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BLACK MEDIA PERSONALITIES SHINE WPXI’s Lisa Sylvester among those who won Regional Emmy Awards Page A2

Pittsburgh Courier NEW

www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 111 No. 39

Two Sections

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

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A WIN-WIN FOR MCKEESPORT Students at the high school and middle school receive free computers and Internet access

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

NBC’s “Today Show” co-anchor Craig Melvin had to hop on a plane from Manhattan to McKeesport; the surprise so big and so vital to the community that the surprise had to be revealed live on national television.

Flanked by McKeesport High School cheerleaders, the band, some football players and school district officials, everyone pretty much lost it on Friday morning, Sept. 18, when they saw a truck filled with thousands of Dell laptop computers. Melvin announced during the onslaught of excitement that each McKeesport High School and Middle School student and teacher would receive their own computer to keep for free, along with a one year of free Internet access. It was all thanks to Comcast and its Internet Essentials program.

“I really feel like, finally, the kids get a break,” said

an emotional McKeesport Area School District Superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr. on the NBC broadcast. “They get what they deserve, and they deserve it.”

The coronavirus pandemic has further magnified the digital divide in school systems across the country.

Some school districts, such as North Allegheny and Mt. Lebanon, are home to families with higher incomes, and those homes are more prone to having computers and Internet access for their children.

But in local school districts like Pittsburgh and McKeesport, many families are classified as low-income, making children in the home more susceptible to not having computers or Internet access. Without either technology, students are unable to access their classes from home, which has been the rule rather than the exception in many districts across the country, including Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Public

NBC “TODAY SHOW” CO-ANCHOR CRAIG MELVIN surprised McKeesport High School students on national television with free laptop computers and free Internet access, Sept. 18. It was made possible through Comcast and its Internet Essentials program. (Photo courtesy Comcast) Schools district is having all 23,000 students learn from home for at least the next six weeks.

McKeesport’s school district has roughly 3,200 students, more than 40 percent African American.

NBC News reported that 65 percent of the students in the district live below the poverty line. And it’s been a tough road for the school district, as it tried to juggle just how to reopen or not reopen the physical

school locations, and how it could provide laptop computers to all students who needed them for homebased learning.

The pandemic also came with the challenges of many of the district’s stu-

dents and parents being employed, but at the same time, increasing the possibly of being exposed to COVID-19 while at work, or heading to and from SEE MCKEESPORT A4

‘It’s not easy being a Black Wiles’ passion for poetry man on the autism spectrum’ earns him top honors A first-person essay

by Joseph Vernon Smith

by Rob Taylor Jr.

For New Pittsburgh Courier

A war is being raged in this country against discrimination and stigma. It has been waged for as long as I can remember, but people are still being shunned because of their different skill sets and the hues of their skin.

Though the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act made it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities, there are still malevolent forces seeking to undermine the hard work activists have been doing for years to neutralize the venomous stigma of discrimination.

We have a long way to go.

Until then, I can tell you: It’s not easy being a Black man on the autism spectrum.

Ever since I was born, I have lived in the struggle of being perceived as aggressive or as a criminal.

There is a lot of stigma about being Black in today’s society. I live in constant fear of being arrested by the police or being per-

Anthony Wiles Jr. just one of five ‘National Student Poets’ in the country Courier Staff Writer

JOSEPH VERNON SMITH, at his job at Giant Eagle in Crafton.

(Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource) ceived as creepy because I do things differently due to my autism. As a photographer, when I take photos in public or do photo shoots, I fear that I might be perceived as someone with ill intent.

This is a very critical time for me in this coun-

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try. I have not only been bombarded with news reports about Black people being disproportionately affected by COVID-19 but also with reports of Black men and women being killed—or murdered—by police because of our skin.

The recent death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police has made me aware that being Black may be a death sentence for me.

It really makes me anSEE AUTISM A6

Sometimes, it can be a cruel, cruel world out there.

And when it is, poetry is Anthony Wiles Jr.’s outlet.

“I’ve found a home in poetry, that I can seek refuge in,” Wiles told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview.

The junior at Sewickley Academy also said poetry is “where I can find joy, solace and upliftment.

When I write poetry, I feel unstoppable, I feel like I have a voice.”

Wiles, 16, has been writing since the fifth grade, but didn’t get into poetry until the eighth grade.

And in just a few years, Wiles has become one of the best young poets in the country.

And that’s not hyperbole.

Wiles was recently named a National Student Poet, the nation’s highest honor for youth poets presenting original work.

The National Student Poets Program is a partnership of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the most presti-

ANTHONY WILES JR. gious scholarship and recognition program for the country’s young artists and writers.

The National Student Poets were selected from students in grades 10-11 who submitted more than 20,000 works in the Scholastic Awards. There were 35 semi-finalists identified as the most gifted young poets across the country, and, out of the semi-finalists, five winners were chosen, characterized by region. Wiles is represent-

ing the Northeast region, Isabella Ramirez (Florida) represents the Southeast, Ethan Wang (Texas) represents the Southwest, Manasi Greg (California) represents the West, and Madelyn Dietz (Minnesota) represents the Midwest. The five winners collectively are the 2020 National Student Poets.

Throughout the year, the National Student Poets will serve as literary amSEE WILES A3

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METRO

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Lisa Sylvester among local journalists to receive Emmy Awards Today’s local television newscasts don’t look like the ones your grandpa grew up watching.

Anchors are sitting at a desk, standing in place, walking while talking, and are even using touchscreens to switch to a new graphic as the viewers watch.

Channel 11’s “WPXI Tonight” (at 11 p.m.) even has a Pittsburgh skyline that’s in motion in the backdrop while anchors David Johnson and Lisa Sylvester present the news.

Today’s newscast is a cavalcade of moving parts; still, Sylvester can give the news in a firm, but warm

manner, without going overboard.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, during the 2020 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards, Sylvester took home the Emmy Award for best news anchor.

It’s hardly the first award for the seasoned Sylvester, who, before coming to

WPXI in 2013, worked at CNN and ABC. But the late night news has been a must-watch for Pittsburghers during the coronavirus pandemic. Viewers of news on both the local and national level have risen since March, when the pandemic forced schools and businesses to close.

Joining Sylvester in local Black media personalities winning a 2020 Regional Emmy were Chris Moore, Minette Seatte and Emmai Alaquiva. Seatte and Moore won in the Historic/Cultural Program/ Special category, for their series, “The Good Fight.”

The series explored African American men and women who served in wars for the U.S., “even when their country didn’t always serve them,” as it’s quoted on WQED’s website.

Alaquiva won in the Commercial—Single Spot category, for “3Rs Poetry Slam for Boys and Girls Club” of Western Pennsylvania.

LISA SYLVESTER

MINETTE SEATE, front left, and Chris Moore, top right, with World War II Veteran Eugene Boyer Jr., and his son, Eugene Boyer III.

EMMAI ALAQUIVA

Attention job-seekers—PA CareerLink now accepting in-person appointments The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that PA CareerLink has reopened their two locations in Downtown Pittsburgh and Forest Hills, though by appointment only.

The longtime company that connects job seekers with employment opportunities is open for in-person visits at 304

THE NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER PUBLISHING COMPANY

Wood St., Downtown, and 2040 Ardmore Blvd., Forest Hills, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The limited on-site services include: copying and faxing documents for unemployment compensation office; employer services; individual customer appointments to complete program paperwork for Workforce;

innovation programs; an educational assessment; and use of the PA CareerLink resource room for job search activity.

Services that will still be provided virtually include: adult education classes; employer services; career counseling; eligibility determination for Workforce Innovation programs and

service; job search assistance; on-the-job training programs; resume assistance; workshops; and youth programming and work-readiness services.

Social distancing and mitigation recommendations will be followed, and unemployment compensation courtesy telephones will not be available until

further notice.

For regular unemployment compensation questions, call 1-888-313-7284, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or email uchelp@ pa.gov.

For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance questions, call 1-888284-8545, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or email

ucpua@pa.gov.

To schedule an in-person appointment at one of PA CareerLink’s two offices, call 412-552-7100 (Downtown) or 412-4362225 (Forest Hills). An appointment can also be scheduled at www.careerlink pittsburgh.com.

Stanley Crouch, the outspoken, influential critic, dies at 74

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Never once to mince words, spark controversy or challenge one’s way of thinking, Stanley Crouch died on Sept. 16. He was 74. His wife, Gloria Nixon Crouch, said he died at a hospice in New York City. He had suffered a stroke some years prior.

The New York Post categorized Crouch as a “contentious and influential critic, columnist and self-taught Renaissance man who in fiction and nonfiction was inspired by his knowledge and love of blues and jazz and his impulse to step over the line.”

The New Pittsburgh Courier’s J. Pharoah Doss reflects on Crouch in his column on Page B6.

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Wiles’ passion for poetry earns him top honors WILES FROM A1

bassadors and share their passion for poetry, literacy and the literacy arts with their communities and regions. This will be done via service projects, workshops and public readings. Each National Student Poet will also receive a $5,000 academic award.

For Wiles, poetry is personal.

“For too long, whether it be because I was Black, gay and everything in between, I had no voice, I was silenced,” he told the Courier. “In poetry, I found my voice.

I was able to speak freely and be myself, free from harm. Now, I want to show others that they, too, have a home in poetry. I want to give voice to the voiceless.”

Among the poems Wiles submitted for the competition were: “We Went Home to Crystal,” “Know Not I, But of Appalachia,” “An Ode to Home” and “For My Fellow Christians.” Wiles said he wrote “For My Fellow Christians” as a “reflection piece.” Wiles said the poem expresses his frustration “with the way the LGBTQIA+ community is treated by many who call themselves Christians. I grew up in the Evangelical church, and am still a devout Christian, but I’ve seen many treat me and my fellow LGBTQIA+ community members in ways that defy the teachings of Christ, and do not uphold Christian values.”

And in his piece, “We Went Home to Crystal,” Wiles wrote it based off

the first time he visited his maternal familial hometown—Crystal, West Virginia. Crystal is a small community located in Mercer County, near the southern edge of the state. Wiles said his family has lived there for 100 years.

Quite the deep thinker, Wiles told the Courier he identifies as “Affrilachian”—African American and Appalachian, because, during his research of his family’s roots, he knew some members of his family originated in the Appalachian regions of North Carolina and North Georgia. They also originated in Southwestern Virginia, “near the Cumberland Gap,” he said.

The term “Affrilachian” was started by another poet, Frank X. Walker, whom Wiles considers his “poet inspirateur.”

Walker, who also is an associate professor in the English department at the University of Kentucky, founded the “Affrilachian Poets,” a collective of Black poets from the Appalachian regions, formed in the early ‘90s.

Walker, who is from Danville, Ky., felt that “People from the Appalachians” only referred to White people from that region, which stretches through a number of Eastern and Southern states, including most of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and parts of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama. Since then, Walker has made it part of his mission to inspire future generations of Affrilachian po-

ets. Wiles also identified Crystal Wilkinson and Crystal Good as inspirational poets in the Affrilachian category. Wiles considers himself an Affrilachian writer.

“Ever since ninth grade, I’ve been writing about the people, places and stories that compose my identity, my being,” he said.

And for Wiles, his poem, “Know Not I, But of Appalachia,” was the poem that propelled the Sewickley Academy high-schooler to national prominence as a National Student Poet: “I come not from Caribs and Tainos, Sugar-cane plantation African slaves and free West Indian Creoles, Dutch, French and British slavers, but from Sapponys and Cherokees, Tri-racial isolate groups, Melungeons, free and enslaved Africans, Scots-Irish farmers—both master and indentured,” part of the poem reads.

“Know not I of the islands of the Caribbean Sea,” the poem continues, “which jut from the water, with names like Tortola and Trinidad, but of the rugged emerald-mountains of Appalachia, crisscrossed by rivers and creeks that carve out, valleys like Shenandoah and Kanawha, where there are people just like me.”

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

Know Not I, But of Appalachia

By Anthony Wiles Jr.

Know not I of the islands of the Caribbean Sea Which jut from the water, with names like Tortola and Trinidad But of the rugged, emerald mountains of Appalachia Crisscrossed by rivers and creeks That carve out valleys such as the Shenandoah and Kanawha Know not I of the waterside towns of Charlotte Amalie and Port of Spain Where seas of tourists and locals fuse to form Cosmopolitan enclaves But of (nearly) abandoned holler towns like Crystal and McComas Where gas stations and the occasional general store are the Only people-bringers I come not from Caribs and Tainos Sugar-cane plantation African slaves and free West Indian Creoles Dutch, French and British slavers, But from Sapponys and Cherokees Tri-racial isolate groups, Melungeons Free and enslaved Africans Scots-Irish farmers-both master and indentured I listen not to Soca and Dancehall, Calypso and Reggae Where Shenseea, Kes, Koffee, Marley, and Machel are stars But to Bluegrass and Country Where Rhiannon and Dolly, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and Valerie June reign supreme Lily-white as they (some) may be I eat not rice and peas, Mangos and rum Curry Goat But beans and cornbread Apricots and moonshine Pig’s Feet Yet somehow these people, places, things I come from, That I am of Do not (supposedly) look like me And thus, I sought refuge In people, places, things That (VAGUELY) resembled me, Represented me Where I did not see myself, I fashioned anew Yet always yearned to see myself in what I always knew For Appalachia is home But for all I knew, It was the place I wasn’t meant to be I saw myself in nothing I’d always embraced as my own For Appalachia was fed to me As not to be proud of, To embrace as my own A place of despair and disrepair Where nothing of value and culture exists Where people like me Do not exist So to the West Indies I went Leaving my heart in Appalachia My identity caught-up in This jumble of geography But alas I came home To find a place where my heart was at peace Where my identity could rest and be nurtured Where I could be me Know not I of the islands of the Caribbean Sea Which jut from the water, with names like Tortola and Trinidad But of the rugged emerald-mountains of Appalachia Crisscrossed by rivers and creeks that carve out Valleys like Shenandoah and Kanawha Where there are people just like me

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METRO

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

A WIN-WIN FOR MCKEESPORT Students at the high school and middle school receive free computers and Internet access

COMPUTER ELITE—The Dell laptop shown proudly by a Comcast representative is the one all McKeesport High School and Middle School students will receive for free. The suprise announcement was made on national television, Sept. 18. (Photos courtesy Comcast)

MCKEESPORT FROM A1

work. In some wealthier school districts, parents could work from home, oftentimes earning the same salary, without being exposed to the outside

world. And the youth in these wealthier districts oftentimes don’t have to work for the financial betterment of the household.

“There were a lot of struggles,” Holtzman said on NBC. “Education really

took a backseat, because we were worried about meeting the children’s needs, and what was their home life like, and what (were) some challenges they were facing; were they getting enough to

eat...”

Comcast is more than just the dominant cable TV provider in Pittsburgh—they’re one of the world’s major media companies. Comcast owns NBCUniversal, is the top Internet provider in the U.S., and owns the film studio Universal Studios.

A decade ago, the company began its Internet Essentials program as a way to bridge the gap between low-income families

and Internet access. Eligible low-income families can sign up for Internet Essentials for $9.95 per month, but much of Internet Essentials’ impact comes from a collaboration between public and private entities.

Comcast has recently partnered with more than 70 schools to provide Internet access to students in Pittsburgh, Portland, Chicago, Atlanta, Sacramento and Arlington, Va.

And you can now add McKeesport to the list.

“We’ve seen firsthand that low-cost Internet access is an important part of improving digital equity and creating positive opportunities for low-income students and families,” said Dana Strong, President of Xfinity Consumer Services, on Comcast’s website. “Through this new partnership program, we are accelerating the efforts of cities, schools,

philanthropies, nonprofits, and private citizens to collaborate and open the doors of Internet access for more families in need.”

“They’re the greatest group in the world, our staff, our students,” Holtzman said. “The idea that they (the students) need us; we need them. They teach us as many lessons as we’re able to teach them. And we’re very proud to continue to move them in the direction that they all can have success in the future, in whatever they choose to do.”

The entire celebration on the morning of Sept.

18 took place on McKeesport’s football field.

Even though NBC’s cameras left the scene shortly after the presentation, McKeesport’s football team, the Tigers, decided to keep the party going by trampling over New Castle later that evening, 49-27.

September 18, 2020; a date that was a win-win all around for the historic, blue-collar, closely-knit city of McKeesport.

“You may not (always) see it, the success, on a test score, but if you come and watch how our students change classes (inside the schools),” a proud Holtzman, a 1997 McKeesport High School graduate, said on NBC, “and how they interact with each other with respect, and they’re able to sit and make good decisions... that’s sometimes really the most important pieces that move towards citizenship, career-oriented, college opportunities, things that will allow them to be successful.”

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

RELIGION/METRO

Charles S. Wiggins celebrates Birthday No. 103!

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020 A5

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 Worship Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

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

Taize -Wednesdays.........7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

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

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

CHARLES S. WIGGINS celebrated his 103rd birthday with family and friends on Sept. 8. He is a World War II Navy Veteran. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

When Charles S. Wiggins says he’s a proud graduate of Schenley High School, he can prove it—he’s got the yellow booklet from 1988, which celebrated the 50th Class Reunion for the Schenley Class of June 1938, as it’s written.

The reunion was held at the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel, now the Wyndham.

When Charles S. Wiggins says he’s a proud World War II Navy Veteran, he can prove it. He still has his “dog tags,” or Navy identification tags, from the ‘40s.

Wiggins told WQED’s Chris Moore in a show that aired in February that he was shipped to Great Lakes, Illinois, to receive naval training for the war.

He later told Moore that when he returned home to Pittsburgh after the war, there were very few opportunities for him. Wiggins became the first Black watchmaker in Pittsburgh, “but I couldn’t advance with it, because they wouldn’t accept me,” Wiggins said on WQED. He later got a job at the post office, and made watches at home and at the post office.

“We have to take what we get here and make a good life out of what we receive, so don’t give in, don’t give up,” Wiggins told Moore on WQED. “Keep plugging, and keep moving, and good things have to come out of what we end up with.”

Wiggins, who was honored by the Pittsburgh Steelers on his 100th birthday in 2017, celebrated his 103rd birthday with family and friends on Sept. 8, 2020, with the New Pittsburgh Courier’s J.L. Martello in attendance.

“What a joyous day it is for me to be able to send birthday greetings to you—the oldest member of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History,” wrote Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, the ASALH National President, obtained by the Courier. “God has blessed you with a long life, and you have in turn blessed us with your presence and service. As a veteran, a contributor to the welfare of Pittsburgh, and a member of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch, you are loved, valued, and remembered CHARLES S. WIGGINS with his grandsons. with sincere appreciation on this, your special day.”

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

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

Send info to:

CHARLES S. WIGGINS’ identification tags from World War II.

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

CHARLES S. WIGGINS, surrounded by family.

A YOUTHFUL CHARLES S. WIGGINS, bottom left.

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

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METRO

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

‘It’s not easy being a Black man on the autism spectrum’ A first-person essay y osep

ernon

AUTISM FROM A1

gry when the government and some police don’t care about the rights of Black people. I fear that I might get questioned by the police simply because of my skin.

Throughout my life, I have learned from my parents that controlling my anger in high-stress situations was important because, if I didn’t, I could be perceived as an aggressive stereotype. I also live in fear of losing my health care due to the foolishness of some people in office trying to change the law to make the care I need to survive more difficult to get.

It makes me mad that both people of my color and not of my color use the n-word as a way of saying hello. People throw the word around because of the media we have been exposed to. It causes figurative headaches for me all the time. Do you know how many people I have had to unfriend on social media simply because they use the word in their status updates and comments? I am tired of the discrimination that my ancestors and I have endured.

Trust me, it is not easy being a Black man on the autism spectrum.

When I was in high school, I dealt with bullying because I did things differently than neurotypical students. I still feel the effects of insults. Even though I no longer hold grudges for past indiscretions, it still hurts like Hades. I am fearful of the future because of the political climate. I have lost friends over people’s ignorance. It hurts to lose friends and acquaintances, but in the long run, it is for the best.

There are many positive things that I have accom-

ALONG WITH BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER, Joseph Vernon Smith has worked at the Giant Eagle in Crafton since 2006. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource) plished as a Black man on the spectrum—things I thought were impossible to accomplish.

I was involved in Boy Scouts for most of my formative years. At the age of 16, I received my Eagle Scout rank after painting the reverend’s office at the St. Paul AME Zion Church in Carnegie. I made and continue to make my family proud every single day. I graduated high school and

went to Community College of Allegheny County, where I received an associate’s degree in liberal arts.

I transitioned to Point Park University, where I became comfortable with my autism. It was there that April Friges, my photography professor, encouraged me to do my senior project based on my life on the spectrum. It was called The Spectrum Project and really opened doors to me

being comfortable with myself and not letting the negativity of the world bring me down. As a direct result, I graduated with a bachelor’s of fine arts.

My time at college has led me to work on being more social by attending Evolve Coaching, which teaches college students and adults on the spectrum to develop independent living and social skills. I also attended the Joey Travolta Film

Camp, which is run by actor John Travolta’s older brother and teaches people with autism and special needs about filmmaking, writing, editing and teamwork.

I continue to use photography to communicate my feelings to the world.

I’ve also worked at my neighborhood Giant Eagle in Crafton as a bagger since July 2006. I attempt to spread benevolence to

it almost every customer who comes into the store. I am willing to help customers carry groceries to their cars, and I get along with my co-workers and customers very well. I hardly have a bad day.

Most recently, I had an award named after me. The Joseph Smith Benevolence Award was given to me through the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania for my passion for teaching benevolence through my writing and photography.

These moments and accomplishments counteract the negativity and stigma of being a Black man on the autism spectrum.

In my life, my parents have taught me to never use my autism as an excuse for not succeeding. I didn’t find out about my diagnosis until I was 15 years old. I have lived with the day-to-day struggles of autism, but a lot of positive things have come out of it.

I’ve become more aware of my surroundings and more informed about certain social issues vital to these troublesome times.

The year 2020 is the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We must remember that it is still an uphill battle against the stigma of discrimination. While it is not easy being a Black man on the autism spectrum, I know deep down that I can bring hope, love, inspiration, happiness and benevolence to this world. That is something positive I can believe in.

(Joseph Vernon Smith is a photographer and benevolent individual on the autism spectrum.

He can be reached at benevolentphoto@gmail.com.)

(This article originally appeared in PublicSource.)

“When I was in high school, I dealt with bullying because I did things differently than neurotypical students. I still feel the effects of insults.

Even though I no longer hold grudges for past indiscretions, it still hurts.”

JOSEPH VERNON SMITH

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

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The Drive for Justice and Peace—Message Delivered!

Corvettes cruise through Pittsburgh, raise money for BLM, Food Bank THE UNITED RAYS CORVETTE CLUB…when they roll, the city rolls! (Photos by Courier photographer Dayna Delgado)

by Bill Neal

lent efforts of Black Lives Matter, and showed our support via the roar of the engine. We collectively gathered some of the city’s most awesome corvettes… paired them with the highclass models of today’s road cars and set the wheels in motion to canvass the city in an unprecedented caravan through Pittsburgh, the likes of which had never been seen before.

As always, the Pittsburgh United Rays Corvette Club showed up strong and ear-

Long and guest speakers Ruben Collins, Tia Harris For New Pittsburgh Courier and Sheldon Oliver. They “We’ve had enough and were all encompassed by we’re not going to take it Black Political Empoweranymore…” ment Project Chairman But, truth be told, it and CEO, and effervescent started as a thought late community leader, Tim one night that I needed to Stevens, who informed, rebe part of “The Movement” minded and insisted of our that’s been happening urgency to vote in the upacross America in the fight coming Nov. 3 election. to end racial injustice.

However, if you thought However, given the fact that was the show, you that these football-torn would be wrong. That just knees may not be able to got it started. Now, bring assist in the marches and the noise! The six-man City of Pittsburgh motorcycle brigade that led the charge was the sight that legends are made of.

“The drive” began at the Zone Five Police Station on Washington Blvd.

Through Garfield, Bloom- A FORCE FOR JUSTICE, PEACE AND NUTRITION AT PITTSBURGH OBAMA ACADEMY, coming togethfield, the Hill, East Liberty er to raise $650 for Black Lives Matter Pittsburgh and $650 for Petra International Ministries. and through Homewood, the corvettes cruised, before being gallantly joined by the Wilkinsburg Police and onto Penn Hills, where their police force closed the gap on the historic event.

With everything concluding at Petra International Ministries, not a better site could have been chosen to witness the togetherness and unity in the community showcasing police and civilians, Black and BLACK LIVES MATTER PITTSBURGH PRESIDENT TANISHA LONG White, young and old and with event sponsor Bill Neal, president and CEO of Achieving Great- corvettes and all the other ness Inc. guys! (Sorry, just a little car humor…)

Special thanks go out to protests, I was quickly re- ly Sunday morning, Sept. event sponsors Chief Execminded of another way to 6. Coupled with the show- utive Rich Fitzgerald, Maybe up close and personal ing of the concerned broth- or Bill Peduto, Highmark, and on the right side of his- erhood of vehicles assem- UPMC, Attorney Jack Gobled by Mad Dads leader odrich, Attorney Bill Gotory.

Once the gears started to Ernie Bey, all that was left odrich, Diversified Municshift (you see what I did to be done was delivering ipal Services, Morris Real there?), a quick conversa- the message.

Estate Solutions, Franco Larry Richert, the voice Harris and Super Bakery, tion with my good friend Lee Young, a sit down with of KDKA Radio’s morn- Larry Richert, Senator lifelong partner Milton ing show and in-house Jay Costa, Congressman

BLACK POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT PROJECT CHAIRMAN AND CEO TIM STEVENS, with event co-sponsors Senator Jay Costa, right, and Attorney William Goodrich of Goodrich and Geist.

Oliver…aka “The Man,” and details with Tia Harris, Buddy Allie, Gerald Wilborn, Ruben Collins and the elite members of the United Rays Corvette Club, we were off to the races (see, I did it again!).

The voices would be loud and clear. We, the elder statesmen, representing virtually every part of the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding suburban communities, applaud the peaceful and non-vio-

announcer for your Pittsburgh Steelers, presented a powerful VIP contingent that included Senator Jay Costa, Congressman Mike Doyle, Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, four-time Steeler Super Bowl Champion J.T. Thomas, Achieving Greatness Board Chairman Dennis Briggs, Black Lives Matter Pittsburgh’s Tanisha

Mike Doyle, Chuck Sanders Charities, Ken Ogilvie Studies, Dayna Delgado Studios and the Best BBQ in town, Q&M’s Fish, Chik and Ribs, Zone 5 Police Station and Commander Stephen Vinansky and last but not least, the tireless efforts of the Achieving Greatness executive staff (Warren Wilson, Brandon Walker, Otis Wessley, Shameria Underwood, Ken & Judy Ogilvie, T.K. and our volunteers)!!!

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Doris Carson Williams elected to industry board The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Doris Carson Williams, President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, has been elected to serve on the board of directors for ACCE, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, an Alexandria, Va.based association of over 9,000 professionals who work for and with more than 1,300 chambers of commerce.

Members of ACCE’s board of directors represent more than 50 organizations, including many of the world’s largest and most influential regional chambers of commerce.

“We are pleased to welcome Doris Carson

Millennial money mindset

by Darlene A. White Michigan Chronicle

DORIS CARSON WILLIAMS Williams to the ACCE Board of Directors,” said Sheree Anne Kelly, president & CEO of ACCE. “She joins the organization’s volunteer leadership at a time when the role of chambers of commerce has never been more critical. In these unprecedented times, her expertise will help our volunteer leadership address today’s most pressing challenges, reimagine chambers and shape the future of our work.”

Doris Carson Williams is a board member of Highmark, Allegheny Health Network, and Vice Chair of the Highmark Foundation.

She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and is the immediate past President of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline. A certified member of the National Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Williams co-chaired the 2014 G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. A member of the International Women’s Forum, Williams holds the entrepreneur of the year award by Washington and Jefferson College, and the 2017 Pittsburgh Opera Maecenas Community Leadership Award.

This fall, she will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Carlow University.

The mission of ACCE is to support and develop chamber professionals to lead businesses and their communities. ACCE identifies and analyzes trends affecting communities, shares best practices, and develops benchmarking studies, in addition to providing other tools to help chamber leaders manage and improve operations at their organization.

Many of us look at how day-to-day spending and savings have changed as a result of coronavirus as we face uncertainty around incomes and jobs.

Although there is no end in sight for COVID-19, millennials are remaining hopeful and using this time to work towards their financial goals.

Some millennials have already jumped on board when it comes to investing in their future. They are managing their money, investing and listening to good advice when it comes to improving their finances.

Michael Stanley, 32, of Detroit, says that during the pandemic he has really started working on improving his finances.

“I remember during my early college years, I was so reckless with spending money,” Stanley says. “I did not have a budget at all. I would take every credit card offered to me, my debts would go into collections and I would spend my entire paycheck on shopping for the latest clothes or fast food. I wasted so much money. I cringe thinking of how I destroyed my credit and the amount of money that I lost over the years.”

Stanley says nowadays he wants better for himself and has started paying close attention to his daily spending habits and credit usage.

“These past couple of years I had to repair my credit and start saving money,” he said. “Nowadays I make sure to look at my credit score, I utilize my online banking account, and I make sure to put a certain amount in my savings account every week. Most importantly, I have started the process of paying off my debts.”

It’s very important for all of us to save our money, especially through this pandemic, says Ebony Cochran, Credit Consultant and owner of Blackwood Credit Services.

“During times like this, uncertainty is at an all-time high,” she says. “This is when sticking to your budget and goals is very important. No panic shopping

EBONY COCHRAN or not staying the course. Many people who have businesses were forced to shut down and had to sustain off of savings if that was available. Others had jobs that shut down and had to sustain off of unemployment. Times like these do not call for the latest bag or watch. It calls for making every dollar count.”

In order to manage money accurately, some millennials are shopping for needs and not wants, creating a realistic budget, and most importantly not comparing finances to those on social media.

Cochran says it’s not as hard as you think when it comes to money management.

“Automate, automate, automate,” she expresses. “I always advise my clients to

open up an online account and don’t elect to receive a debit card. Set up a certain amount weekly, bi-weekly or monthly to transfer from your main account to your savings account. The out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach can work wonders for some people. Trying to remember to transfer or save can cause it to feel like a job.”

There are many different ways millennials can invest their money for the future, says Cochran.

“My three ways would have to be real estate, stocks and your retirement account,” she states. “Real estate is something that can yield some great returns if you find some of these great deals that are out there. One of my first deals in the city was a $500 home. I went on to rent it for $650 monthly. This one investment paid off in only a month’s time.”

Cochran says stocks are another great investment for young people to use.

“I know some people like to purchase and sell to make a quick profit, but the major gains are in holding them,” she explains. “Imagine if you held your Tesla or Apple stock from when they first made their stock available. Cha Ching!”

We have so many millennials who are starting businesses and those that are climbing the corporate ladder that don’t take advantage of their retirement accounts, she says.

No matter where you work, you can always start the saving process.

“Living paycheck-to-paycheck doesn’t have to be a lifelong sentence. Work on ways to increase your income to make this process easier. That may mean getting a second job, eliminating some monthly expenses or creating a side gig from home. I’ve found investing in yourself being one of the best investments one can make.”

Just say NO! Back in the mid ‘80s through the early ‘90s, I recall First Lady Nancy Reagan forging a war on drugs with the slogan, “Just say no!” They would often detail a grim story about someone who used drugs and the ill effects that it caused. I remember a popular commercial during that time. This is an egg. They will hold up an egg. This is drugs. They’d show a picture of a frying pan. They’d crack the egg open, pour it into the frying pan.

As the egg is sizzling in the frying pan they’d say: This is your brain on drugs.

The message was to avoid the devastating consequences of taking drugs—JUST SAY NO! I’m reminded of a scripture of Jesus talking to his disciples. He said, “If any of you want to follow me you must ‘deny yourself’ and pick up your cross. I take that to mean there are certain things in life you’re going to want but it may interfere with your advancing to a higher level in life. As a result, you must “deny yourself”—Just say no!

Earl Nightingale said that any worthwhile goal can be accomplished. To accomplish your goal, it’s not about what you’re willing to do. It’s about what you are willing to “give up” to accomplish said goal.

What are you willing to give up? Deny yourself! Just say no! Do you see the trend? Winning, advancing, and taking positive leaps forward will require sacrifice, doing without, compromise and an unyielding, consistent ability to not fall prey to our own wayward temptations.

Winning with money is no exception.

We have so many things competing for our hard-earned dollars. We have our needs, wants, and desires—most of which cost money. We have our goals. Practical-

ly every goal we have in life has a price tag attached to it. Let’s put it in perspective: Food, clothing, shelter, transportation, light, water, gas, cable, Internet, entertainment, gym and other recreational activity, vacation, insurance, taxes, debts and other expenses. All of this adds up quickly. How do we win financially?

Something or some things has to give!

Truth is, people who are truly winning financially are frugal, avoid debt and are super savers. That dear friend is un-American. Americans spend, spend, borrow, spend some more, consolidate, spend, spend, borrow then rob Peter to pay Paul, while shortchanging Pam on what’s owed to her. Not much left to save.

Ironically, saving money is how you create financial stability and ultimately build wealth. If you cannot consistently save and pile up cash, it’s a telltale sign that you’re struggling financially.

If you want to win with money, you have to embrace the concept that money is finite. There’s only so much that will flow through our bank account. We have to do the best that we can with it. Although there’s so many responsibilities, needs, wants and desires that have a price tag affixed to it, we have to accept: It’s POSSIBLE to have it all. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to have it all RIGHT NOW. With that in mind, we have to learn how to prioritize, sacrifice, do without, and delay certain wants in order to pay for certain needs. We have to be intentional and purposeful with our dollars so that we

don’t wallow in regret. We have to “Just say no.” Below are some things you’re going to have to learn to say no to: Just say no to “Yourself:” I recently shared a meme on Facebook. It read, I finally found out who was stealing my money. The image was a picture of a woman looking in the mirror choking herself. The “buck” literally and figuratively starts and stops with you. We are our own worst enemy. When it comes to spending money our innate good judgment sensors oftentimes speak to us posing the questions. Are you sure? Do you really need this? You know you have that thing coming up that’s going to cost X amount? Yet we oftentimes give in to temptation thinking it will make us feel good.

It may make us feel good in the moment.

But buyer’s remorse can wake you up in the morning. Be mindful of the bigger picture.

Just say no to “Your Children:” Kids really do think money grows on trees.

There’s no stop to their frequent requests.

As parents, our first name to our children is Mommy/Daddy. Our last name is Can I. Every time you hear Mommy/Daddy it’s followed by Can I. Mommy can I have this. Daddy can I have that. You can literally drop a small fortune on something they wanted. Not even seconds later they’re asking for something else. We as parents want our children to do and have things we were unable to do as children.

Think about that. We as children went without A LOT, yet we turned out OK. I’ve learned in financial coaching, parents

are willing to make various sacrifices but they’re reluctant to have their children make various sacrifices. It’s incumbent upon us as parents to teach our children about work, sacrifice, saving, and other important characteristics. Or else risk them always depending on Mommy and Daddy to take care of them or bail them out as adults.

Just say no to “The Joneses:” Everybody trying to keep up with the Joneses, which is a feeble attempt to outearn, outshine, and more importantly OUTSPEND our siblings, neighbors, friends, co-workers, church members. For what?

A compliment? The Joneses is an illusionary model of success. More stuff creates clutter, not happiness. More clutter creates confusion, not peace. It’s OK to have nice stuff. Just do it on your own time and with your own dime—not because you want to prove to others that you’re a success.

Just say no to “Family and Friends always in need:” I believe in giving a “hand up” to a family member or friend who is experiencing “Hard Luck.” But a family member or friend who is in constant need because of “Dumb Luck”— miss me with that. They have deeper issues they need to fix. You can wish them well on their journey but not at your expense.

Just say no to everybody and everything that will impede your progress in winning with money. If you’re unsure, give yourself 72hours to research and think about it. After all, saying yes is how many of us got ourselves in a financial jam in the first place.

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

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BUSINESS

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Carol H. Williams receives Ad Age’s prestigious Vanguard Award

by Stacy M. Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier

(NNPA)—Carol H. Williams received Ad Age’s Vanguard Award during this year’s Women to Watch Awards event.

Williams, the CEO of Carol H. Williams Advertising, is being honored for a lifetime of significant achievements, including being named to the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame.

According to a news release, now in its second year, the Vanguard Awards is given to women like Williams, who have inspired, mentored, and blazed trails for other women in the

industry.

“Carol H. Williams personifies the best and the most effective advertising genius mind in the global advertising industry,” said National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. “The NNPA congratulates and salutes Carol H. Williams not only for her outstanding leadCAROL H. WILLIAMS is also the first African American creative inership but also for her ductee in the Advertising Hall of Fame and a 2020 Matrix Award longstanding commithonoree. ment to freedom, justice, and equality. Our ican female to be named 500 clients she has society and the world a VP and creative direccreated work for are continue to be made bet- tor at Leo Burnett Co., General Motors, General ter because of leaders Williams opened her Mills, Kraft, Procter & like Carol H. Williams.” firm in 1986.

Gamble, the U.S. Army, The first African AmerAmong the Fortune and Walt Disney Co.

Williams is also the first African American creative inductee in the Advertising Hall of Fame and a 2020 Matrix Award honoree.

Her creative credits include Secret’s “Strong enough for a man but made for a woman,” and campaigns for brands including New Freedom and Pillsbury while at Burnett.

Williams reportedly has led and motivated more than 5,000 employees over a more than 30-year career and has exceeded $30 million in revenue during high-performance and growth periods.

The agency previously

won an award for its multicultural online and interactive campaign during the 2018 Chevy/ NNPA DTU campaign.

“Powerful narratives are the shaping force in our lives and thereby creates empathy and motivates action at their most profound level,” Williams told NNPA Newswire in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 15. “Narratives that ignite and nurture passions within us, envision new possibilities, develop confidence, and inspire us to overcome any obstacles that we face in making what was once unimaginable, imaginable,” she stated.

THE SUFFERING CONTINUES COVID-19 aid remains stymied in Congress

by Charlene Crowell For New Pittsburgh Courier

As of mid-September, at least 197,000 people died from COVID-19 according to Johns Hopkins University. Beyond these fatalities, the number of COVID-related cases diagnoses reached 6.5 million people and continues to rise.

Beyond the health effects, according to the the U.S. Census Bureau, as of August 31, over 80 percent of adults with post-high school education plans either cancelled or significantly changed those plans this fall. Further, a significant number of consumers are housing challenged, with one-third of adults anticipating either eviction or foreclosure in the next two months, and over 36 percent of adults continuing to telework due to the pandemic.

Since late July, consumers and small businesses have hoped for a renewed federal commitment for COVID-19 aid.

But no successful compromise on two vastly different aid proposals has yet to emerge. A failed September 10 vote in the U.S. Senate’s majority-sponsored proposal leaves the House-passed aid package as the only legislative option to have been approved by a chamber.

In a news conference held later that same day, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, noted an earlier offer to compromise on the scale of aid. That offer proposed to cut the cost of the House-passed version to $2.2 trillion and asked the Senate to increase the size of its proposal.

“Let’s not have a skinny bill when we have a massive problem,” said Speaker Pelosi.

“Congress needs to respond in a way that meets the nation’s very real and urgent needs,” added Senate Minority

Leader, Sen. Charles Schumer, after the upper chamber’s roll call vote.

In the meantime, as the pandemic claims more lives every day, too many people can’t find work, especially Black and Brown workers who are bearing the brunt of this economic and public health crisis.

The Senate proposal known as the HEALS Act, emphasized cost breaks for businesses instead of consumer relief.

For instance, it would have shielded employers from liability lawsuits under federal accommodations law if related to COVID-19 risk and the lack of requested workplace accommodations. Another proposal would have temporarily doubled business deductions to 100 percent for business meals through December 31, 2020. It provided for increased funds for the Paycheck Protection Program but contained few consumer protection provisions and no rental assistance or relief for student borrowers. Though it provided $105 billion in aid for K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions, this earmark included monies for private schools and reserved funds for schools that re-open.

“This bill is an inadequate response to our current economic fallout and public health crisis, said Ashley Harrington, Federal Advocacy Director and Senior Policy Counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending. “More than five months have passed since Congress approved a substantive, bipartisan bill to help families stay afloat during this pandemic. Low-income families, particularly families of color who have yet to recover from the Great Recession, have been hit the hardest by this pandemic and the economic fallout. Without a comprehensive response, renters will continue to live with anxiety under threat of eviction, student borrowers will suffocate under

crushing debt, and small business owners will close their doors permanently, which will distress local economies.”

By contrast, the House version, known as the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act, passed the House with a 208-199 vote on May 15 and advocates broad and comprehensive support for consumers and small businesses to include: • $100 billion in new emergency rental assistance; • $75 billion for homeowner assistance; • $11.5 billion in homeless grants; and • $1 billion to expand Section 8 housing vouchers.

The House measure would also forbid negative credit reporting and debt collection. Another key provision would require the Federal Reserve to make lowcost, deferrable loans to small businesses,

nonprofits, and public universities, as well as provide a broad assortment of new and renewed assistance targeted to essential workers, first responders, minority-owned and other small businesses, and the homeless. It also provides extended payment relief for student loan borrowers, including debt cancellation for some borrowers.

“Inaction and subpar responses to this pandemic is dangerous, irresponsible, and unacceptable, concluded Harrington.

“Each day that passes without a comprehensive bill will cause irreparable harm to families who are living on the margins and struggling to get by.”

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

Learn online with Social Security

by Tom Winschel For New Pittsburgh Courier

With more people learning online, we would like to highlight some of the digital resources we have for educators. Chances are a student will know someone who receives retirement or disability benefits. This could be a way to relate our many programs to a new audience. Showing young people that our programs help wounded warriors and children with disabilities can help them develop greater empathy and provide a path to inspired learning.

We offer an educator’s toolkit teachers can use to engage students and educate them on our programs. The toolkit includes: • Lesson plans with objectives; • Infographics and handouts for each lesson

plan; • Links to Social Security web pages; • Talking points; and • Quiz questions and answers.

You can access the toolkit at www.ssa.gov/ thirdparty/educators.html.

Parents are a child’s first educators. You can use our toolkit to introduce your child or grandchild to the importance of having a social safety net for hardworking Americans.

We value and welcome the efforts all teachers make to educate America’s young people, and we want to help spark discussions with students about the benefits Social Security provides to millions of people. Please share our toolkit with your favorite educators today.

(Tom Winschel is Social Security District Manager in Pittsburgh.)

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

B3

Ironic contradiction

Guest Commentary

Only two rationales to vote for 45; one is a myth, the other disgraceful

by Vernon A. Williams Let’s cut to the chase. There are only two reasons to vote for the incumbent president. One of them is totally predicated on a falsehood for all but a few Americans. And the other is rooted in the nation’s “original sin.”

Those who labor under the double-edged misnomer that the current leadership fixed our economy and reflects the only route to sustained growth need to get their facts straight.

Both beliefs are patently untrue, as any true political pundit will attest. The shambles in which George W. Bush left this nation was repaired during the Obama Administration and improved on every single year of his two terms. The Donald simply—as in his childhood—stepped into unearned inheritance.

There is no silver bullet. The most either 45 or Joe Biden can do in 2021 is ease the pain of the pandemic slow down. The difference is that Agent Orange would take a route that would benefit billionaire cronies and make the rich richer, while Democratic leadership will be people oriented.

The Donald has been all about shamelessly pandering to the “haves” at the ruthless expense of the “have nots” throughout his administration.

Unless you are among the elite, highest income bracket, what this administration poured over your financial circumstances during his three-and-a-half years was more like drops than a flowing stream. The “Trumpster” doesn’t mind admitting it. Whenever he boasts about the pre-COVID economy, the first thing he points to is the stock market.

The U.S. Census Bureau says only 10 percent of the richest households in America own 92 percent of all the country’s stock.

In another show of affluence, the drop in home ownership is much more dramatic for those at the lower half of the income ladder. In 2019, only 63 percent of Americans own real estate, down from 75 percent in 2000.

Even more startling is the fact that Black homeownership is losing ground at a more rapid rate. There is a whopping 30 percent gap between Black and White home ownership. A White person with a high school diploma is more likely to own his or her home (61 percent) than a Black college graduate (approximately 54.3 percent).

Structural racism is at least part of the factor that results in traditional lower FICO scores for Blacks Americans—yet another systemic obstacle to home ownership among African Americans. If Blacks owned homes at the same rate as they did in 2000, it would create an additional 770,000 in homeownership.

Unemployment may have been relatively low before COVID, but much of that was due to those who dropped out of the system as well as people willing to work some of the lowest paying jobs. These individuals rarely had work-related health insurance or any other benefits. The national minimum wage has remained at $7.25 an hour for the past 12 years.

Before any influence of the coronavirus shutdowns, 8.6 percent of White workers earned what is called paid poverty wages. Among the Black population’s “working poor” is a disgraceful 19.2 percent or almost one out of every five. Hispanics are not doing much better at 14.6 percent of their population’s “working poor.”

So if the reason for a vote to re-elect couldn’t be the economy for anyone with a brain, what else could be driving this consistent 35-45 percent support for an incumbent who has demonstrated time and time again his incompetence and lack of humanity.

The answer is painfully simple. Racism. This White House has no shame is demonstrating in both word and deed bitter acrimony and contempt for people of color. Those who cast ballots for this man are simply demonstrating their overt or covert racism or endorsement of racist practices.

That is the only explanation why none of the never-ending scandals stick on Teflon Don. So walk away from the coffee break room or commuter banter or any group or one-on-one dialogue that purports the ability to make a case for a scoundrel. There are no excuses for his behavior and assault on everything this republic have ever taken sacred.

The Book of Revelations 13:5 reads: “And there was given under him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue 42 months.”

From his first full month in office until today, this is about that same amount of time for this ill-gotten presidency. Those sacred words may or not be prophesy. But one thing is certain.

Any ballot cast on behalf of this vile incumbency is an endorsement of evil, hatred, mean-spiritedness and bigotry. Plain and simple.

(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)

Founded 1910

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

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Albert Einstein is attributed with saying, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” I am uncertain as to what circumstances led him to this conclusion, but I am certain that as humanity progresses, we humans often “become too big for our britches.”

History provides a litany of advancements that offer functional results yet fall short of their intended purpose. Take the example of the Guillotine, named after French physician, Joseph-Ignace Guillotin. For years, European executions were tortuous affairs. Realizing that executions were not designed as torture, but to end life, French thinkers set about to design a humane device of execution. Thus, in 1789, came the Guillotine, an instrument that rendered an instant, “humane” death to its victim. Because it ended life painlessly and instead of reducing death, its use was extended to less serious, petty crimes.

Distressed by US Civil War casualties, Dr. Richard J. Gatling created the Gatling Gun, one of the first rapid, sustained fire weapons. Dr. Gatling envisioned his weapon as reducing the size of armies and the number of deaths by combat and disease. It was to demonstrate the futility of war. Despite his intent, Gatling’s gun added lethal efficiency to the battlefield without demonstrating the desired futility of war.

Alfred Bernard Nobel, a native Swede, was a noted inventor. He is famous for his invention of dynamite and other explosives. Nobel’s invention was instrumental in facil-

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary itating construction and destroying obstacles or existing structures. He amassed an extreme fortune with his dynamite and the other 355 patents in electrochemistry, optics, biology, and physiology. Nobel directed that upon his death, 94 percent of his wealth should fund an endowment to honor achievements in the areas of physical science, chemistry, medical science, physiology, literary work, and service toward peace.

It appears, of the three examples of questionable technology, that of Alfred Nobel is the most noble. Yes, because of the creation of destructive power, we honor and finance, with The Nobel prizes, efforts to promote and enhance the quality of life for humanity.

For the casual observer of the Nobel awards, probably the most notable is the Nobel Peace Prize. Among US luminaries receiving this award are Jane Addams, Ralph Bunch, Gen. George C. Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King, and President Barack Obama.

The political revelations of the past week’s anti-trump book releases and tapes have overshadowed the Nobel Awards process. As you read this,

how many of you can claim awareness of the nomination of donald j. trump for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Don’t feel bad. The news almost slipped past me too!

Considering this news, one wonders who would nominate trump? Rest assured it was no one from the U.S. The culprit is a far-right Norwegian lawmaker, Christian Tybring-Gjedde. Those who know Tybring-Gjedde are not really surprised. He is a staunch anti-immigration proponent who has, incidentally, to utter disparaging remarks about immigrants and people of color. He feels that trump deserves the Peace Prize for his contributions to Israel-Arab Emirates Agreement.

Despite his so-called efforts for peace, there is a simple ironic contradiction fundamental to his character. Motivated by jealousy to receive the same honor as his predecessor, he promotes peace abroad while fomenting hostility, violence, and cultural division among citizens of the U.S. The thousands of children can describe the psychological violence of being separated from their parents. Fear has been engendered in communities by racially inspired violence from law enforcement personnel AND vigilantes.

Trump has shown that a single act of purpose does not define character. His lies and true disregard for others disqualifies him from the office he holds, and receipt of an award well-defined by the character of its previous recipients.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Trump the biggest threat to our democracy since Civil War (NNPA)—The shocking revelations from the last few days that Trump disparaged the military and intentionally downplayed the threat of the coronavirus have confirmed what I have believed since this President assumed office. Donald Trump is a deplorable, morally repugnant, morally bankrupt, con man devoid of any character who has proven himself to be the greatest threat to our democracy since the Civil War. Never before has this country been led by a Commander in Chief, or any elected official, who has exhibited such disdain for public service, disparaged our military, undermined our freedoms, incited violence against his political opponents, and is so rotten to the core that he would demean war heroes who sacrificed their lives in defense of our country.

This President tear gassed peaceful protestors.

This President deployed unidentified federal troops to cities run by Democratic leaders to squash free speech. This President called our fallen heroes losers and suckers—a smear he continued to levy against Senator John McCain long after his death.

This President isolated the United States from our Western allies while cozying up to dictators such as Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. And just like the dictators and autocrats he admires around the world, he welcomes foreign interference in U.S. elections, held hostage military aid to Ukraine in exchange for damaging information on his political opponent, and is now trying to dismantle and gut the United States Postal

The United States of America stands on the brink of collapse. I kept up the drumbeat for many years on why this President should have been impeached and was maligned by many who thought that someone like Donald Trump would suddenly become presidential.

Impeachment was too late and the Senate failed to remove this disastrous president from office.

One has to wonder, in their isolation and in the confines of their homes, do the Senators who voted against removing Donald Trump from office ever consider how many lives could have been saved if they had done what was right instead of what was politically convenient.

While the American people, the last guardrail standing in the way of our country’s complete descent into dictatorship, will ultimately have the final say, the Senators and Members of the House who voted against impeachment will carry that mark in history for the rest of their lives. If the United States pulls past this latest test to our democracy, the American people must never let them forget.

Maxine Waters

Commentary

Service so that he can sabotage vote by mail.

Donald Trump’s lies and hateful rhetoric are not only destructive to our democracy, they have cost the United States over 6 million coronavirus infections and nearly 200,000 coronavirus deaths. No one should be in the least surprised that Donald Trump would boast to the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward that he downplayed the threat of the coronavirus when he knew that it was a very deadly pandemic.

Despite how hazardous his experts told him the coronavirus would be to our public health, Donald Trump mocked people who wore facial coverings, bullied local governments and businesses into reopening early, recommended untested drugs and disinfectants Letter to the Editor as treatments, and he continues to hold public events in blaDear Editor: mandment—save as much tant disregard In response to the article as you can, especially if of the guidance “The Notorious ‘10 Money your employer is matching advanced by the Commandments,’” in Sep- your 401K contribution.

Centers for DisJanice C. Brehm ease Control and tember 9-15, 2020’s New Pittsburgh Courier: There Wilmerding Prevention. should be an 11th com-

Add 11th ‘Commandment’

‘Losers’???!!!

(NNPA)—Anyone who has followed the career of Donald Trump can only be but so surprised by the allegations that he has demeaned military veterans and fallen fighting men and women. The allegations, which included the identification of fallen soldiers as losers and suckers, follows a pattern of disrespect for those who have made personal sacrifices. In fact, it corresponds to the entire transactional nature of Trump’s relationship with nearly everyone.

When I first heard the story, on the Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC), my mouth dropped. I could not believe that Trump had actually gotten caught making such derogatory references. Trump, who likes to pride himself on his alleged support for the military caught demeaning the military! His responses, including his adamant denial, was accompanied by his assertion of his alleged support for the military through an increased military budget.

What Trump does not seem to appreciate is that his disrespect for service men and women is not inconsistent with increasing the military budget. Increasing the size of the US military says nothing

Bill Fletcher Jr.

Commentary about how one views the service men and women.

For Trump it is probably more a reflection of his Napoleonic self-image and wishing to be associated with the trappings of power. All of this should be contrasted with the support—or lack thereof—offered to those who have served, whether they lived or perished.

My fury with Trump over his approach towards service men and women is not rooted in jingoism. Anyone having read any of my columns is aware of my consistent critiques

of US foreign policy generally, and US military adventurism in particular. But, like many of you, I have had friends and relatives (including my father) serve in the military.

I lost a childhood friend to the Vietnam War. One of my best friends in life returned from Vietnam with post-traumatic stress disorder and, quite possibly, Agent Orange poisoning.

And Trump would describe them as “losers”?

I am hoping that millions of us will teach Trump what it means to be a loser on November 3rd.

(Bill Fletcher Jr. is the executive editor of globalafricanworker.com and a former president of TransAfrica Forum.)

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

SOFTWARE ENGINEER Aurora Innovation, Inc. seeks Software Engineer, Perception Platform in Pittsburgh, PA to design self-driving car technology. Mail resume to Sarah FitzGerald (HR), 1880 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303.

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN, ADJUNCT INSTRUCTORS (DAY AND EVENING) C.A.D., CULINARY, ELECTRICIAN, WELDING, AND HVAC/R Pittsburgh Technical College is seeking ualified applicants for the following positions: •Facilities Maintenance Technician, F.T. Experience in HVAC/Electrical, Four years f.t. work experience in related field •C.A.D. Instructors for AET & MET Programs Associate degree required, Bachelor’s preferred •Culinary and Pastry Chef Instructors Associate degree required, Bachelor’s preferred ACF, CCE, or CEC preferred but not required •Electrician Instructor Electrician journeyman experience or licensure required •HVAC/R Instructor, niversal ertification re uired Must pass criminal background check.

Immediate opening at our orth Fayette campus near Robinson Towne Center. Apply to www.ptcollege.edu (Employment with PTC) or www.workforptcollege.com .

EOE M/F

AUBERLE-WARD HOME HEALING CHILDREN & FAMILIES Since 1952, Auberle has been dedicated to transforming the lives of children, youth & families. Auberle is a nationally recognized human service agency serving 4,000+ children & families each year.

HIRING FOR: •Family Support Staff (Family Emergency Shelter) Duquesne site – FT •Case Manager - FT •Senior Accountant - FT •Direct Care Specialist Working with Youth (Swissvale & Wilkinsburg sites) – FT/PT •Overnight Direct Care Specialist/ Night Monitor Working with Youth (Swissvale & Wilkinsburg sites) – FT/PT •Case Aide/Driver – FT/PT •Placement Stability Specialist – PT •Housing Case Manager – FT •412 Youth Zone Coach - FT If you are highly motivated, passionate about youth & interested in making a difference, visit www.auberle.org to apply. EOE WOMEN’S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH (WC&S) is a comprehensive domestic violence program serving adult and child survivors of domestic violence & facilitating intervention groups to men who batter. WC&S is hiring a CYF (Children, Youth, and Families) IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) Specialist to provide outreach and services to families experiencing intimate partner violence, including the adult and child survivors along with the parties utilizing offending behaviors; and to provide consultation, coaching, and training to OCYFS Caseworkers. WC&S is hiring a Text/Chat Advocate to provide online emotional support, crisis counseling, referrals, and information and safety planning to victims of domestic violence. WC&S offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Go to wcspittsburgh.org for more details. Send a resume and cover letter to careers@wcspittsburgh.org by October 1, 2020.

ASSISTANT GROUP SUPERVISOR YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Early Child Development and Education Center in Homewood is now hiring an Assistant Group Supervisor. The Assistant Group Supervisor will assist in the implementation of daily activities under the guidance of the Group Supervisor towards the goal of quality programming (in particular, PA DHS Certification regulations, Keystone STARS criteria and NAEYC requirements for accreditation) for all groups in the Children and Youth Development and Education Department. The ideal candidate will possess a CDA and a high school diploma, have experience working with children and knowledge of environment rating scales, child observation and assessment. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Linda Broman, Human Resources Director at lbroman@ywcapgh.org.

PRE-K COUNTS TEACHER YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Early Child Development and Education Center in Homewood is now hiring a Pre-K Counts Classroom Teacher. The Pre-Kindergarten Teacher works as part of a team made up of the Children and Youth Development and Education Department Director, Group Leaders, Assistant Group Leaders, Aides, Cook and clerical staff. She/he ensures the coordination of quality program (PA Pre-K Counts, NAEYC and OCDEL requirements for accreditation) for 3 to 5-year-old children in the Children and Youth Development and Education Department. This is a 10-month position.

The ideal candidate will possess Bachelor’s Degree and certification from an accredited college or university in early childhood education or child development OR Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education or child development with proof of teacher plan to achieve certification. Current Act 33/34 clearances, fingerprinting, ational Sex ffender Registry Clearance, and criminal background checks as well as Mandated Reporter training are required.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Linda Broman, Human Resources Director at lbroman@ywcapgh.org.

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL TEACHER-GRADE 5 Complete job description is available at: www.southfayette.org Deadline September 29, 2020 EOE SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Application Deadline 4:00 PM, October 1, 2020 Complete job description available at: www.southfayette.org EOE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF INVENTORY Port Authority is seeking an Assistant Manager of Inventory to ensure the availability of parts and materials to support the Operations division parts rooms. To manage the inventory replenishment process and activity of the Receiver as well as maintaining a training process.

Manages receivers at satellite parts rooms. Assists Manager of Inventory & Operations Distribution with the receipt, stocking, movement and tracking of parts and materials at the warehouses and storerooms, and management of Storeroom employees.

Essential Functions: •Establish and perform the replenishment process for stock items and quantity of items that are stocked at the bu operation parts rooms 9Fleet Management of Information Systems Business Units) by coach type and number of coaches assigned to each bus operating location.

•Establish and update reorder points and quantities, safety stock, maximum quantities and 1-A’s for bus operating locations including any necessary coordination with Garage Receiver, Garage Foreman and Maintenance Manager relative to inventory demands.

•Manages the Receivers at each (FMIS Business Units) bus operating location in the performance of their job duties, including, but not limited to, scheduling of vacations, and filling shifts for call-offs.

Job requirements include: •High school diploma or GED. •BA/BS Degree in Business or related field. Directly related experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

•Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in parts procurement, inventory field or directly related field.

•Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in auto/diesel mechanical repairs or fleet maintenance.

•Minimum of two (2) years’ supervisor experience.

•Experience in the use of parts manuals and catalogs.

•Effective oral and written communication skills.

•Demonstrated ability in the use of eopleSoft, Windows T, Word, xcel, and Access.

Preferred attributes: •Experience in Statistical Process Control. ertification in I modules.

•Basics in supply chain management.

•Inventory management.

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

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Help Wanted

Legal Notices

Public Notice

GENERAL SURGEON UPMC Community Medicine, Inc. seeks a General Surgeon to work in Seneca and Franklin, PA to provide medical care to patients utilizing quality medical practices for the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses; operate on patients to treat injuries, diseases, and deformities; take patients’ medical histories and update charts and patient information; order diagnostic medical tests and review test results and recommend and design a plan of treatment. Requirements: medical degree; completion of U.S. accredited graduate medical residency training in Surgery; must hold a valid Pennsylvania medical license. Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 2000024S in the “Search Keyword/Job ID” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION BUSINESS CORPORATION

SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CORPORATION SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION COMMUTEINFO REGIONAL RIDESHARE PROGRAM DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) GOAL FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION-ASSISTED CONTRACTS FISCAL YEARS 2021, 2022, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE The CommuteInfo Regional Rideshare Program of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission is developing its Federal Fiscal Year 2021 through 2023 Triennial DBE Goal and Methodology which is required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in accordance with the 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 26. CommuteInfo will host public consultation meetings to provide small, minority, woman-owned and other business enterprises, public agencies, community organizations, trade associations, elected officials, and other interested individuals, an opportunity to offer comments on the overall DBE goal and methodology. The proposed goal is available for review and comment. The public meetings are Thursday, October 8, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

AND 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. via teleconference. Participants must register in order to attend the teleconference. Registration is available at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission website at www.spcregion.org.

Written comments relative to the goal setting process can be submitted to: comments@spcregion.org, by mail to SPC Comments at Two Chatham Center, Suite 500, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or by fax to (412) 391-9160.

All comments must be received by 4:00 p.m. Monday, October 26, 2020.

For individuals without access to the internet, paper copies of draft materials will be mailed upon request. SPC will respond to requests for paper copies as soon as possible in accordance with COVID-19 orders. To request paper copies, please contact Shannon O’Connell at (412) 391-5590, ext.

334 or soconnell@spcregion.org.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is committed to compliance with nondiscrimination requirements of civil rights statutes, executive orders, regulations and policies applicable to the programs and activities it administers. Accordingly, SPC is committed to ensuring that program beneficiaries receive public participation opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or economic status. SPC will provide auxiliary services for individuals with language, speech, sight or hearing needs, provided the request for assistance is made 3 days prior to the virtual meeting. SPC will attempt to satisfy requests made with less than 3 days notice as resources allow. Please make your request for auxiliary services to Jared Bedekovich at (412) 391-5590, Ext. 343, or jbedekovich@spcregion.org.

If you believe you have been denied participation opportunities, or otherwise discriminated against in relation to the programs or activities administered by SPC, you may file a complaint using the procedures provided in our complaint process document or by contacting SPC’s Title VI Coordinator by calling (412) 391-5590. For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Discrimination Complaint Form, please see our website at: www.spcregion.org or call 412-391-5590.

This notice satisfies the program of projects requirements of the Urbanized Area Formula Program of the Federal Transit Administration for Beaver County Transit Authority, Butler Transit Authority, Fayette Area Coordinated Transit, Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Washington County Transportation Authority, Westmoreland County Transit Authority, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, and CommuteInfo, a program of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking the following Substitute Teacher Positions: High School Math High School Physics High/Middle School Computer Science High School Business, Computer and Inform Technology High School Biology/Chemistry High School Biology High School Special Education Middle School English Language Arts/Social Studies Middle School Science Middle School English Language Arts Middle School Math/Science Intermediate School Art Complete job descriptions are available at: www.southfayette.org Deadline 4:00 PM October 1, 2020 EOE LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of WENDEREUSZ NANCY J. AKA WENDEREUSZ NANCY JANE, Deceased of Harrison Township, Estate No. 03180 of 2020, Larry P. Wendereusz Admin. 225 1st Street, Evans City, PA 16033, or to Michael J. Saldamarco, Esq., Ste. 100, 908 Perry Hwy. Pittsburgh, PA 15229 Estate of MS.MARIAN JANE KONTER, Deceased of 108 Western Avenue, Moon Township, PA 15108. Estate No. 02-2004181, Mr. Harold J. Konter, 108 Western Avenue, Moon Township, PA 15108, Administrator, c/o ax . Feldman, s uire and the aw ffice of Max C. Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of DOLORES J. HARTY, Deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Estate No. 02-20-04016, Kevin J. Podurgiel, Executor, 1 6 nox Street, Bridgeville, 1 1 or to R BI . R RI , tty. BR F R, . 1 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of MS. MARIA D. FORGIONE, Deceased of 538 Maple Street, East Pittsburgh, PA 15112. Estate No. 02-13-04220, Ms. Janet Wei, 103 Backbone Road, Sewickley, PA 15143, Administratrix, c/o Max C. Feldman, s uire and the aw ffice of ax .

Feldman, 1322 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

Estate of PATRICIA ANN PAPPATERRA A/K/A PATRICIA A. PAPPATERRA , Deceased of McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Estate No. 02-20-04148, John Edward Pappaterra, Executor, 3175 E. Winged Foot Drive, Chandler, 8 2 9 or to T DD . F R, tty BR LOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION BUSINESS CORPORATION

ROBERT A. HOWARD II, 3275 Tuxedo Street, ittsburgh, 1 2 . otice is hereby given that rticles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a business corporation which [has been] incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporation Law of 1988.

The name of the corporation is KINGDOM VIEW MINISTRY.

ROBERT A. HOWARD II, 3275 Tuxedo Street, ittsburgh, 1 2 . otice is hereby given that rticles of Incorporation were filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a business corporation which [has been] incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporation Law of 1988. The name of the corporation is PRIDE PROJECT INCORPORATED

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH’S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING In accordance with the State of Emergency in the City of Pittsburgh, declared by Mayor William Peduto, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting for September on September 24, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. on a remote basis. The meeting will be held remotely, with public access to be provided online. HACP will provide a direct link to a livestream of the meeting, and instruction on how to make a public comment. Details will be made available on http://www.hacp.org, in advance of the meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Public Notice of Revised Flat Rent Schedule The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), in accordance with federal law and regulation, is proposing revisions to its Low Income Public Housing Flat Rent Schedule.

The revised 2021 HACP Flat Rent Schedule is available for review and comment from Oct. 1, 2020 to Oct. 30, 2020 on the HACP Web Site: www.hacp.org; Copies of the 2021 Flat Rent Schedule can be obtained by contacting the HACP Executive ffice at 12- 6- 12.

A Public Hearing to receive public comments on the revised 2021 HACP Flat Rent Schedule will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. via Zoom: 10:00 a.m. via zoom: Meeting ID: 925 6435 0010 Passcode: 005128 (US) 1-301-715-8592 Passcode: 005128 5:00 p.m. via zoom: Meeting ID: 925 3292 2634 Passcode: 596130 (US) 1-301-715-8592 Passcode: 596130 Written comments on the HACP Flat Rent Schedule must be addressed to 2021 HACP Flat Rent Schedule.

Comments must be received by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Oct. 30, 2020 and sent to the following e-mail address: michelle.ralston@hacp.org or call 412-456-5075. nce approved, the final revised HACP Flat Rent Schedule will be effective Jan.1, 2021.

Persons with disabilities requiring assistance or alternative formats, or wishing to submit comments in alternative formats, can contact the HACP ADA/504 Coordinator at 412456-5020, Extension 2504; TTY 412-201-5384. All other questions should be addressed to the Executive ffice at 12- 6- 12.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Public Notice

Bids/Proposals

LEGAL NOTICE OPENING OF WAITING LISTS Effective at the start of the business day Monday, October 5, 2020, the Allegheny County Housing Authority will be opening the Waiting Lists for the following Low-Income Public Housing Sites: •Caldwell Station (2 Bedrooms)-510 Station St., Wilmerding, PA 15148 •General Braddock Towers (1 Bedrooms)-620 Sixth St., North Braddock, PA 15104 ALL APPLICANTS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR ALL LOW-INCOME PUBLIC HOUSING SITES CAN APPLY AT: achsng.com (WebApp) or AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY CENTRAL OFFICE (ADDRESS LISTED BELOW)

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR KITCHEN CABINET INSTALLATIONS FOR VACANT UNITS IFB #300-30-20 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby re uest bids from ualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Kitchen Cabinet Installations for Vacant Units The documents will be available no later than September 14, 2020 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 11:00 A.M. on October 6, 2020.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 11:00 AM on October 6, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HCP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids 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. uestions or in uires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-bid meeting will be held via call in; on September 25, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. Please see call in information below: Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

CLOSING OF WAITING LISTS Effective Friday, October 2, 2020, the Allegheny County Housing Authority will be closing the Waiting Lists for the following Low-Income Public Housing Sites: •Groveton Village (2 & 3 Bedrooms)511 Groveton Dr., Coraopolis, PA 15108 •Negley Gardens (2 Bedrooms)- 804 Creek St., Apt D, Tarentum, PA 15084 •Ohioview Towers (1 Bedrooms)250 Jefferson Dr., McKees Rocks, PA 15136 •Pleasant Ridge (1 & 2 Bedrooms)251 Jefferson Dr., McKees Rocks, PA 15136 No applications for these waiting lists will be accepted after the closing date. Notice will be given in this publication when the Allegheny County Housing Authority determines to re-open the Waiting Lists that are closed.

Frank Aggazio, Executive Director Allegheny County Housing Authority P. O. Box 397 McKees Rocks, PA 15136 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH PUBLIC NOTICE OF REVISED PAYMENT STANDARD The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), in accordance with federal law and regulation, is proposing revisions to its Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standard Schedule.

The revised 2021 Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Payment Standard Schedule is available for review and comment from September 21, 2020 to October 20, 2020 on the HACP Web Site: www.hacp.org. Printed copies of the revised payment schedule can be obtained by contacting the HACP xecutive ffice at 12- 65012.

A Public Hearing to receive public comments on the revised 2021 HACP Payment Standard Schedule will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. via Zoom: 10:00 a.m. via zoom: Meeting ID: 951 7225 1024 Passcode: 490733 (US) 1-301-715-8592 Passcode: 490733 5:00 p.m. via zoom: Meeting ID: 993 8466 5386 Passcode: 419474 (US) 1-301-715-8592 Passcode: 419474 Written comments on the proposed revisions to the HACP Payment Standard must be addressed to: “Attention: HACP Payment Standard Schedule” at HACP Housing Choice Voucher Department, 200 Ross Street, 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and must be received by October 20, 2021. nce approved, the final revised HACP Payment Standard Schedule will be effective….

If you are a person with disability and need an alternate means of reviewing this information, please contact the Disability Compliance ffice at 12- 6- 282 to discuss the options available.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT Sealed bid proposals are hereby solicited for the Community College of Allegheny County, 800 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15233 (412.237.3020) on the following items: Bid Proposal No. 1075 Printing of CCAC Community Education Schedules. Email responses to Joseph Pugliano at jpugliano@ccac.edu by the due date.

Due date: 2:00 P.M. Prevailing Time on Thursday, October 1, 2020 The CCAC Purchasing Department publishes all bids and RFPs via the CCAC website at https://ccac.edu/business/rfp-bids.php.

It will be each vendor’s responsibility to monitor the bid activity within the given website (“Bid and RFP Opportunities”) and ensure compliance with all applicable bid documents inclusive of any issued addenda. Failure to incorporate any applicable addenda in the final submittal may result in the rejection of your bid.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

The Community College of Allegheny ounty is an ffirmative ction ual Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages bids from inority Disadvantaged owned businesses.

COURIER CLASSIFIEDS

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

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LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR VINYL COMPOSITION TILE (VCT) FLOOR TILE INSTALLATIONS FOR VACANT UNITS IFB #300-27-20 The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby re uest bids from ualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s): Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) Floor Tile Installations for Vacant Units The documents will be available no later than September 14, 2020 and signed, sealed bids will be accepted until 10:00 A.M. on October 6, 2020.

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only be accepting physical bids dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the bid opening time of 10:00 AM on October 6, 2020 in the lobby of 100 Ross St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Bids may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HCP website and within the IFB. Sealed bids 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. uestions or in uires should be directed to: Mr. Kim Detrick Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Procurement Department 100 Ross Street 2nd Floor, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2832 A pre-bid meeting will be held via call in; on September 25, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. Please see call in information below: Join the audio conference by phone: United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295 Access Code 598-776-271# The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

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

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

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). roposals bid submittals will be due 11:00 a.m. on October 15, 2020 and will be read at 11:15 a.m., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information for the Bid Opening), for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

1 2 3 4

Bid Number B200871A B200972A B200973A B200974A

Bid Name Fire Alarm System Testing & Certification Cummins ISB Engine Parts Track Switch Heaters Non Destructive Testing of Rail

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 a.m. on September 29, 2020. Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Aut ority wit in fi e business days o t e sc eduled bid o ening.

These contracts may be sub ect to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The ontractor will be re uired to comply with all applicable ual mployment pportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB deli ered unless ot erwise s ecified. Costs or deli ery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. ort uthority of llegheny ounty hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

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

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org). roposals bid submittals will be due 11:00 a.m. on October 7, 2020 and will be read at 11:15 a.m., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information for the Bid Opening), for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

1

Bid Number B200868AR

Bid Name Microsoft Enterprise Agreement

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 a.m. on September 24, 2020. Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Aut ority wit in fi e business days o t e sc eduled bid o ening.

These contracts may be sub ect to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The ontractor will be re uired to comply with all applicable ual mployment pportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB deli ered unless ot erwise s ecified. Costs or deli ery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing. ort uthority of llegheny ounty hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

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

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SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2020

Stanley Crouch (1945-2020): The master of ‘Blues-Collar Clarity’ Stanley Crouch, jazzman, cultural critic, literary artist, and public intellectual, died on Sept. 16. He was 74 years old.

Crouch wrote essay collections, fiction, a biography of saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker, and a photobook called, One Shot Harris: The Photographs of Charles “Teenie” Harris. Crouch was mentored by literary giants Ralph Ellison and Albert Murray.

In the early 1990s The New Yorker anointed Crouch as America’s most outspoken and controversial critic. The magazine boasted that Crouch was “unconstrained by affiliation with any camp, creed, or organization.” That blurb caught my attention. It was on the cover of Crouch’s 1995 collection of essays: The All-American Skin Game, or, The Decoy of Race. These essays were my introduction to Crouch and a writing style he described as “blues-collar.” I was in my early 20s when I read them. Within the first few essays, Crouch lived up to his reputation by striking down two ideas I thought were infallible.

W.E.B. Dubois Dubois’ essay collection, The Souls of Black Folks, is considered a masterpiece by literary scholars, but Crouch called the book poorly thought out. Crouch questioned Dubois’ “double consciousness” theory. Dubois claimed Black people in America were Black and American, but a racist society wouldn’t allow them to be both. Dubois stated Blacks have two souls, two warring ideas in one dark body, and the history of Black people in America is a history of this strife—this longing to merge the double into a better and truer self.

Crouch pointed out Dubois never explained how a “better and truer” self could possibly emerge from combining two flawed concepts such as nationali-

J. Pharoah Doss

Check It Out ty and race. Crouch accused Dubois of investing in the supremacy of identity over individuality. Crouch insisted the “better and truer” self can only emerge from cultivating the consciousness of the individual, which is more complex than double.

Crouch wondered why Dubois’ “double consciousness” theory was still popular in the 1990s. Crouch surmised, because it enabled some Blacks to avoid personal responsibility by seeing the world as oppressed and oppressor. Crouch said his mentor Ralph Ellison knew the problem with race consciousness of whatever stripe negates the question of the individual and imposes some sort of “authenticity” that can trap the single human life inside a set of limited expectations.

Afrocentrism In 1995 “Afrocentrism” was at the height of its acceptance and popularity amongst mainstream academics and Black autodidacts. “Afrocentric” scholars claimed that every cultural or intellectual achievement attributed to Western Civilization was stolen from Africa.

Growing up in the Black community, it was gospel that Eurocentric education suppressed this information in order to keep Blacks believing in their own inferiority. So, when I discovered “Afrocentricity” I thought the Afrocentric schol-

ars were revealing truths the Whites conspired to hide. Afrocentric books had liberating titles such as, They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America, Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy, and The African Origins of Major Western Religions.

Crouch said “Afrocentrism” was a simple-minded hustle that descended from what was once called “the professional Negro,” a person whose “identity” and “struggle” constituted a commodity. James Baldwin was a master of being a “professional Negro” who sold the struggle, but “Afrocentrism” took it to another level and created university departments. Afrocentrism had little to offer in intellectual substance. What “Afrocentrism” wanted was power—the power to define and create the past in its own image no matter how conspiratorial its theories. Whenever Afrocentric professors were charged with shoddy scholarship, they retorted their work came from research outside of “European methodology.” Yet none of the “Afrocentric” arguments—all of which were rooted in nationalism, pluralism, and cultural relativity—were original to Africa; they all have their origins in the Western tradition of critical discourse.

“Afrocentrism” is absolutely Western, no matter the name changes and costumes of its advocates.

Of course, after reading Crouch for the first time, I was offended by his blasphemous treatment of Dubois and “Afrocentrism,” but I found him compelling and continued to read his work over the years. As I matured, I realized The New Yorker was wrong. Crouch wasn’t controversial. He exhibited the courage of conviction, which is always considered controversial by those who lack it.

Tell Republicans to stop Trump from trashing our post office (TriceEdneyWire.com)—The post office is one of the most respected institutions in America, a lifeline for millions of Americans, and a source of good jobs for thousands of Black people—and the Trump administration is trying to destroy it. Senate Republicans have a choice to make right now: are they going to side with the Trump administration’s political corruption, or with Americans who rely on the post office?

The corruption is so shameless that it’s almost hard to believe. Here’s how it works.

Louis DeJoy, a super-wealthy Trump donor with massive investments in competitors to the U.S. Postal Service, was put in charge of the agency in June, in spite of obvious conflicts of interest.

Almost immediately, Trump’s new Postmaster General forced postal workers to adopt operational changes that make it impossible for them to do their jobs well, causing serious delays in mail delivery.

Trump then used those delays to attack the post office as a “joke” and to claim that the post office can’t handle more people voting by mail this year.

Trump wants to make it harder, not easier, for people—especially Black people—to vote.

Even before DeJoy came along, 2020 was already a difficult year for the post office, which was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.

In the spring, the Democrat-led House

Ben Jealous

Commentary passed the Heroes Act, COVID relief legislation that included billions of dollars to keep the post office running because people across the country—in red and blue states, cities and rural areas—depend on it. But Trump threatened to veto the legislation and Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell refused to even let the Senate vote on it.

And now that Trump has made the post office part of his political war on vote-by-mail, too many Republicans lack the courage to stand up to him—despite the hardship many of their constituents face in order to vote in person.

That has to stop right now, because not only is our election at risk, the attacks on postal workers’ ability to deliver the mail are putting people’s lives in danger.

At my organization, we’ve heard from veterans and cancer patients who rely on the post office for lifesaving drugs that keep their hearts pumping, their lungs working, and their diseases in check—deliveries that are now being dangerously delayed.

We’ve heard from people who run small

businesses out of their homes and count on the mail to move checks and products—and who are losing business and money due to the new delays.

We’ve heard from a retiree whose insurance was cancelled because a renewal payment arrived after the deadline.

And we’ve heard from postal workers who see their job as a mission. They know their customers. They hate that they’re being forced to let those customers down by following the Trump team’s new rules.

Many postal workers are Black—about 177,000 of them in 2018, when they made up about 29 percent of the postal service workforce.

Unlike some of our national problems, this one has a pretty simple solution.

Postal workers want to do their jobs.

They want to play their part in helping people vote safely during this pandemic.

Legislation to provide the postal service with the money it needs has already been passed by the House of Representatives. But it’s stuck in the Senate while Americans wait for Republican senators to do the right thing.

Let’s not wait quietly. Let’s make some noise. Get on the phone and make sure Mitch McConnell and other Republican senators know that they need to get out of the way and stop blocking the relief the post office needs.

(Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation.)

One huge lie crystallized

by Roger Caldwell (NNPA)—You may have decided not to look at the recent Republican National Convention on television, and many Americans think President Trump broke the law by abusing the Hatch Act. But our president is smiling, because he got away with it.

The president needed a convention bounce and, according to polls, White voters have increased their support of his policies. By comparison, following the Democratic National Convention, held a week earlier, nothing changed statically in terms of support.

A recent Morning Consult poll that asked 4,035 likely voters which candidate they would pick, found Biden leading Trump by 6 percentage points, 50 percent to 44 percent. It marked a 4-point improvement for Trump from his standing going into the convention on August 23, when Biden led 52 percent to 42 percent. “The poll had a 2-point margin of error,” according to Morning Consult’s by Eli Yokley.

After the Republican Convention, President Trump has cut into Biden’s lead, and it appears that our president is a man of character. Trump supporters made it appear that he was working for all Americans and that there are thousands of Black men who believe he is the best candidate for our community. The president made it appear that he was working for the soul of America, and he was a huge supporter of

voting.

Even though there are 198 judges appointed by the president to the different courts in 3 1/2 years, not one has been Black. This has solidified conservative thinking and created and supported racism. These appointments are not about the next 4 years, but this will impact the positions and decisions that the judges will make for the next 40 years.

The Democrats have cast the President as a failed leader, but Trump’s supporters painted him as a success and the last line of defense against radical socialism. Black Lives Matter is trying to de-fund the police Departments and when you need a policeman, there will be a busy signal. Many of the mayors in many cities are finding out that Trump administration is paying people to create violence during peaceful protests.

Even though the Republican Convention was one huge lie, many of Biden’s supporters are having second thoughts about supporting the Democrats. As the race gets closer, all of the Republicans will be lying, and it is very hard to know what a lie is and where the truth starts.

On the last night of the convention Giuliani said, progressive Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York is the reason crime has elevated in the city. But when Giuliani was mayor in 2000 the yearly murder rate was 673, compared to 318 in 2019.

It is so easy to lie and give half of the story or picture. During the last night, a

supporter kept telling the country that the president created the strongest economy in American history and strengthened Medicare and Social Security. However, Obama’s last three years were stronger than Trump’s first three years, and the present economy is close to a depression.

Ending payroll taxes would deplete the Social Security fund in two years.

It is obvious that the majority of the Republican National Convention was one continuous lie but squeezing 1,500 people on the South lawn of the White House was irresponsible during a coronavirus pandemic. This was the wrong message to send Americans, and President Trump does not care.

“He once again claimed to have done more for the African American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln—ignoring Harry Truman’s integration of the military, Lyndon Johnson’s passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, and many other accomplishments. One might wonder, if this is true, why polls show just 5 percent of Black voters supporting him, says Fred Kaplan of the Slate, an online magazine.

As Republicans and President Trump build a campaign on lies the numbers are still in the Democrats favor. It is time for the Democrats to expose the lies and speak truth to power. The major key to Biden winning this election is getting support from the 18-to-30-year old voters, the Black voters, and the women voters.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Jesse Jackson Sr.

Commentary

Trump leads by division, while Biden leads by multiplication (TriceEdneyWire.com)— As the presidential campaigns heat up, Americans are provided with a stark choice of leaders. The visits to Kenosha of Donald Trump and Joe Biden provide clear contrasts for all to see. Kenosha erupted after a White policeman shot an unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake, seven times in the back, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Demonstrators have marched night after night demanding justice.

The protests were marred by vandalism, with some stores looted and burned. Informally organized, armed, right-wing militia groups came in looking for a fight. President Trump came to Kenosha despite the objections of local officials that his presence would be provocative. That didn’t deter him because he came to provoke. He met with local police, toured some of the businesses that were burned down, and condemned the demonstrators.

He refused to meet with the mother of Jacob Blake or to talk with Blake himself. Asked about the scourge of racism in our criminal justice system that has sparked unprecedented demonstrations across the country, he dismissed that as “the opposite subject.”

That wasn’t his message. He wanted to focus on “the kind of violence we’ve seen in Portland and here and other places. The fact is that we’ve seen tremendous violence and we will put it out very, very quickly if given the chance.”

He attributed the repeated police killings to the notion that the police “choke” under pressure, like a golfer choking and missing a short putt. For George Floyd or Eric Garner, the only choking came from the choke holds police used to take their lives. Trump bizarrely points to the chaos engulfing the country on his watch and warns that this is what will happen if his opponent is elected. While scorning the governor and local officials as weak, Trump took credit for ordering in the National Guard, though he had nothing to do with it. They were ordered in by the governor at the request of local officials. Trump offers no hope for reform. He acts only to fan fears and division in the hope it will help him in the election. Joe Biden came to Kenosha two days later. He met in a church with representatives of the community, with firefighters and with local officials.

He heard the pain of those living with fears of police violence in the Black community, and expressed his concern at the systemic racism in our criminal justice system. He spent an hour with Blake’s family and talked with Jacob Blake on the phone. He promised that he would work to bring reform, to address the scourge of racism that still scars our nation. He has condemned the violence, the vandals and the vigilantes, even as he praised those peacefully demonstrating for justice.

He called for reform of the police, even as he distinguished the large number of dedicated police from the lawless few who should be held accountable. He quoted Jacob Blake’s mother who told him: “I’m praying for Jacob, but I’m praying for the policemen as well. I’m praying that things change.”

The contrast was clear. Trump leads by subtraction and division; Biden by addition and multiplication. One fans polarization, the other seeks reconciliation. One peddles fears; the other offers hope. Trump refuses to condemn the right-wing vigilantes, even offering a defense of the 17-year-old Trump supporter who traveled to Kenosha with an assault weapon, and shot and killed two people, wounding another.

Trump refuses to acknowledge the provocations that lead unprecedented numbers of people to protest peacefully for justice, dismissing them as “anarchists.” Campaigning in 2016, he encouraged police to mistreat suspects, suggesting a little brutality would be a good thing. In the face of demonstrations marred by violence and vandalism, Biden chose not to abandon those demanding justice.

He condemned lawless actions on both right and left and called on Trump to do the same.

At the same time, he reached out to the victim, and acknowledged the provocations that lead citizens to march for justice. Trump sees the demonstrations as a political opportunity that he can use to scare those in the suburbs, to stand as the law-and-order candidate. He pretends that if re-elected he can bring order, ignoring that fact that he is president as the disorder spreads. Biden, in contrast, has felt the pain of losing a child. He hears the agony of African Americans who want safe neighborhoods and at the same time, live with real fears for the safety of their sons or daughters from the very forces tasked with protecting them.

In 1960 in the midst of a presidential campaign, Martin Luther King was arrested in Birmingham for leading peaceful protests for equal rights. He was denounced as an outside agitator, a radical, a communist. John F. Kennedy made a dramatic call to King in his jail cell, making it clear that he understood the justice of his cause. That call had a dramatic effect on his razor-thin margin over Richard Nixon.

It also set the stage for the civil rights reforms that came after Kennedy’s assassination. Biden’s trip to Kenosha—at a time when Trump is desperately peddling fear and division to bolster his election changes—reminds me of Kennedy’s courage. Americans must choose whether they want a leader who promises only to drive us apart or one who offers the possibility of bringing us together.