It is February again and vast numbers of us get enthused because it is designated as Black History Month. The tragedy is that too many of us are overwhelmed with the month being set aside when we should recognize our history and accomplishments year round. In 28 days we focus on a limited number of Black heroes and heroines, but the truth of the matter is that there are unbelievable numbers of Black men and women, local and nationwide, who qualify as heroes and heroines.
A great number of us wore blinders for years and we believed that bigotry and discrimination only took place Down South. Yes, we felt so sorry for Blacks who were subjected to atrocities and even death. Those Down South had all Black schools with Black teachers, they were denied the right to vote, eat in restaurants, denied access to the zoo and public parks, could not attend White colleges, denied job opportunities, access to public accommodations and public facilities were designated White and colored. The Ku Klux Klan would terrorize and kill you and overwhelmingly Blacks were denied any constitutional rights by the police or judicial system. We would read and, in later years, watch on television and see how our brothers and sisters were being mistreated. We would shake our heads and question how could colored folks allow themselves to be mistreated in such a manner and not do anything about it. However there came a period of time that we took off our blinders and began to observe our conditions her Up South.
In the city of Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County the plight of colored persons was almost identical. In my school years I never saw a colored teacher, principal or janitor. There was a period of time that Pittsburgh, Allegheny County sheriff of Pa. State would not hire colored persons. We could not swim in certain Pittsburgh or Allegheny County pools, and the amusement parks discriminated. Colored people were denied accommodations at downtown hotels. There were restaurants and bars located in every section of Pittsburgh where you would not be served, you could take out. The local universities would not admit more tna two colored persons in law or medical schools.
The local newspapers would not hire colored reporters, unions denied us admittance, and hospitals discriminated when you went there for medical services.
At Fifth Avenue High School the counselor stated to colored students that they did not need college preparatory courses. Why? He stated that colored students were not going to college, males would be laborers and females would be domestic workers.
The city and county would not hire colored people to drive the trucks, excluding refuse trucks.
Department stores and beverage corporations would not hire colored drivers; the utilities, water, gas, electric would not hire colored persons as meter readers.
Local banks did not encourage colored persons (we were not Black yet) to deposit money in their banks, cemeteries discriminated, property rentals were denied and you definitely had difficulty obtaining a mortgage.
The state of Pennsylvania had more KKK chapters than the state of Alabama. In the years of 1790 the census indicated that Pennsylvania still had 3,737 slaves. In the year of 1787 the Pittsburgh Gazette was advertising that there were slaves for sale. The records also indicated there were slaves in Allegheny County until 1830. How many of us realized that slavery existed here in Allegheny County? Just look around you and ask yourself are we now subjected to a different form of slavery? Yes, we live Up South.
(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum page.)
