Celebrating Black History

By Rebecca Wells-Gonzalez

McKeesport, PA (February 22, 2013) –With

To celebrate Black History Month, ResCare

Workforce Services in McKeesport, PA,

invited civil rights historian and labor

rights activist Jamaal Craig to speak to the

youth about African American history and

the Freedom Riders.



holidays such as Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras and President’s Day, February is truly a month to celebrate. It’s also a month to remember. Beginning in 1976, Black History Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the

contributions and important roles of African

Americans in our country’s history.



To celebrate, ResCare Workforce Services in McKeesport invited Jamaal Craig, a civil rights historian and labor rights activist, to speak to the youth in their program about African American history in the United States, specifically the Freedom Riders.



“The youth were quite surprised with the

information Mr. Craig provided and were

surprisingly unaware, before his visit, of many aspects of the civil rights movement,” Kathleen McGrath McQuillan, project manager for the ResCare Workforce Services operation, said. “Through his visits with us at Mon Valley Bridge and also the New Kensington site, he has become a valuable resource for our youth in all areas of civil rights, as well as history, politics and how all of it relates to them as individuals.”

Mr. Craig did such a wonderful job that he has been invited back to

share the movie “Freedom Riders” with the youth. After showing the movie, he will lead a discussion focused on how concepts from the movie relate to the youths’ lives today.

Mr. Craig left the display that he used for his presentation for students to read at their own pace. The display details information about the Freedom Riders and their stories. Kathleen McGrath McQuillan, project manager, was pleased that he left the display.

“Everyone who visits the Mon Valley Bridge will benefit from this display on the Freedom Riders,” Ms. McQuillan said.

African-American Literature that has Shaped Black Culture

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month I wanted to share some insight into the types of literature that have helped shape the way that I view race, class, and culture. I have listed my very own personal top ten most influential authors along with the specific work that has impacted me the most. It is no secret that the power and forces of bigotry in American society has inflicted many scars on black culture. These authors however, have been able to use their creativity to bring to the surface issues that we as a society both black and white have often times chosen not to confront and frequently have turned our heads the other way in. Their creative genius and literary talents have helped us define and discuss a wide range of issues that many people struggle with such as inferiority complexes, racial uplift, invisibility, rejection, religion, repression, sexism, educational disparities, and trauma. I invite you to take some time to learn more about these authors and their impressive contributions to literature and Black Culture.

·        Richard Wright - Native Son and Black Boy

·        Toni Morrison - The Bluest Eye

·        Ralph Ellison – Invisible Man

·        James Baldwin – Go Tell It on the Mountain

·        Paul Laurence Dunbar – We Wear the Mask

·        Maya Angelou - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

·        Claude McKay – Home to Harlem

·        W.E.B. DuBois - The Souls of Black Folks

·        Zora Neal Hurston - Their Eyes Were Watching God

·        Michael Eric Dyson - Debating Race with Michael Eric Dyson

The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters: Vanguard of the Civil Rights Movement Exhibit

On Friday, February 1, The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters: Vanguard of the Civil Rights Movement Exhibit, a collection of Pullman Porter artifacts went on display at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Washington, DC. Curated by Jamaal Craig, this unique exhibit will be on display free of charge to the public from February 1 – 28.

The exhibit was created to help raise awareness about the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) - the nation’s first black labor union formed in 1925 and their contributions to the American Civil Rights Movement. With the help of Ms. Thelma Jones, curator of the Thurgood Marshall Exhibit housed in the Thurgood Marshall Center, The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters: Vanguard of the Civil Rights Movement exhibit has expanded in scope and was most recently on display in the world renowned Arena Stage Theater in conjunction with the Pullman Porter Blues, an award winning play depicting the life of three generations of Pullman Porters.

The (BSCP) was founded under the guidance of civil rights and labor leader A. Philip Randolph. Considered by many to be the Father of the Civil Rights Movement, Randolph led the (BSCP) in a long fierce 12 year battle to organize for union recognition and collective bargaining rights against the powerful Pullman Company. Prior to forming their union and winning their first contract, the Porters were viewed as servants. Their resilient fight for recognition brought about sweeping changes in Workers' Rights, as well as Civil Rights for Blacks and is credited with creating the basis for a Black Middle Class in America.

For more information on the exhibit please contact Washington DC Exhibit Coordinator Thelma Jones at 202-251-1639 or info@jamaalcraig.com



(L-R) Ms. Thelma Jones and Jamaal Craig at Arena Stage Theater