PNC has selected the winners of the Celebrating Black History essay contest. They are Gabriel Yancy (Pittsburgh CAPA), Gigi Varlotta (Pittsburgh CAPA) and Essence Davis (Obama Academy).
Entries selected all reflect a personal, profound connection with their subject. Yancy chose Sean Jones; Varlotta chose Swin Cash; and Davis chose Demeatria Boccella.
It lives on through the music
by Gabriel Yancy
Pittsburgh CAPA
“I remember the rich legacy that’s in the Hill District… I just wanted to live around that part of town… just to say I lived in the Hill District.” —Sean Jones
Sean Jones is a critically acclaimed trumpeter, composer and overall amazing person who I had the pleasure of meeting when he presented a group master class to my Jazz Band last year. After just hearing him talk about this complex instrumental conversation that we call jazz, I feel a great respect for him.
As a pianist and saxophonist at CAPA, I normally feel a connection to other musicians, but he was different. Everything he said was so true, so beautiful, that it made jazz sound less like a genre and more like a language. He seemed to perfectly articulate everything I had ever thought about it.
Jones has also been incredibly important to the story of Pittsburgh. As he says in the above quote, he was a significant part of the cultural boom of the Hill District. In fact, his band, The Mission Statement, was the last show ever to play at the famous Crawford Grill, a place that housed many jazz music greats including Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughan. When this amazing house of creativity closed, shortly after, he thought that all of the music that was the reason he came here would go with it. Little did he know that his very own life would prove his thoughts wrong.
Sean Jones is one of the remaining embodiments of the life, energy and beauty that was the Crawford Grill and, along with countless other musicians throughout the city, has passed this feeling of Jazz down to those of us who didn’t get the chance to experience the Crawford Grill. I have experienced this hands-on. When he talks so fondly about listening to this music growing up it makes me almost feel like I was there. I can picture the men and women all crowding around this room, making way for these world famous musicians to enter. I can imagine them laughing and moving to the groove; letting everything except the music escape. I can’t say that I ever went to the Crawford Grill, but I can say that Sean Jones has kept it alive so that people like me feel like they did.
While during Black History Month it is important to celebrate and acknowledge those African-Americans who have made a great impact, it is equally, if not more important, to also celebrate diversity. The most significant reasons behind this is the fact that diversity hasn’t always been around and that we often take it for granted. I mean, my own grandparents didn’t see diversity growing up. At that time everything was segregated. Now, through the celebration and appreciation of diversity, we are able to recognize that it didn’t always exist and that we need to respect and enjoy it; because if you really think about it, without diversity, everyone’s life would change for the worse.
On and Off the Court: Swin Cash
by Gigi Varlotta
PittsburghCAPA
Swintayla Marie Cash, Swin for short, has dominated the sport of basketball at the highest level. She reached a level of excellence that very few people ever do, and off the court she has been incredible too.
She founded Swin Cash Enterprises and Cash Building Blocks, a company that helps to low-income families renovate into affordable houses; and Cash for Kids, a charity whose goal is to “motivate, educate, and elevate” kids. She uses sports and cultural activities to help over a thousand kids across the nation become more active and involved in their community.
Swin is a two time Olympic gold medalist and three time WNBA champion. There is a lot to be said about being the best in your field. In order to be a champion, it requires a combination of talent, time, energy, hard work and most importantly, in my opinion, determination. In order to achieve greatness, you have to be driven. I have experienced this to a small degree in my own athletic pursuits. From rock climbing, snowboarding, basketball, soccer, softball and cross country, I love competition and to challenge myself. No matter the game, I’m only satisfied if I do my absolute best. When I think about somebody mastering their sport the way Swin did, I’m inspired.
For me the essence of diversity involves different types of people coming together. It may be by helping and supporting each other, or just sharing in general. It can occur through talking and sharing ideas, spending time and playing, or perhaps, engaging in a game of hoops. It’s great to have different types of individuals together in neighborhoods, schools, and all of society because it helps everybody collaborate and absorb innovative ideas. Life is always more interesting when there are different types of people coming together. It allows you to see what others are thinking and that makes everything more interesting.
Swin is not only a female, but she is also a female of color too! Our country has always had men in charge, but that is slowly changing. It is exciting to see women doing great things, paving a path for the girls in my generation to do great things.
Swin is a great athlete, without a doubt. All you have to do is Google her name and see her awards, shooting stats, and read about her two Olympic gold medals and WNBA championship titles. We know she’s one of the best basketball players out there, but what makes Swin different is how she’s a great person too. When great athletes are great people, you know you have something very special. So go ahead, take that three-pointer, help a neighbor out, do something you’re scared of, or just be brave. Great things just don’t happen while you’re at home, but when you try to do something new, something big, maybe even something that’s never been done before. I believe Swin is an inspiration for all girls out there- that we all have something amazing inside of us. It is just up to us to find it.
Demeatria Boccella: Comfortable in her skin
by Essence Davis
Obama Academy
Demeatria Boccella has experienced many different things, especially with the color of her skin. But she has looked at those experiences with a different perspective and used them as motivation to achieve her mission of making it in the fashion industry. Like her, I strive to be in the fashion industry as well. She has expressed being a beautiful Black woman through many unique ways, like dance, music and design. There are countless ways that I connect to her, but what really hits home is when she mentions not being comfortable with the skin she is in and at a point in time wanting to be lighter. Even I thought being the color I am wasn’t as attractive or beautiful as lighter skinned individuals; and it gave me low self-esteem. It wasn’t until I saw people my complexion being proud of their skin and being comfortable with their skin, that I became proud and comfortable of mine. This made me realize that beautiful comes in every color, no matter what color you are. I overcame the phase in my life and Demeatria did as well. I never knew you could have so much in common with a person that you never have come in contact with.
Demeatria is important to the story of Pittsburgh because she helps people be proud of who they are and encourages them to express their diversity through music, fashion and dance. She helps people understand their true beauty and to be proud of whom they are. She does this by hosting fashion events, such as FashionAFRICANA, which showcases different cultures. FashionAFRICANA was founded by Demeatrla Boccella and co-founded by Darnell McLaurin in 2001. FashionAFRICANA was held at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Andy Warhol Museum, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, the New Hazlett Theatre and the Kelly Strayhorn Theatre, just to name a few.
Not only does Demeatria have FashionAFRICANA, she has The Utopia Project, which includes pre-teen and teenage girls. The program teaches how art and fashion work hand-in-hand in the fashion industry through its inclusion of industry professionals. The Utopia Project has been presented at local schools, such as Westinghouse High School, The Ellis School, Schenley High School and CAPA. Demeatrla has done many things to be considered important to the story of Pittsburgh.
To me it is important to appreciate diversity because it gives you a different perspective on the people who are not only around you, but around the world. To me, I am able to go above the ignorance and prejudice. All over the world we are diverse people and to celebrate our differences unites and educates us. To celebrate diversity means to understand and accept different cultures. You accept diversity when you learn to tolerate ignorance and overcome challenges, and when you learn about different cultures, beliefs and religions. Accepting diversity means that it is okay to be different; and you shouldn’t be treated unfairly because of it, because after all, diversity makes the world go around.
