THE NAACP PITTSBURGH BRANCH, according to some, has been less active in recent years.
Longtime Pittsburgh civil rights activist Louis “Hop” Kendrick had a front row seat to Pittsburgh’s no-nonsense NAACP leaders of yesteryear, such as Harvey Adams, Byrd Brown, Coretta Ogburn and Connie Parker.
In an exclusive interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier, Feb. 18, he described the numerous outward stances the organization would take on any number of issues negatively affecting Pittsburgh’s African American community. He recalled marches, protests, signs, community meetings, etc., which defined the local branch’s commitment.
However, according to Kendrick, over the past two years, the local NAACP hasn’t made as much noise as it should be making when it comes to issues affecting the Black community.
“The NAACP was always the most independent organization when it came to civil rights,” Kendrick, who is also a Pittsburgh NAACP member, told the Courier. “Our leadership was uncompromising — they weren’t Democrats or Republicans, they cared about the community and the people.”
Kendrick said sometimes, other Black organizations who receive funds from private and political-based entities may be hesitant to speak out against injustices in the community if it involves an organization that partially funds the Black entity. But not the NAACP. “It was a people-supported organization. (The NAACP) doesn’t have to answer to those groups; we took no prisoners.”
Kendrick added about the local NAACP: “We’ve grown silent and I don’t know why.”
However, the Pittsburgh NAACP is aware of the rumblings from Kendrick and other community members. So much so that in 2020, the local NAACP held a press conference at its Hill District location to proclaim that the organization was active and taking stances against Black-on-Black violence, as well as helping to stop the community spread of COVID-19.
JOHNNIE L. MIOTT has been the Pittsburgh Branch NAACP president for nine months.
At the time of that June 12, 2020, news conference, Richard A. Stewart Jr. was the president of the Pittsburgh NAACP. He no longer is the president, as Johnnie Miott now holds the position. Miott released a statement on Aug. 22, 2021, further addressing concerns that the NAACP wasn’t in operation in Pittsburgh, obtained by the Courier: “The Pittsburgh local branch of the NAACP is up and running. As many know, we are a volunteer organization and our volunteers are working the office, responding to the needs of the community. The Executive Committee and volunteers have been financially supporting the Pittsburgh office throughout the pandemic. Unfortunately, the past two years has had a toll on the branch due to past leadership. We continue working with the State Conference and National Office to further the mission of the NAACP. This transition in leadership has afforded the Pittsburgh Branch to continue moving forward in providing equity and justice throughout the City of Pittsburgh. It is sad to say, there are those who would attempt to disparage the great mission of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the NAACP, which is one of the oldest and strongest units in the state of PA. However, through these adverse times we are still standing. The past 17 months have been challenging for us all.”
Kendrick said some of the problem stems from young people’s lack of interest in joining the NAACP. But Kendrick told the Courier that when young people address problems that they believe are only “young people’s problems,” they don’t understand that “the issues are bigger than young people.” Kendrick said the issues are issues that longtime members of the NAACP — and even older members of the Black community — have seen before.
“I’ve challenged the NAACP, the churches, sororities, fraternities,” Kendrick told the Courier. “In my estimation, none of us are doing things to the extent of what we should be doing.”
LOUIS “HOP” KENDRICK
On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Pittsburgh NAACP provided the Courier with an updated statement, which read in part: “Just like most businesses around the world, we too have suffered at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing us to close our physical location for access to the public. While we still maintain our address at 2203 Wylie Ave, our hours for physical access are limited while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. As COVID-19 improves, we will start to make the office available for the public.”
The statement provided to the Courier also said that the NAACP has assisted the Pittsburgh Black community in recent months by providing COVID-19 updates, COVID vaccine locations, voter registration, assisting the community with labor issues and providing health care information.
“In closing,” the statement read, “we find it a privilege to serve the City of Pittsburgh and are looking forward to growing and expanding the Pittsburgh unit to its fullest potential.”
In addition to Miott as president, Rev. Regina Ragin Dykes serves as first vice-president, Tene Croom is second vice-president, Billy Joe Jordan is third vice-president, Gwendolyn Young is secretary, and Sherdina Harper and Daylon Davis are interim assistant secretary and interim treasurer, respectively.