On Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Heinz History Center, there will be an affair paying homage to grandparents. It is a tribute to an overwhelmingly important segment of all communities that is long overdue. It is sponsored by Your Sisters Project, an organization that has demonstrated by its involvements they really and truly are committed to the people.
Grandparents have provided people of all races throughout this nation with love, guidance and positive direction. Grandparents were a stabilizing factor to the immigrants who came here from Europe and settled in the big cities and those who traveled to the Wild West.
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I was not fortunate to have an opportunity to really get to know my grandparents, because they all died when I was a youngster, but I have been privileged to know a number of grandparents throughout the years. In the Black community grandparents have played an integral role ever since we landed on these shores in chains. They were protectors of our religion, philosophers, physiologists, educators, doctors with a wisdom that most of us could not fathom.
Yes, they were the rock and today there are a number of grandparents who perform in multiple roles. Today’s grandparents are generally much younger than a couple of generations ago, and as the result of this youthfulness and lack of experience, a vast number of great-grandparents have become the guiding force in their children’s lives. These grandparents and great-grandparents have done a tremendous job in spite of the many roadblocks and obstacles that our young people are confronted with.
Your Sisters Project is to be commended for having the foresight in initiating a deserving and long overdue salute to our grandparents.
If you want to attend the program on Sunday, tickets will be sold at the door for only $20. It is one way of demonstrating to your grandparents how much they are appreciated.
I will be in there, because I really have witnessed firsthand the many examples of grandparents functioning in many positive roles. They may not always be successful, but they refuse to give up.
If you have any questions relating to the affair, call 412-377-3358.
Remember, the Kingsley Association needs your financial support.
(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum Page.)
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