Over the course of my life I have often been called upon to refute the allegation that the Black population in the City of Pittsburgh is the most backward in America. I would defend us and use the counter argument that across this nation Black conditions were identical, but in cities that have tremendous Black populations the same percentage were doing just as bad as those of us in Pittsburgh. However it has become more and more apparent to me that the condition of Blacks in Pittsburgh may be some of the worst in America and the tragedy is that we are a contributory factor in our own demise.
At the outset of my involvement in politics there was one Black ward chairman, Robert “Pappy” Williams of the 5th Ward and Pappy was king. I witnessed and participated in the political process that resulted into eight Black men become democratic chairmen. There was a belief that Blacks had begun to become real players in the political process as the wards with Black chairmen organized and became recognized as the United Black chairmen. Dock Fielder, the 12th ward chairman, became the president and a real genuine power broker whose word could be trusted. All of the original United Black Ward Chairmen have died and those who replaced them have for a number of reasons been unable to fill their shoes adequately.