cents, respectively, per $1 of White family wealth. These substantial gaps remain largely unchanged despite fluctuations from 1989 to 2022.

In response to these and other issues, a report by the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council recent-

ly issued the White House Blueprint for a Renter’s Bill of Rights to promote fairness for Americans living in rental housing.  The document calls for:

1. Safe, quality, accessible and affordable housing;

2. Clear and fair leases;

3. Education, enforcement, and enhancement of renter rights;

4. The right to organize;

and

5. Eviction prevention, diversion, and relief.

“Over 44 million households, or roughly 35 percent of the U.S. population, live in rental housing,” states the plan. “And while federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act, the American with Disabilities Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and Fair Credit Reporting Act offer renters certain focused protections, there is no comprehensive set of federal laws protecting renters. Instead, our nation’s rental market is defined by a patchwork of state and local laws and legal processes that renters and rental housing providers must navigate.”  However well-intentioned, the newly-released principles lack authority to require implementation. But

the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has embraced the effort by allocating $20 million for its Eviction Protection Grant Program, which will fund nonprofits and government agencies to provide legal assistance to low-income tenants at risk of eviction. The agency also will move toward requiring certain rental property owners to provide at least 30 days’ notice if they plan to terminate the lease of a tenant due to nonpayment of rent.

After more than 50 years since enactment of federal laws to ensure fair housing, equal employment, equal credit, and more, a lack of consistent enforcement of these laws have allowed back-tracking on hard-fought victories. A litany of bad behaviors by unscrupulous landlords will continue to ignore laws unless aggressive and consistent enforcement makes it clear that proportionate prices will be paid.

Only weeks before Dr. King’s assassination, his prophetic voice remains as timely as it is timeless:

“Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day? They are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen. And it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income.”

(Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.)

How to maximize the value and timeliness of your tax return

(StatePoint)—Research

shows that if you’re dreading tax season, you’re not alone.

According to the Pew Research Center, 47 percent of Americans say they are bothered a lot by the complexity of the federal tax system. Other taxpayers stress out over getting the details right. In a Credello survey, 22 percent of respondents say not maximizing their refund is their biggest fear around doing taxes, while another 22 percent said their biggest fear is making a mistake.

“Many Americans rely on their tax refund to make

ends meet. Accessing those funds should be fast and easy,” says Chad Prashad, president and CEO of World Finance.

To help you get a handle on your taxes, World Finance is drawing on its 26 years of filing expertise to offer these timely tips:

• Get ready early. AAs soon as your employer provides your W2, you can file your taxes. Having all other documentation and receipts ready to go will help expedite the process, which means you will get your tax return faster, too. Collect the necessary materials in one place before filing.

• Consider significant life changes. Did you move in 2022? Have a baby? Get married? Change jobs? Each of these monumental life events can have an impact on your taxes, so be sure to disclose these factors when filing or to the professional filing on your behalf.

• Know what’s new. Visit IRS.gov to learn about any changes to tax filings that are applicable to you. A tax services professional can also help you identify relevant updates. World Finance tax pros have yearround training to stay on top of the latest tax filing requirements and are ready

to tailor tax services to each tax customer’s financial situation.

• Review and adjust. Once you know what your return is going to be this year, make any necessary adjustments to your W2 to make sure you’re withholding enough during the year. If this is your first year working with a professional tax service, have them review your previous years’ filings as well. You may be able to recover additional refunds if anything was missed. World Finance offers this service for no additional charge.

• Consider a tax refund loan. After filing, you can

potentially take out a loan for the amount of your expected refund. This is known as a tax refund loan and an option to consider if you need your refund as soon as possible.

• Work with a professional. Filing your taxes with a software program is a low-cost option, but only if you have time to dedicate to the task, and the knowhow to get your biggest possible tax return. Working with a reliable, trusted tax preparation service can help ensure your taxes are filed correctly, and your return is as substantial as it can be. Look for a service that offers

transparent pricing, flexible filing options and same-day Tax Advance Loans, such as World Finance. For more information, visit loansbyworld.com/taxes. Tax season doesn’t need to create headaches, fears, or anxieties. By gathering important tax documents in advance and understanding your filing and refund options, you can have confidence that you’ve maximized the value and timeliness of your tax return.

The third annual Black History Month Festival

Washington, D.C.—The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) will hold its Third Annual Black History Month Festival celebrating the 2023 Black History theme, “Black Resistance.” Black Resistance has taken many forms through-

out history. As the late Congressman John Lewis advised, “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

During these uncertain times in which the very nature of the ways in which Black history can be legally

What you need

taught are in peril, the festival provides an opportunity to explore various aspects of Black life and history.

Festival programming will take place “in person” in Washington, D.C. as well as virtually on ASALH-TV (ASALH’s YouTube channel) throughout the month

of February. The virtual programming will include panels, discussions, author book talks, a workshop, and the announcement of the winner of the 2023 ASALH Annual Book Prize. The festival will address “Black Resistance” in the arts, public history, Afri-

to know to know about VA loans

can American music, the Black press, and the Black church, only to name a few.

Highlights of the month include an opening discussion of the aspects of Black resistance on February 1st featuring Professors Martha Biondi and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, both of Northwestern University, and Charisse Burden-Stelly of Wayne State University.

ment of $161,800.

Keeping you home and getting a new one

The second-tier entitlement allows you to maintain your current house and buy a new primary residence. You must have enough income and entitlement to qualify for this.

Permanent change of station orders

An officer can be assigned in an area that would require their relocation, perhaps due to the duration of the assign-

ment or distance. An officer may need to take another VA mortgage loan in such an instance. Is it possible to get a VA loan after a foreclosure?

As much as a foreclosure would be considered damning, it doesn’t mean that you have lost your ability to get another VA loan. The only issue is that you may have a reduced VA loan entitlement, given that the Department of Veterans Affairs suffered a loss on loan. Following the foreclosure, a veteran will have to undergo the

foreclosure waiting period now (usually two years). Even then, the waiting period could increase to more than three years if the foreclosure resulted from another government-backed product like a USDA loan. Lastly, even after the two-year waiting period following a foreclosure, borrowers must still meet the lenders’ credit requirements to qualify for a loan. For instance, lenders must determine how much entitlement may be left.

If you are eligible, a VA

Earners living paycheck to paycheck

comes are more likely to require bill payment assistance.

When asked why they were having trouble making ends meet, 18 percent of middle-income consumers and 33 percent of low-income consumers said it was because of their

income level.

Lydia Boussour, senior economist at EY Parthenon, told MSN that “consumer spending prospects are unclear.” She claimed that consumers’ discretionary spending will be low this winter because of rising

costs, depleted savings, and growing reliance on credit. The decline in stock prices and property values will have a “negative wealth effect,” exacerbating these dynamics.

(Stacy M. Brown is NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent)

loan is a great option. VA hasn’t established a DTI (debt-to-income) ration limit, but most lenders will take a closer look at borrowers with higher ratios. VA doesn’t have a minimum credit score; however, lenders are allowed to set their own minimums typically a 580 FICO. You can purchase a home with no down payment, a higher debt-to-income ratio, and no private mortgage insurance. That’s awesome! ends meet, 10 percent of those making between $150,000 and $200,000 and 12 percent of those making between $100,000 and $150,000 admitted a similar financial situation. The report revealed that consumers with lower in-

On the 7th, there will be a panel highlighting some of the contributors to the book Black Lives Matter & Music: Protest, Intervention, Reflection, who will lead a vibrant discussion on the power of Black music in the struggle for freedom and liberation, including John Fleming, past President of ASALH, and Portia Maultsby, noted ethnomusicologist of Indiana University. The Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, the original home owned by Dr. Woodson, is undergoing an extensive rehabilitation for permanent exhibits, furnished rooms, presence for ASALH and a visitor welcome area. Join ASALH and the National Park Service (NPS) on February 16th at 6:30 p.m. for a special video preview highlighting the future opening, exhibits and the efforts made to preserve and interpret the site.

February 22nd will offer a virtual marquee event featuring a conversation with the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Lonnie G. Bunch, III, and acclaimed author of She Took Justice Gloria Browne-Marshall, of John Jay College.

On February 23rd there will be a panel on the “soldiers without swords”—the Black Press—who used the power of the pen to fight racial oppression. It will feature representatives of the many still existing media outlets that have been so vital, including The Washington Informer, The AFRO, The New Pittsburgh Courier, and The Amsterdam News, for a discussion on the unique role that the Black press has played in the ongoing historical process of Black Resistance.

Lastly, on February 25th, the Association is honored to co-sponsor a very special in-person matinee featuring a new critically-praised play, “Campaign 72,” based on the life of Shirley Chisholm, who defied expectations when she became the first Black woman to run a major campaign for President in 1972. The play will take place at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), to be followed by a dynamic discussion panel on what planners are calling “The Chisholm Effect.” Campaign 72 is produced by the Multi-Media Training Institute, a DC-based non-profit training, and production company for young adults.

The schedule for the full month of programming is now available for public viewing. Registration and information for in-person, as well as virtual events is available at the following address: https://asalh.org/ festival/.

Trump should not be allowed back on Facebook

Facebook parent Meta says it will restore former President Donald Trump’s personal account in the coming weeks, ending a two-year suspension it imposed in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The company said in a blog post Wednesday it is adding “new guardrails” to ensure there are no “repeat offenders” who violate its rules.

“The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying—the good, the bad and the ugly—so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box,” wrote Nick Clegg, Meta’s vice president of global affairs.

Clegg added that when there is a “clear risk” to real-world harm, Meta will intervene.

“In the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation,” he wrote.

Facebook is making a grave mistake. Donald Trump should not be allowed back on Facebook or any other social media platform.

Facebook was right to suspend Trump on Jan. 7, a day after the deadly 2021 insurrection. Other social media companies also kicked him off their platforms, though he was recently reinstated on Twitter after Elon Musk took over the company. Trump should be permanently banned from Facebook and other social media sites.

He did not merely say something offensive, he incited an insurrection.

Facebook was right to suspended Trump on Jan. 7, 2021, for praising people engaged in violent acts at the Capitol a day earlier.

The company should listen to calls from its own employees to remove Trump’s account.

Civil rights groups are right to denounce Meta’s move.

Allowing Trump back on Facebook sends a signal to other figures with large online audiences that they may break the rules without lasting consequences, said Heidi Beirich, founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and a member of a group called the Real Facebook Oversight Board that has criticized the platform’s efforts.

“I am not surprised but it is a disaster,” Beirich said of Meta’s decision. “Facebook created loopholes for Trump that he went right through. He incited an insurrection on Facebook. And now he’s back.”

NAACP President Derrick Johnson blasted the decision as “a prime example of putting profits above people’s safety” and a “grave mistake.”

“It’s quite astonishing that one can spew hatred, fuel conspiracies, and incite a violent insurrection at our nation’s Capitol building, and Mark Zuckerberg still believes that is not enough to remove someone from his platforms,” he said.

As the world’s largest social media site, Facebook has a responsibility to protect the public from political leaders like Trump who use social media to sow misinformation, harassment and incitement of violence.

(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—I’m sure that many people only thought of February 1, 2023, in terms of the funeral of Tyre Nichols.  Whether the date of his funeral was chosen randomly or chosen for symbolic impact, Tyre’s funeral was the commencing event of this year’s Black History Month Observance.  Sadly, the circumstance of Tyre’s lynching rekindles the pain and memories of the horrors and brutalities that have been imposed upon Black communities for centuries.  Those who value life deeply regret the loss of this young man’s life and the loss of his potential for good to his family, friends, and the larger community.

Many Whites will attempt to expunge any personal or systemic culpability for the brutal murder of Tyre by pointing out that the crime was committed by five Black men operating under the cover of law enforcement.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  More correctly, the perpetual and ongoing conditioned responses, corruption, and contamination by the malignant institution of slavery (America’s Greatest Sin) continue to plague us all.

Throughout our experience in the US, Blacks have commonly been perceived and treated as sub-human.  Our ancestors’ value was determined by the work they could produce or the number of healthy offspring they could breed.  When they became independently expressive, ran away, or actively objected to their enslavement, they were brutally beaten into compli-

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

ance.  Often, instead of “ruffling his feathers,” the Massa would have a favored slave administer the specified punishment for him.  This favored slave could/would earn a special place in the Massa’s heart by demonstrating self-hatred/loathing and a willingness to serve as the Massa’s surrogate enforcer.

It was culturally accepted that the most efficient way to exact compliance from a ‘slave’ was to beat it out of him or her.  Whether sadistic pleasure was derived from observing human torture or from doing the dirty deed personally, “whippings” were more common than not.  I believe that many of the whippings Black children received were predicated on the belief that beatings were necessary to achieve compliance.  Unfortunately, this legacy of personal violence still festers among many. Even the casual, OBJECTIVE observer can confirm the duplicity of punishment in law enforcement.  For Whites the “Serve and Protect” mantra of law enforcement agencies has been more accurate than not.  As with policing, for persons of color, especially Blacks, the unstated objective was and is absolute behavioral CONTROL.  Whether the goal

was finding the guilty or someone to blame, it was easy to find ‘the target’ among Blacks.  More often than not, when all else failed or when expediency dictated, color was the determining factor.  The legacy of that thinking has evolved into modern policing. For the lack of space, I cannot provide reference for each of my postulates, but for those who contradict or wish to know more, references with empirical data abound.

As we assess the lynching of Tyre Nichols, the historic parallels are striking.  As described by those who loved him most and knew him best, he was a free and unconventional spirit.  His only crime lay in his Blackness.  The group of ‘enforcers’ Tyre encountered had no need to follow prescribed police procedures.  Imbued with the notion of Tyre’s guilt, they turned this manufactured traffic stop into a capital crime event and became this young man’s judges, juries, and executioners.

Sadly, this was not a tragic act of history, but a recurring event which threatens the psyches and personal security of us all.  Like our parents, grandparents and those who preceded them, for the sake of safety, we are coerced into a state of imbalance and control.  Our pledge for this BHM must be to force these recurring events into the malignant history of this nation.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of The Dick Gregory Society (thedickgregorysociety.org; drefayewilliams@gmail.com) and President Emerita of the National Congress of Black Women)

Now is the time to be a criminal justice reform voter

As I’m writing this, 29-year-old Tyre Nichols has just been laid to rest. The pain and heartbreak we feel over the needless killing of this beloved and loving young man, son and father are overwhelming.

But while many of the details of his death in police custody are tragically familiar, there is one significant difference. This time, the five officers initially identified as involved with the killing were promptly charged with murder.

That action was taken by the progressive Shelby County District Attorney, Steve Mulroy, elected by citizens who firmly rejected the agenda of the right-wing prosecutors who preceded him. And I believe the decision of the voters to elect a person with Mulroy’s values made most, if not all, the difference when this latest incident of horrific police brutality took place.

Mulroy was among a cohort of progressive prosecutors who ran —and won—on reform platforms in the last election. These are people who are outspoken against racial bias in the criminal justice system, the school-to-prison pipeline and the egregious institution of cash bail. They are making people’s .lives better in measurable ways. And they are a relatively new breed, in large and small cities.

One of the best known is in Philadelphia, where Larry Krasner is described as one of the first to run as a “progressive prosecutor.”

Krasner has been elected twice on a platform of ending mass incarceration. While in office, he has turned away from prosecuting low-level offenses and from cash bail. His office

Svante Myrick

Commentary

claims that he has imposed over 29,000 fewer years of incarceration than his predecessor.

Meanwhile in the small city of Portsmouth, Virginia, an outstanding Black progressive prosecutor, Stephanie Morales, is one of very few to win a conviction of a police officer for killing an unarmed Black man. She is also the only prosecutor nationwide to have successfully indicted more than one police officer in an on-duty shooting. She was recently elected to her third term, by voters who deeply appreciate her values and commitment.

This appreciation is not always reflected in media. For example, the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin in San Francisco was covered heavily in the last election season, while at the same time Mulroy and fellow progressive DAs were succeeding with openly progressive platforms.

That’s a shame, because media apathy unfairly diminishes the importance of being a criminal justice reform voter: in other words, a voter who makes sure a candidate has a strong commitment to making our criminal justice system more equitable, before they cast their vote.

And now more than ever, it’s crit-

ically important for all of us to be criminal justice reform voters.

It’s important because what is happening with the response to police brutality in Memphis is the latest powerful affirmation that democracy really can fix things for people. It’s a powerful affirmation that yes, voting is a useful way to address violence against Black people. And it’s a slap in the face to the cynicism that makes people throw up their hands and say nothing can be done and that voting doesn’t matter.

This is not to oversimplify the case. There are multiple factors in any criminal case, and we don’t know everything. As a Black man myself, it hurts me deeply that most of the officers as well as the victim, Tyre Nichols, are Black. But I still believe that the response was unquestionably shaped by the progressive values of the prosecutor that Shelby County voters were wise to choose.

And the lesson here isn’t limited to District Attorney races in particular or down-ballot races in general. Becoming a criminal justice reform voter is important at every level. If we want change, we need to know the records of candidates and elected officials on this issue. We need to stop saying “voting won’t fix that.” We need to believe in our hearts that all the marches mattered, because they did; and that the pain mattered, because it did; and that elections matter too. And then go vote, for the change that we now know is possible.    Svante Myrick is President of People For the American Way.)

Dying while Black in America

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

Allison Palm Office Manager Ashley Johnson Sales Director Rob Taylor Jr. Managing Editor John. H. Sengstacke Editor

The Last Poets, the original rappers with a message and a purpose, said “It’s alright to die for a cause, but not just because”. Those words continue to have meaning for us today when it has been proven time and time again that being Black, or just a person of color, can lead to death when encountering police. The unwritten crime appears to be “Living While Black”. The only ones who appear to know that this is a crime, are the police. Let us remember that for an act to be considered a crime, it must first be a law enacted by some governing body.  Before we had laws enacted by legislative bodies, laws grew out of practice which became known as “Common Law”. This meant that if an act such as stealing a person’s horse occurred and the theft was caught and hung, the hanging of a person under such circumstances became an acceptable law long before laws were written. Well, it appears today that police have made it a “common law” practice to deal with Black men under what “they” have made a “common law” assumption, that it’s alright to

John E. Warren

beat, brutalize, and murder Black men on contact. There are no such laws in any of the states that Black men and women have been murdered under. Yet, we see that the practice is almost universal, based on the location and number of fatal contact with police when “Living While Black”.  Just look at the list of those who have been in contact with police leading to trial and execution, all in one swift act. Most of us want to focus on George Floyd. But his murder at the hands of police came 30 years after the brutal beating of Rodney King. The difference is that King survived his beating and George Floyd did not.

Now we see that the murder of Black people by police is so deeply

instilled in the culture of policing that the conduct is not limited to White police officers, but Black officers as well. But for people like Attorney Ben Crump,  we wouldn’t have a record of these atrocities. Attorney Crump, has not only created a whole legal specialty in the area of “Wrongful Death”, he has also written a book, Open Season, that documents, by name and case, the individuals who have been victims of this unwritten law for more than a decade.

Dr. King once said we can legislate laws but not the hearts of men. Those of us on the endangered list of “Living While Black”, must engage in a collective effort to make “Dying While Black” as unacceptable as cancer. As a matter of fact, it’s a cancer we must all get concerned about before it happens to us. Dr. King also said, “Injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere”. We must all work to end “Dying While Black”, whether it be from police or other wrongs against “All of Us”.

(Dr. John E. Warren is Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper)

Black officers upholding our Black heritage

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“I would like to make it crystal clear, I do not regret what I did. I am not sorry. I have not shed a tear for the innocent people I killed.” Those were the harsh words from Dylann Roof written in a journal six weeks after killing nine Black parishioners holding Bible study at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Roof is a White supremacist who made no attempts to hide his racial hatred. He claimed to have developed his White supremacist views after reading about the killing of Trayvon Martin.

“Our people are superior,” he said. “That’s just the fact.” And like so many White supremacists, Roof is proud of the Confederate battle flag he displayed so often while posing for photos. For White southerners who continue to carry the spirit of the Confederacy dear to their hearts, Roof dispelled their defense of how the battle flag is only a symbol of ancestral and regional heritage. “Heritage not hate” is the slogan, but they cannot have it both ways. The heritage and southern pride they glorify have a dark subculture filled with violence and hate toward people deemed inferior and not worthy of human dignity.

Historically, the Confederate battle flag has always been used by White Anglo-Saxon Protestants as a symbol of power and intimidation against people of color, but also against those of Catholic faith. Roof took the time to research Black churches, and he understood the historical significance of the Black church within the community. When he killed nine innocent people, he knew precisely what he was doing and why. Each time he posed with the Confederate flag, he understood the hate-filled significance and intimidation the flag represents. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said in an interview that Roof had “hijacked” the meaning of the Confederate battle flag for people who felt it meant “sacrifice and heritage.” The whitewashing of Black history curriculums and classes makes it easier for those like Gov. Haley to deny its dark side.

Diversity is essential in lowering police violence?

By now, the name Tyre Nichols is synonymous with police brutality. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was accused of reckless driving by Memphis police. Police body camera footage showed five Black police officers dragging Nichols out of his vehicle, pepper spraying Nichols, and striking Nichols with a baton plus their fists and feet.

These five Black police officers were members of a special unit called SCORPION.  According to the Memphis Police Department, this special unit “patrolled in groups and at times used low-level traffic stops as a way to find violent criminals, drugs, or weapons.”

Nichols died in the hospital three days later.

The Black officers involved were fired and charged with murder and other crimes, and SCORPION was disbanded.

It’s important to note that the Memphis Police Department is 58 percent Black, and the city is 64 percent Black. The Washington Post reported that the Memphis Police Department engaged in a decade-long recruitment effort to make their police force resemble the racial make-up of the city.

In theory, diversity will reduce racial tension between the police and Black residents. Black residents will be more at ease assisting Black police officers in criminal investigations, and Black suspects won’t automatically accuse Black police officers of racism.

Based on the numbers, it’s not unusual for a Memphis police brutality case to involve a Black officer and a Black victim. Quietly as kept, a lot of major cities have majority-minority police forces, and police brutality cases involving Black officers aren’t unusual. However, these incidents never attracted national attention because there was no racial storyline.

J. Pharoah Doss

you make of the race of the offenders, and what does that say to the community and to the country about policing?”

Chief Davis said it takes race off the table.

When race is on the table, the media and the activists steer the focal point of the problem toward systemic racism. The race of the officer (White) and the race of the victim (Black) are used symbolically to construct an oppressor vs. oppressed narrative.

Regardless of the circumstances, the “White oppressor” acted out of racial animus, and the oppressed victim is blameless. With race off the table, the focal point becomes the misconduct of the officers instead of the power structure they represent.

However, New York City Mayor and former police chief Eric Adams disagreed that race was off the table. He claimed the race of the officers was the “elephant in the room” and it can’t be ignored. Mayor Adams also said, “As a person who fought for police diversity and against police abuse, he felt betrayed.”

If the officers were fired and charged, why does their race matter, and how was Mayor Adams betrayed?

For Mayor Adams, diversity is essential to lowering police violence, and the five Black police officers in Memphis betrayed the goal of diversity.

diversity will reduce police violence. In some situations, Black police officers will go too far, just like their White counterparts. However, the idea that diversity will stop this human error means that Black officers will hold back out of racial solidarity. That’s an unrealistic expectation placed on Black officers, and more importantly, if reducing police violence was the ultimate goal of diversity, it was doomed to fail from the start. That’s why Chief Davis said it doesn’t matter who’s wearing the uniform. All officers have the same professional responsibilities, and it’s the responsibility of the “court of public opinion” to condemn the individuals responsible and not “the police” in general. However, there actually was an “elephant in the room”.

It wasn’t the race of the officers, like Mayor Adams suggested, it was the SCORPION unit. SCORPION stood for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in our Neighborhoods.  “Restore Peace” is a polite way of saying “Restore Order” in highcrime neighborhoods. Any time special units like SCORPION are formed with the explicit task of “cleaning up the streets” extreme measures (bending the law without breaking it) are involved. The problem comes when officers blur extreme measures with the belief that “the end justifies the means”.

Special units like SCORPION are notorious for getting into trouble for excessive force and a host of other crimes.

Yet, when Chief Davis disbanded SCORPION, Mayor Adams said a number of things went wrong during the Nichols incident, but he didn’t see the special unit as one of them. Mayor Adams said, “Units don’t create abuse. Abusive behavior creates abuse.”

David W. Marshall

Commentary

Lynching was more than just a person getting killed; it became a show. Victims were hanged from trees, bridges, and telephone poles. They were often tortured and mutilated before death: burned alive, castrated, and dismembered. Their teeth, fingers, ashes, clothes, and sexual organs were sold as keepsakes. Lynching was a community event with a carnival atmosphere in which tickets were sold. It became a spectator sport where lynch mobs could swell up to 15,000 people. Clergymen and business leaders often participated in the show.

Those who committed lynchings were rarely punished by law enforcement. The same lack of accountability was true of countless massacres of Blacks. They occurred primarily around the Reconstruction Era when Blacks were attacked and killed by White mobs whose goal was to suppress voting rights, land ownership, labor rights, economic advancement, education, and full citizenship for Blacks after the Civil War. The massacres sometimes resulted in the burning and destruction of homes, businesses, schools, and churches. The cruel and senseless murders resulting from lynching and racial massacres are the byproducts of the institution of slavery and its uncivilized, barbaric acts. This is the heritage Dylann Roof represents and exposed.

When the news of Tyre Nichols’ death became public, it surprised many people because the five Memphis police officers fired and charged were Black. We are quick to assume those types of images of police brutality are from White officers. It illustrates the widespread problem within police departments in Memphis and everywhere. Black officers using excessive force against Black citizens happens all the time, while it may not always result in a death or national news.

Nichols’ funeral was held on the first day of Black History Month, and it forces one to consider how we arrived at this point with Black officers wrongfully killing Black citizens. It is not part of our Black heritage or traditions handed down by previous generations.

The purpose of adding Black officers to allWhite departments was to provide diversity and officers who could relate to members of the Black community. The aim was to build the necessary trust between the police and the Black community while offsetting the heritage of White supremacy, often embedded within police departments. While many Black officers serve their communities with honor, we have those who will abuse the enormous amount of power given to them. It forces us to think about our Black heritage and compare it to the cultural traditions that historically target senseless beatings and deaths for people of color. We have a heritage where Blacks are overcomers. It is a heritage where we were oppressed, but not the oppressor. We were lynched, but we didn’t lynch others because of their race or religion.

“There is nothing more insulting and offensive to those of us who worked to open doors,” Rev. Al Sharpton said when he eulogized Nichols and referenced the Black officers, “that you walk through those doors and act like the folks we had to fight to get you through them doors!” Sharpton added: “You didn’t get on the police department by yourself….People had to march and go to jail, and some lost their lives to open the doors for you, and how dare you act like that sacrifice was for nothing!” Amen, Rev. Al.

(David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization,

Our Divided America. He can be reached at www.davidwmarshallauthor.com.)

CNN’s Don Lemon asked Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis, “What do

The idea that a diverse police force will reduce racial tension is understandable, but it doesn’t follow that

If that’s the case, why does he think diversity would reduce this human error?

The Black community and the District 9 City Council campaign

The District 9 Pittsburgh City Council race is on. The primary election date is Tuesday, May 16. From February 14 to March 7, the prospective candidates will be busy circulating their nomination petitions to get on the ballot. Come March 8 and we should have some idea of who is qualified.

District 9 covers Lincoln-Larimer, East Hills, Homewood and parts of other adjacent neighborhoods in the far east end of the city.

Here are several very important questions: What are the specific boundary lines for District 9 as redrawn in 2022? How many polling districts are in the district?  How many registered voters are in the district? Ask the Allegheny County Elections department for this information.

We must also demand from the county large hard copy detailed maps, similar in size to their pre-online local legislative maps, with the 32 city wards and street names in District 9.

The candidates are preparing themselves. The District 9 Black community must prepare itself.

District 9 is diverse by income, race, and other categories, each category has its own particular interests.

In the mix, the Black community must inform itself and organize itself to define, defend and promote its interests, and just as important to carry its share of the load in coalitions and struggles with its various allies who have similar interests.

In 2023, we are bombarded, aroundthe-clock, with news reports on the war in Ukraine, political conflicts in White America, gun violence in Black Pitts-

by A. Peter Bailey (TriceEdneyWire.com)

burgh, runaway inflation, and reports on other very important events. To varying degrees, they all affect District 9.

In the deluge, we have to inform ourselves on the history of District 9 politics. Look back to move forward. Four city council members, Bishop Duane Darkins (1990-1994), Valerie McDonald-Roberts (1994-2002), Twanda Carlisle (20022007), and the Reverend Ricky Burgess (2008-present) have represented District 9 since the first by-district city council elections in 1989.

One critical issue we must raise is the record of District 9 elected officials in keeping their constituents informed on the issues facing the City of Pittsburgh.

Information is essential. Access, that is accessibility, is essential for information. And “Accessibility” should be made a major issue in the current District 9 Pittsburgh city council contest.

Also, get the elections results for at least the 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 District 9 elections. They are online at the Allegheny County Election division.

In two years, the 1965 Voting Rights Act will be sixty years old. The Black community must review and critique this epic era in African American social struggle.

Here is a very important question to ask. “Has the Black Vote achieved all of what Black people expected during the long hard decades of struggle before the Voting Rights Act?” For example, see Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1957 speech, “Give us the Ballot’”

Here is a very important District 9 question for us, “Has District 9 politics came anywhere near close to delivering what was expected of a by-distinct city council during the decades of local struggles against the antiquated at-large Pittsburgh city council system?”

In 1950, Pittsburgh was the 12th largest US city. Today it is the 68th largest US city.  We also must have the demographic data on Pittsburgh since 1945 to identify the long-term trends that have impacted the entire Pittsburgh region which encompasses the communities in District 9.

With this basic information, you can go to District 9 Meet the Candidates forums and critique the candidates, critique the forum sponsors, and most important critique community politics.

You can also use this information to organize a small or a large Black political think tank with family members, or at church or social clubs—what best suits you. This would substantially increase the power, sophistication and influence of Pittsburgh Black politics.

In Pittsburgh City Council District 9, “African Americans Vote.”  But the “Black Vote” alone all by itself is not sufficient. The Black community must be informed and engaged, that is it must be politically mobilized, educated, organized and Vote.

-

Between 1965 and 1992, Ebony Magazine

always focused on one subject in its August issue. The subject for August 1979 was “Black on Black Crime: The Causes, The Consequences, The Cures.” Anyone seriously concerned about that subject today should take the time to read that issue. It has analysis, information and proposed solutions that are just as relevant today as it was in 1979.

One of the most important of its items is The Publisher’s Statement by Mr. John A. Johnson, Ebony’s Publisher. His opening paragraph includes the following: “This is a special issue on an explosive issue of special concern to every man, woman and child in

Black America….It is perhaps the most important special issue from the standpoint of the strength and stability of the Black community that we have ever published in the past 16 years….It is our belief and it is the basic premise of this issue that Black on Black Crime has reached a critical level that threatens our existence as a people. It is a threat to our young, to our women, to our senior citizens, to our institutions, to our values. And although we are not responsible for the external factors that systematically create breeding grounds for social disorder, we cannot avoid the internal responsibility of doing everything we can to solve a problem that is rending the fabric of ourselves.”

That was Mr. Johnson’s opening statement. His closing paragraph was

equally powerful. He stated, “That we must return to that family spirit that enabled our ancestors to survive slavery and segregation. There was a time—and it wasn’t too long ago— when Black communities in America were surrounded by circles of mutual support and sustenance that protected the Black child no matter how far he wondered and that condemned the Black violator no matter how high he rose. We have come to a hard place in our history that calls for the reforging of the shattered links in the circle of solidarity and mutual support. For when all is said and done, the only truly safe place for any of us is our neighbor’s and our brother’s and sister’s hearts.”

That statement is as relevant today as it was when made in 1979.

TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless

The Shapiro/Davis inauguration

Harrisburg, Pa.—1.17.23

In last week’s The 2023 ‘Spirit of King’ Awards photos two names were incorrectly listed under the photos. The correct spelling of the names are Eric Wells and Evelyn Newsome. We regret the error.

New

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS 2023 PHASE 1 RFP #125-01-23

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):

Project Based Vouchers 2023 Phase 1

The documents will be available no later than February 6, 2023 and signed sealed proposals for Phase 1 will be accepted until 9:00 A.M. on March 2, 2023. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on March 2, 2023 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquiries should be directed to:

Mr. James Harris

Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on February 16, 2023 at 9:00 A.M. Please see meeting information below:

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 839 9336 5128

Passcode: 758885 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

HACP 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.

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH

Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on February 14, 2023, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for:

Pgh Sterrett Classical Academy, Pgh Fulton PreK-5, Pgh. Lincoln PreK-5, Pgh. Dilworth K-5 and Pgh Linden K-5

Whiteboard Installations

General Primes

Pgh. Perry High School

PA System Upgrades

Electrical Primes

Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on January 23, 2022 , at Modern

Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

LEGAL ADVERTISING

FEBRUARY 8-14, 2023

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.B.A. PRT

Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on February 17, 2023 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following:

Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

Bid Number Bid Name

1 B22-12-125A Cleaning Solvent Service

2 B23-01-04A Meritor Drive Train Parts

To join the bid opening through Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer, mobile app or room device Meeting ID: 288 701 524 080

Passcode: dTzbD6

Or call in (audio only) 412-927-0245 Phone Conference ID: 752 348 590#

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 via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 AM, February 2, 2023 as well as through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conference.

To join the pre-bid meeting through Microsoft Teams on your computer, mobile app or room device Meeting ID: 211 559 046 258 Passcode: nSCcYg

Or call in (audio only) 412-927-0245 Phone Conference ID: 928 670 254#

Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT 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 d.b.a. PRT 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 d.b.a. PRT 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.

COUNTY

ALLEGHENY

Maintenance

LEGAL ADVERTISING Trust Termination

Sharon L Whitney 300 Fifth Ave, 31st Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 And/or: Trace L. Zihmer, Esquire 3244 Washington Road Suite 210 McMurray, PA 15317

3 7 9

5 8 0

4 1

Separate and sealed Bid Proposals will be received electronically starting on February 7, 2023 and February 10, 2023 respectfully for:

2023-IFB-285 -Frazier Street Steps Construction

2023-RFP-282 -Downing Street Steps Engineering

Information on solicitations is available on the City of Pittsburgh website: http://purchasing.pittsburghpa.gov

Bid proposals are requested on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh. All bids must be submitted via the above website and all required documents must be provided or the bid proposal may be considered non-responsive. The contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for Federally Assisted construction contracts. The contractor must assure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Attention is called to Executive Order 11246, to Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, 12 U.S.C. 1701U, and to the Section 3 Clause and Regulations set forth in 24 CFR, Part 135.

The Contractor will be required to comply with the following laws, rules and regulations:

All provisions of US Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended by US Executive Order 11375 and as supplemented in US Department of Labor Regulations (41 CFR, Part 60), and of the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the US Secretary of Labor.

Contractor shall comply with all applicable standards, orders, or requirements issued of the Clean Air Act (42 USC 1857 et. seq.), Section 508 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1368), Executive Order 11738, and Environmental Protection Agency regulations (40 CFR, Part 15)

Contractor shall comply with the Davis-Bacon Act the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276a to 276a-7) as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR part 5)

Procedures for compliance to these acts shall be as follows:

All specifications for construction contracts and subcontracts will contain the prevailing wage rates (as enclosed in this bid package) as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276-a to 276-C-5) and provision that overtime compensation will be paid in accordance with the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act Regulations (29 CFR, Parts 5 and 1926). The contract provisions shall require that these standards be met.

Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity (Executive Order 11246):

Bidder’s attention is called to the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth in 41 CFR Public Contracts and Property Management Part 60-4.3 Equal Opportunity Clauses.

Goals for minority participation: 18%

Goals for female participation: 7%

These goals are applicable to all construction work (whether or not Federal or Federally-Assisted) performed in the “covered area.”

As used in this notice, and in the contract resulting from this solicitation, the “covered area” is Pittsburgh SMSA (Allegheny, Washington, Beaver and Westmoreland counties).

The contractor shall comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1988, as amended, Section 109 of the Community Development Act of 1974, with Executive Order 11625 (Minority Business Enterprise) and Executive Order 12138 (Women’s Business Enterprise)

Contract Documents may be examined and obtained at the Engineering office of the Authority. A non-refundable fee of One hundred dollars ($100) (no cash or credit cards will be accepted) will be charged for each set of Contract Documents received. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check or Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price. Contract documents must be purchased directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder.

Any questions regarding the Technical Aspects of the Contract Documents should be directed to Joseph Fedor, Environmental Scientist II, ALCOSAN via email to joseph.Fedor@alcosan.org

Any questions regarding the Purchase of Contract Bidding Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email to contract.clerks@alcosan.org .

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Michael Lichte, P.E. Director of Regional Conveyance

Estate of O’TOOLE ARLENE N. A/K/A O’TOOLE ARLENE Deceased of ROSS TOWNSHIP, NO. 00474 of 2023, Executor, Brian T. O’Toole, 117 Oesterle Ln, Pittsburgh, PA 15214, or to MICHAEL J. SALDAMARCO,

The Proposers will be required to submit the package of certifications included with the contract documents relating to Equal Employment Opportunity. Vendors submitting responses on federally funded projects must register on SAM.gov and provide proof of registration.

The City of Pittsburgh reserves the right to withhold the award of contract for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the opening of bids.

Classifieds

412-481-8302 Ext. 134

ads@newpittsburghcourier.com Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule

for copy, corrections, and

NEW

PITTSBURGH COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

RFP#600-05-23

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):

Professional Environmental Services

The documents will be available no later than January 30, 2023 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until: 9:00 AM on February 21, 2023. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 9:00 AM on February 21, 2023 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to:

James Harris Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2915

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on February 9, 2023 at 9:00 AM.

Please see meeting information

below:

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 897 8894 1144

Passcode: 383388

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP 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.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

(RFP) FOR GROUP TERM LIFE, AD&D AND LTD BENEFITS

RFP# 650-28-22 REBID

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):

Group Term Life, AD&D and LTD Benefits

The documents will be available no later than January 30, 2023 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until: 10:00 AM on February 21, 2023. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 10:00 AM on February 21, 2023 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org.

Questions or inquiries should be directed to:

Mr. James Harris Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Legal Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2915

A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on February 9, 2023. Please see meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 4367 9287 Passcode: 541559 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. HACP 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

HILLTOP ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Since 2007 Hilltop Alliance has worked collaboratively to preserve and create community assets across South Pittsburgh’s Hilltop (Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Knoxville, Mt. Oliver Borough, Mt. Oliver City, Mt. Washington, South Side Slopes and St. Clair)

The Executive Director is the chief executive of the Hilltop Alliance, reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker responsible for the day-to-day operations, relationships with stakeholders, and management of development projects, program design, financial management, and implementation of long-term plans. For a full detailed position announcement and instructions to be considered for this position, please go to https://www.pittsburghhilltopalliance. org/our-people and click on “Job Description” under the Executive Director heading.

PPG Industries, Inc. seeks Director, AI/ML in Pittsburgh, PA to be responsible for building & executing an Artificial Intel./Machine Learning & Digital Analytics roadmap acrss all PPG bus. & functions as well as dvlpng & applying creative solutions to bus. prblms. Must be willing & able to travel to client locations up to 25%. Apply online at ppg.com

SENIOR ADJUSTER

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Senior Adjuster to perform investigation and settlement of assigned claims and other assignments as assigned.

Essential Functions:

· Investigate each claim through prompt and courteous contact with appropriate parties such as claimants, witnesses, medical providers and technical experts to determine extent of liability and damages.

· Obtain all investigative reports, i.e., Police, CIB, Medical Records etc. needed for successful disposition of each claim.

· Maintain effective diary system for appropriate claim management.

· Document claim file activities in Riskmaster.

· Prompt and proper disposition of all claims within assigned authority in accordance with established guidelines.

Job Requirements include:

· High School Diploma or GED.

· BS/BA degree in Criminal Justice, Business Management or related field. Directly related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

· Minimum of two (2) years general liability and property damage claims experience.

· Customer service oriented with the ability to handle emotionally charged situations.

· Professional and effective communication skills.

· Excellent organizational and planning abilities.

· Valid PA driver’s license.

· Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows.

Preferred attributes:

· Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Word and Access.

ASSISTANT MANAGERWORKERS COMPENSATION

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking an Assistant ManagerWorkers Compensation to Assist in managing the Workers’ Compensation function, including legal compliance, contract administration and processing of claims in accordance with the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act.

Essential Functions:

· Manages the daily workflow of all assigned Workers’ Compensation staff. Prepares all fiscal year goals and objectives for assigned staff and submits those to the Director of Claims for review and approval. Prepares all performance reviews of all staff members and conducts performance reviews with all assigned staff.

· Coordinates efforts necessary to administer the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act.

· Handles communication with legal counsel on workers’ compensation cases; and assists with any communication with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation regarding Workers’ Compensation cases.

· Consults with physicians representing Port Authority on medical issues for cases requiring legal action; authorizes and approves state mandated indemnity and medical benefits.

Job requirements include:

· BA/BS in Business Administration, Human Resources Management or directly related field. Additional experience in Workers’ Compensation compliance and processing may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

· Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in Workers’ Compensation compliance and processing.

· Minimum of one (1) year supervisory experience.

· Effective and professional communication skills.

· Demonstrated ability in the use of Windows, Word, and Excel.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted MT. LEBANON, PA POLICE OFFICER TESTING MT. LEBANON POLICE DEPARTMENT will be conducting a physical agility and written exam for POLICE OFFICER on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Starting at $73,886 annually. Must be a U.S. citizen; 21 years of age at hire; bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university at hire; pass physical, written, oral exams plus a comprehensive background investigation. Full test requirements, description and application may be obtained at https://mtlebanon.bamboohr. com/careers/147.

Deadline ending no later than 4:00 pm, March 16, 2023. Mt. Lebanon provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment based on competence, merit, performance, and business needs. We are committed to valuing the diversity of all individuals without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other classification protected by law. Reasonable accommodations for the needs of otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities will be made upon request to the Human Resource Office at 412-343-3625 or bcross@mtlebanon.org.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER - ALTOONA POLICE DEPARTMENT Applications for Police Officer with the City of Altoona can be obtained from the Human Resources Department of City Hall Monday through Friday between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. For additional information or an application, please visit www.altoonapa.gov. Completed applications must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than Noon on Friday, March 3, 2023. Human Resources Department 1301 12th Street, Suite 400 Altoona, PA 16601

The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527

MRamsey@RidePRT.org EOE

LEAD, WORKLOAD & CAPACITY PLANNING American Eagle Outfitters’ Pittsburgh, PA, office seeks a Lead, Workload & Capacity Planning . This is a hybrid office/work-from-home position that will be responsible for analyzing and forecasting store headcount capacity, sales and shipment to ensure stores can complete workload effectively to maximize value and minimize costs. Send CV with cover letter, references, and salary requirements to Jobsaeoinc@ae.com.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume to:

Missy Ramsey Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 MRamsey@RidePRT.org EOE

SENIOR ROBOTICS SOFTWARE ENGINEER Locomation, Inc. (Pgh, PA) to be rspnsbl for blding the co’s autmte drvng tech from dsgn thru mnfctrng & tstng. Master’s in Cmptr Scnc, Elctrcl & Cmptr or Rbtcs Engnrig or rel field, plus 5 yrs prev work exp in rel position invlvng dev. of sftwre in the field of either slf-drving vhcls, autnms mble rbtcs, autmtn or AI. Five years w/blding sftwre based on SDLC; wrkng w/cmmn rbtcs mddlewr & frmwrks such as ROS & DDS; dvlping snsr fusion (camera imges, LiDAR point clouds, IMU/INS rdings, etc.) prcssing algrthms; fltring algrthms such as EKF & ESKF; trjctry prdction; bhvior plnning; bsic prttyping of AI & rbtcs applctions; and C/C++ & Python prgrmmng lngs. Send resumes to jobs@locomation.ai.

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP.

SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking an INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AUTISTIC SUPPORT

Complete job description and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org

Applications must be received by 4:00 PM February 14, 2023

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MULTIPLE FOOD SERVICE Positions available Complete job descriptions and directions on how to apply are available at: www.southfayette.org

Applications must be received by 4:00 PM February 14, 2023, or until positions are filled

Aurora Innovation, Inc. seeks Senior Autonomy Engineer in Pittsburgh, PA to develop product requirements for autonomy behaviors. Email resumes to Mary Ellen Mahoney at jobs@aurora.tech using ref# 00201.

Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts to make history as first Black starting quarterbacks to face each other in a Super Bowl

co 49ers, his performance playing behind a battered line in Super Bowl LV (55) gave him no chance against the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a 31-9 loss. The Chiefs were starting to become the villain team in the NFL due to his brother, Jackson, and his then-fiance, Brittany. Jackson Mahomes disgustingly danced on the number of revered Washington player Sean Taylor, during a game in Washington in 2021. Taylor was killed during a robbery attempt at his home in 2007. As for Brittany (now Patrick Mahomes’ wife), she’s had a history of wild Twitter rants and shows too much entitlement. After the Chiefs lost the AFC Championship game to the Cincinnati Bengals last season, some

people started to “dance on his grave,” with unnecessary claims that Mahomes had maxed out his ability. What was he going to do without star receiver Tyreek Hill, who moved on to Miami? Can he overcome a subpar defense? Has he peaked too soon? As for Hurts, he was the starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide for two years. On college football’s biggest stage, the 2018 national championship game against Georgia, Hurts was benched by his head coach, Nick Saban, in favor of Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa brought Alabama back in a stunning win over Georgia, and grabbed all the fanfare. To his credit, Hurts showed character. He was the ultimate teammate that night and he stayed at Alabama knowing that he was no

longer the starter because he wanted to finish his degree in communication and information sciences.

Eventually, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma, where he excelled with 3,851 passing yards, the most in a single season in his college career. Hurts was drafted in the second round in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, right after the Eagles gave quarterback Carson Wentz a four-year, $128-million contract extension and Hurts again had to play backup to begin his career. But Wentz struggled through the season and got benched.

Hurts had his opportunity, and he went through his newcomer struggles as the Eagles went 4-11-

1. Hurts was doubted by most people in Philadelphia that he could truly be the long-term starting

quarterback of the Eagles. But over time, “Hurts” only “helped” the Eagles. With new head coach Nick Sirianni, Hurts was able to use his legs more while simultaneously improving his pocket presence and passing accuracy. This year, the Eagles started 8-0 and were the talk of the NFL. They earned the top seed in the NFC playoffs and Hurts has been on the center stage ever since.

As these two men make history and follow the legacy of Doug Williams 35 years ago, both Mahomes and Hurts acknowledged how special the moment will be on Sunday, Feb. 12, when the two Black quarterbacks go head to head.

“I think it’s history,” Hurts said to reporters on Feb. 2. “I think it’s something that’s worthy of being noted and it is histo-

ry. It’s come a long way. I think it’s only been seven African American quarterbacks to play in the Super Bowl, so to be the first for something is pretty cool. I know it will be a good one.”

“I have a lot of respect for the guys that came before me and laid the foundation,” Mahomes said during the NFL’s Opening Night festivities in Arizona, Feb. 6. “There’s so many other greats that battled to get that starting position. So, they gave me the position to be here.”

Who could forget Doug Williams’ masterful performance in Super Bowl XXII (22), a 42-10 win over Denver for the Washington (then-Redskins).

The first Black starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Since Williams, there have been six Black

Courier sportswriters predict the Super Bowl winner...

Super Bowl LVII looks

A Super Black History Month moment will be played out on a grand stage for the world to see. KC Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes and Philly Eagles QB Jalen Hurts will be the first time ever Black signal-callers square off at the Big Dance . . . HOORAH!!!

The fact that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face off against his brother Jason Kelce, center for the Philly Eagles, has to be unbelievable odds...but here’s a fun fact for you. The odds of me watching Rihanna in the halftime show are even greater! That’s right, I said it...

and every cat out there over 60 is thinking it. Bring on Earth, Wind and Fire please! That being said, R&B legend “Babyface” singing “America the Beautiful,” that I can get with. And if he breaks out into “This Is For The Cool In You,” I won’t be mad at you! Speaking of Super Bowl QBs, here are your five greatest Super Bowl quarterbacks of all time. #1 Terry Bradshaw, #2 Joe Montana, #3 Tom Brady, #4 Doug Williams, #5 Troy Aikman. That’s it, end of story, if you disagree, you know the drill, call me! That means you, “Big Ed” at Ace. 412628-4856. Your Super Bowl winner will be the team I told you would win back in August at training camp. The Kansas City Chiefs will beat the Philadelphia Eagles. And that, little Johnny, you can take to the bank! Score: Chiefs 31, Eagles 24

to be a good one. The Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in what looks to me to be a high scoring affair. The Chiefs were the top scoring offense in the league, dropping 29.2 points per game while the Eagles were third overall, scoring 28.1.

Defensively, the Eagles ranked eighth overall

allowing 20.2 points per game while the Eagles ranked 16th, allowing 21.7. While the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and his amazing talents, I can’t bet against the Eagles and Jalen Hurts. Hurts is a winner and has proven that through college and now the pros. The Eagles are the better team running the football and will control the clock while Hurts limits mistakes and leads his team up and down the field. They also have the better defense, one that will pressure Mahomes consistently. I expect a lot of action and a game for the ages with the Eagles coming out on top. Score: Eagles 31, Chiefs 27

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles have been the two most consistent teams all year long. However, I think it would be foolish to bet against Patrick Mahomes. But I will and

When attempting to analyze the Super Bowl between the Eagles and Chiefs, one component stands out; defense. The defense of the Eagles had a league-leading 70 regular season sacks and 8 more in the postseason. When the opposing team chooses to run the ball, they clog up the middle and force the back to run laterally, and swarm-tackles

here is why. The men in the trenches will make a difference on Sunday, Feb. 12, for the Philadelphia Eagles. The offensive line takes over the game and the player who will benefit the most is Miles

quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl—Steve McNair, for the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV (34); Donovan McNabb, for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX (39); Colin Kaepernick, for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII (47); Russell Wilson, for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowls XLVIII (48) and XLIX (49); Cam Newton, for the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50; and Mahomes.

Sunday, Feb. 12, will show that Black men are more than capable of leading their teams, and it’s the hope that scouts, front-office personnel and media alike can appreciate what Black quarterbacks can do from Day 1. (Rob Taylor Jr. contributed to this story.)

the runner. When the offense passes the ball, they employ and disguise the perfect mix of man-to-man and zone coverages to bait any inexperienced or experienced quarterback into committing costly picks by causing them to throw prematurely and by causing fumbles and sacks by holding onto the ball too long. If Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, due to a previous ankle injury, is less than 90 percent, the Chiefs will ultimately lose the time of possession battle, thereby dooming their chances. Score: Eagles 21, Chiefs 17

Sanders, who I predict will be Super Bowl MVP. Also, the worst unit on either team is the Chiefs secondary and that will be exploited.

Score: Eagles 34, Chiefs 27

JALEN HURTS OF THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES PATRICK MAHOMES OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

SUPER BOWL FROM A1