In the midst of the mayhem and turmoil of life in a Black neighborhood it was encouraging to be among future leaders and civic servants. The feeling was in the theme of the Pittsburgh Branch NAACP’s 54th annual Human Rights Dinner— “Standing Strong in Times of Adversity.”

The vision of the NAACP is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights, which Vince Sims, emcee of the evening and morning anchor and reporter for WPXI Channel 11 News, followed up by saying, “What better way to get that point across, than awarding the young people.”

The annual banquet, held at the Pittsburgh Hilton, highlights the importance of higher education by handing out multiple academic scholarships to the area’s highest achieving Black students. More than $22,000 in scholarships were distributed to 12 of brightest high school seniors and undergrads

Leslie V. Horne, chair of the scholarship committee, was proud to be able to recognize the accomplishments of the college-bound high school seniors, undergrads and graduate students.

“We have an investment in our youth. The Pittsburgh Public Schools are in a crisis, and the NAACP is making sure that a quality education is a hope for everybody—not just the middle and upper class. We have a responsibility to educate every child,” said Horne.

M. Gayle Moss, Pittsburgh branch president, pointed out major discrepancies between Black and white educations, but acknowledged that we have made great strides in policies.

Taking home more scholarships than any other district was Penn Hills, with three outstanding students being awarded money for college. Mrs. Betts, former guidance counselor and coordinator at Penn Hills High School, said she was especially proud of Kingsley Ansan, an African PH student who didn’t even speak English when he arrived here in middle school.

“From a people who were emancipated through poverty...we’re now a strong political force,” said Moss.

The Homer S. Brown Award, the highest annual recognition given by the Pittsburgh branch in honor of Pittsburgh’s pioneering civil rights attorney, was presented to three different organizations.

“They have positively impacted our community while attempting to build survival bridges for children, youth, and adults in times of adversity,” said Joseph K. Williams III, chairman of the committee, in reference to the three honorees Youth Enrichment Services (for youth development), Tadisco Incorporated (for adult rehabilitation), and the University of Pittsburgh Center on Race and Social Problems in the school of Social Work (for research.

One of the studies done by the Pitt students found that while nine of 10 Blacks feel they’re mistreated by the police, (a number they expected), the unexpected surprise was that six of 10 whites agreed that Blacks are mistreated by police.

Representing Tadisco, Marleen Burks said, “This is a most prestigious honor and we are humbled by it...addiction is a curable disease, and we truly believe that.”

Two students accepted the honor on behalf of Youth Enrichment Services.

Imogene Hines, Professor of English and Journalism at the Community College of Allegheny County, introduced the keynote speaker Dr. Alex Johnson, Ph.D., new President of CCAC. Johnson was formerly the Chancellor of Delgado Community College in New Orleans, where he served through the whole Hurricane Katrina disaster.

“Potential, when massaged and nurtured, can yield success,” said Hines. “He made sure the entire faculty stayed the same after Katrina...he believes in keeping the word human in humanity.”

Johnson felt really honored to be the guest speaker, following the footsteps of previous keynoters Judge Greg Mathis, former Steeler and gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann, and former national executive director of the NAACP Kwesi Mfume, just to name a few of the past keynotes.

“At CCAC, were creating portals of success to get grads in the workforce immediately,” said Johnson.

Raised by his grandmother in rural North Carolina, Johnson says it wasn’t easy doing what he has done, serving on a number of committees and boards around the country, before landing here, including stops in Cleveland and Philadelphia.

“One of my favorite songs is Ice Cube’s ‘It was a good day’...I want there to be graduation days and paydays for our youth, which in turn make good and happy days,” said Johnson.

“I stand before you a humble man, a product of not my environment, but Dr. King’s environment and I challenge all of you to act.”