To Tell The Truth…Another positive Black voice diminished

Over the years a number of local, positive Black voices have been silenced, usually because of age, sickness or death. Allow me to list some of those voices–I am positive that you could add to the list.
There were Mal Goode, Alma Illery, Frankie Pace, Bouie Hayden, Attorney Byrd R. Brown, Matthew Moore Sr., Charlie Kindle, Nate Smith, William “Muggsy” Moore, Harvey Adams Jr., John Sloan, Dock Fielder Jr. and Rev. Thomas Smith, retired pastor of Monumental Baptist Church. With the exception of Rev. Thomas Smith, all of the above are deceased.
I listed Rev. Smith, who has retired and now resides in Florida, because he did not retire from the fight, he is just fighting on another front. I don’t believe he ever received the credit he deserved when he lived in Pittsburgh. It is an established fact that some of these individuals and maybe all had their lives threatened, but it did not deter them from their mission.
There are other reasons excluding age, sickness and death that have silenced positive Black voices. A perfect example is when organizations receive budget cuts. The most glaring example is at WQED-TV, where the voice of the most accomplished, sincere, committed and best-prepared commentator in Allegheny County has been diminished.
I am referring to none other than Chris Moore. I could have written a lengthy column about the tragedy of Chris Moore’s programming being reduced, but it would be redundant because if you watched and listened to Chris over the years you understand the importance of his contributions through his professionalism, thoughtfulness and his courage to stand up and challenge the overall system when he truly believed they were wrong.
Once again the old expression of Blacks paying their own way comes into focus.
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(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum Page.)