JUDGE NICOLA HENRY-TAYLOR LEADS THE INSTALLATION SERVICE FOR THE NEW NAACP PITTSBURGH BRANCH OFFICERS, AUG. 2. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
The NAACP Pittsburgh Branch is ready to roll.
Jackie Hill, the new branch president, told the New Pittsburgh Courier in a July 16 report that the branch would soon hold an official installation of its officers for the public, and that’s exactly what they did on Saturday, Aug. 2. No one knew, however, that the installation service would take place at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District, complete with a full meal and refreshments for everyone in attendance.Whether it was former NAACP Pittsburgh Branch President Tim Stevens, to the City of Pittsburgh’s Felicity Williams, to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Nicola Henry-Taylor, the 100 people in attendance seemed to enjoy the macaroni and cheese, green beans, meatballs, chicken, cookies and beverages following a spirited installation service.
“It’s not a new beginning, it’s just moving forward,” said Brenda Tate, the longtime Hill District resident, retired Pittsburgh Police detective and now, second vice president of the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch.
ON SATURDAY, AUG. 2, NEW NAACP PITTSBURGH BRANCH OFFICERS WERE OFFICIALLY INSTALLED AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE HILL DISTRICT. PICTURED ARE NAACP PITTSBURGH BRANCH PRESIDENT JACKIE HILL, CENTER, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT TERRI MINOR-SPENCER, RIGHT, AND SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA TATE, LEFT. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Tate was joined on the Ebenezer chapel mini-stage by newly-minted first vice president Terri Minor-Spencer, Hill and five other officers. They were officially installed by Judge Henry-Taylor, following remarks from Mayor Ed Gainey, City Councilman Khari Mosley, NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference First Vice President Andrew Goudy, and Baptist Temple Church (Homewood) Pastor Rev. Dr. Rodney Adam Lyde.
PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY PRAISED THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF THE NAACP PITTSBURGH BRANCH. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
“Jackie’s been a community leader for a long time,” Mayor Gainey remarked. “A lot of times the people that’s really been mothers in the community, leaders in the community and voices of the community don’t get a chance to have a title where they can empower the community. In Jackie, you don’t have to worry if she has the experience or the wisdom, because her years of being in these streets lets you know that she has just that. And so today is a special day for me to look behind me and congratulate her and let her know she is the new leader of the NAACP.”
Mayor Gainey added: “They always say that character is developed in the dark and joy is celebrated in the light. And in these dark times that we have today and the challenge that we have in front of us, it’s good to have somebody that we can commune with, grow with and strategize with, and I look forward to doing that with Jackie.”
REV. DR. RODNEY ADAM LYDE
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis was unable to attend the installation service, but sent his congratulations via a proclamation. It was read by Minor-Spencer.
Overall, Black Pittsburgh, and the much of the rest of Black Pennsylvania, is rooting for Pittsburgh’s NAACP Branch to succeed. Goudy remarked at the event that the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch was once known as one of the best branches in the country, with some 1,000 members. Today, that number is about 100 members.
“We’re hoping that with the new team in place, you’ll be able to turn things around, and I have full confidence that our new executive committee will make that happen,” Goudy said.
Goudy also said that “we at the state conference will do anything and everything to help you succeed.”
Pittsburgh is facing numerous challenges facing the African American community. Things like gentrification in neighborhoods like East Liberty and Garfield, along with high rent prices, tag-teaming to force more Blacks outside the city limits. When there are less Blacks inside Pittsburgh, there’s less of a chance that elected officials in the city will be Black, as well as Blacks possibly living further away from where they work. When there are less Blacks in the city, that impacts the Pittsburgh Public Schools district, as some schools in Black neighborhoods may be forced to close with the lack of available students.
African Americans are also dealing with the attack on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI. Even the University of Pittsburgh announced in early July that they were eliminating its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
NAACP PENNSYLVANIA STATE CONFERENCE FIRST VP ANDREW GOUDY
The NAACP Pittsburgh Branch, as it has in the past, is tasked with fighting for the civil rights of African Americans in the city, along with its play-cousin, the Black Political Empowerment Project, headed by Stevens, the former NAACP president.
Hill, who officially became NAACP Pittsburgh Branch president on July 9 in a landslide election, understands the task ahead. She understands the impact, the positive impact, that the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch can have once again in the region.
“I would like to share with you some words from Rev. William Barber,” Hill told the assembled crowd in the Ebenezer chapel, Aug. 2. “‘Suit up for the fight.’ We need the old to suit up one more time. We need the young to suit up for the first time. And we need all of the beneficiaries of the previous fights to suit up as well. Join us.”
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