Black Horizons; 2549; Jasmine

Hello, this is Black Horizons that I'm Chris Moore. As part of the All -Star game, Black Entertainment Television, otherwise known as BET, is putting on All -Star Game Weekend Extravaganza. You won't believe how Extravaganza it is, so we'll just have to tell you about it in a moment. It's officially summer now, and one of the recent memories of Pittsburgh summers has been Harambe too. It is just a memory now, but we thought we'd take a look back at the fun that we had in 1991, Harambe. Before we do that, let's talk to a person who has participated in the recent Gang Peace Summit. Here is Celeste Banks, the treasurer of the Gang Peace Council. Hi, and welcome to Black Horizons. Thank you. Thank you. What is your post -assessment of the summit now that it's over and done with? What is your assessment of? It was a success, contrary to what you may read. We learned a lot from our workshops, we learned a lot from working with young people, specifically that more outreach is necessary,

and for myself, that we need to really concentrate on parents and the young women. Young women? Young women. Where are we missing the boat there? Well, there's a lot of focus about the men in our streets, about the youth in our streets. It's always the boys. Guys, we got to do this with the boys. There are young ladies out there who are just as misdirected or just as confused or who need just as much as young men do, and that's where I really, my focus is really, that's what my focus is. What about on the adult in? You as a participant was the female focus missing there also? What I mean by outreach is that we really have to get more of the mothers involved with the movement and with the youth around them, not only specifically their young people because some mothers don't have any problems with their children or their children aren't having any problems, but that doesn't mean that we don't need their help. We really need the

mothers and the fathers, but we need the adults. You've heard the criticism that some people have leveled at the summit saying that it glorified those who were the cut -ups, the miscreants in society and didn't do enough for those who are doing the right things. What do you think of that? I think that the summit, the purpose of the summit was to allow the people who are having problems, who need direction, who need more out of our society than what they're getting. That was an opportunity for them to come together to listen and to talk. We had invited guests from across the country who are learning what the new and specific needs are of these young people and that was their reason for coming to the country and coming to this state. That's why we needed the young people there to listen to get the message that there are some other things happening in the world, in your future, you really need to start looking in that direction.

You need to find inside of yourself what you really are, that you really are worth a lot and that was the message from everybody. We need peace in our streets. We need peace among us. We need peace around the world. This is true, but we really need peace right here in our streets and these young people have not been getting a focused message that they're worth anything. Our society doesn't tell them that they're worth anything. You think that's part of the very beginnings of the problem? Yes. Yes, that is a lot to do with the problem. They think adults don't care about? I don't think it's so much adults. I think it's just the world that they see around them. They don't see any place for them. What do they tell you? Well, I have been told by people. For instance, I asked one young man, why is it that this violence is directed at your brothers, at your neighbors? He said, because we've learned to hate ourselves. This society has taught us that if you're not white, you don't have

blonde hair and blue eyes, you're not right. There's nothing here for you. We hate each other. It's easy to kill each other. That hurt me to my heart. That's a very difficult thing to swallow. You were deeply involved in some and participated in a number of sessions. Were there times for you that were very electrifying and elating? Were you saw glimmers of hope and were there times of despair? Were you nervous or even frightened? Yes. To the first, I would say, Sisters of the Summit, the workshop that we had Sisters of the Summit, we had a good group. It was not only black women. It was not only adults. It was young women, white women, even oriental women. I mean, people came out and really wanted to share experiences or at least hear experiences and find out where we should be going. Specifically, we need to go door to door, getting to know our neighbors

and taking our communities back. It's not so much just taking our communities back from the youth, but there's another poison out there that is feeding our youth. What? Well, there's some source for the drugs that they're selling. There's some source for the guns that are in their hands. Since, as we all know, we don't manufacture the guns and we don't grow the cocaine in our backyard or manufacture the crack in our kitchen. Where is it coming from? They see this, too. Yes. And what about a time that might have been frightening for you? Well, we had a few situations that the young people just... I know you're choosing words very carefully. And I have to because you can't plan every, even if you try, you can't plan every situation. There are a couple situations where some young people came together really

before they were ready to. And the young people have really suffered a lot of pain in this city. And they really need some time to resolve their situations that they've suffered through. You know, I do a radio show and I know you listen and you call it sometimes. And you know that there are a lot of adults who sit back and say, what pain are they going through? How can our 16 -year -old kid have pain? Do you think that the people who think like that are really missing the boat and understanding what some young people are going through and can you give us some of the examples of that pain? Well, I would just have to say that anyone who would even start to say that is not living in this city is not paying attention to what's happening in this city. My specific hurt that keeps coming back to me as a situation with Ahmed

Witherspoon, who was shot 23 times. There were 23 bullets in this man's body, 23 years old he was. And this was in the winter, our past winter. And our president went to the funeral, the young brother was Muslim. And our president then shared with us the fact that he shared the fact with us that the young brothers had washed the body of their friend before he was wrapped in buried in. Can you imagine your friend who you played with, you hung with 23 years old, young man, and you're going to look at 23 bullet holes in his body and wash his body? I mean, when I think about it, it hurts inside of me. But that's the kind of pain that these young people are going through. They are losing brothers and sisters on the street. And it's senseless, and they know how senseless it is. But there's some other poise and out there feeding it.

Were you at all, and other members of the Gang Peace Council, were you at all concerned about the lack of official support from the city, from any politicians? I was there two days. I did not see one politician. I did, on the second day that I attended, which was Sunday, not the second day of the conference. I did see a number of people start to stroll in. Excuse me, who hold various positions around the city and at foundations. And those kinds of the people who came to see what's going on and might be able to contribute and thought that a dialogue needed to be opened up. But not one elected politician that I see in the two days that I was there. I know you were there the entire time. Did you see anyone that I didn't? And are you at all concerned about their very pointed attempt to stay away and to condemn it before it started? Well, concerned about it for their sake, yes. Okay, we didn't need for their sake on concern.

Because it just shows their ignorance. And it shows the fact that they really don't care, makes it real clear to me and to other people working nationally. We see that our politicians, our elected officials really don't care. That's okay. We don't need them to make things right. We have to do things ourselves. These are our children who are killing each other. So you like the idea that it is a self -directed grassroots community effort and that we, as you say, are doing something about it. And in fact, that it's not a lot of money that's pouring in that might corrupt the process or the people who are running it or anything else like that. I think you covered it. No, you covered it exactly. That's the very point. You know, we have to remain grassroots. We have to develop our organization ourselves. We can't have someone else pouring money into it and thereby then attempting to tell us which direction to take because they don't know which

direction we need to take. Do we? I think we do. I think that we know that we need political power, that we need economic power. I think that we need, that we know that we need to give our youth a direction other than what they get in the media, that they have to have such and such clothing and shoes and drive certain cars and all of that. They've really been misdirected. They haven't been allowed to see that the point and what the point in life is all about. And it's certainly not fighting in the streets. I'd much rather have a peaceful existence and be allowed to learn and grow and have my family around me and be happy. You know, wake up in the morning and I have to worry about the color of my skin or how it's going to affect me. And you think that that's what young people are saying, too? Yes. When they have an opportunity to figure it out because time is moving too fast for them. These young people are out here. Yes, you know what they want? They want jobs. These kids are 14, 15,

16 years old. They should be out playing in the streets and having a good time and not worrying about such things as how are they going to feed their brothers and sisters or pay the rent. But that's reality for our young people. You have an interesting shirt on there. What is that? This is something. Yeah. And in fact, I have one for you then. Oh, thank you. You can see very well. I will wear this proudly. Let me hold it up here. Principles, visions for our future political empowerment, economic development, social justice and respect for women. That's what it says on the back and the Gang Peace Council. A part we can't do it, but together we can. I guess that sums it up. That's it. Okay. Celeste Banks, we really appreciate you coming here and talking with us. And I will wear this for you probably. Please, too. Forever never until I wear it out. Okay. Thank you. Let me say and take that shirt out, Chris. Keep that shirt on, Chris. Okay. Thank you. One of the other concerns the Black community has and was extremely

highlighted by the Rodney King case is police brutality. The PBS series POV tackles that tough issue on the next program. You don't have any comes of the police as a service, a serve and protect. Next on POV. On February 15th, 1982, Mr. Andrew Wilson had been arrested and had evidence of unusual injuries. It was being numbing. It was kicking it. It was punching. You took out the black box for one while one year. It started cranking. People really don't believe that happens here. The end of the night stick. End of the night stick has July 12th at 11 p .m. As you can see, the POV series tackles tough subjects. One reason this show is on at 11 p .m. is because of the strong language and the graphic footage. I might also point out that the very title of the program POV means point of view. It's a film term that means the filmmaker has a point of view going in and there is no pretence of a balanced presentation.

Before warned, this is strong stuff. Now, on to more pleasant things. Everyone remembers Harambe 2. It was the summer arts festival held in homewood every year. Well, it's gone but not forgotten. And I thought now that it's summer, we might look back at a couple of years ago just to remember the fun of Harambe 2. It's 6 .30. It's show time. We are ready to go. I think it's positive. I think it's electrifying. It's vitalizing. Well, I think this is a joyous world and development of African people here in Pittsburgh. There's something that people get from the festival that they carry with them, during the festival and they take them home with them. Lots of people share this feeling during the two days of the

Black Arts festival called Harambe. Gail Austin has helped organize Harambe since it's revival in 1983. Harambe 2 came about when some community folks who had enjoyed and appreciated as so much the original Harambe got together and said, hey, let's get the festival going again. People generally have this real romantic view about this festival they really do. They think that it lasts much longer. People talk about that original festival like it was 17 years. People still see more on this street and they go, you're with Harambe, right? And I'll say yes. They say, yeah, I've never missed a year in 22 years. There was no festival between 1971 and 1983. Harambe is a Swahili word that means working together. Surprisingly to some people is only eight rural staff board people who do all the organizing over a year period to pull off the festival. But we bring in maybe two, three hundred volunteers so

it truly is a Harambe kind of event. Somewhere in a dictionary, if you look at the word festival, there should be some serious problem because they're almost anonymous. I think all festival people feel that way because when you're outdoor festival, what you're in actuality doing is building a whole physical plant outside. Things that you take for granted when you're holding something indoors. Things like the weather. Festival people don't worry about the rains. It's the one thing that you know you don't have any control over so we don't take that into consideration when planning. The community of Homewood is the current venue for Harambe too. It's a street festival that doesn't charge admission. You get to learn things about your culture and you get to see black people you're back out here, you feel like the majority instead of minority. I like it that you can see so many black faces and you feel more in touch with your culture. I think it's very positive

really because if you have different types of music for different types of people, you can bring in people from all different cultures. White, black, Hispanic, Jewish, everything because you have different music. If you have different music, I mean you're going to attract different people. When you attract different people, you have unity. One of the things Harambe wants to do is mix the political and social with the aesthetic. Educate is what is entertained. They also go for alternative entertainment. People who are distinguished in various fields but receive limited exposure. I think we were dependent upon name recognition from outset because we had to have names like Max Roach to bring people to the festival. But now we have established track record and now we can start to bring in some world -beat through world artists who people aren't familiar with. People come to Harambe now, not no one who's going to be here because they know it's going to be a success. They know it's going to be great. People also come to Harambe knowing there's going to be great

food. Homewood comes alive each summer doing Harambe. The host festival is doing a lot for homewood and most of all for African Americans. It gives us a chance to see what we're all about as well as it gives us a chance to kind of reunite with each other at least once a year. Well it's going to take events such as this to keep people coming back. However it needs to start somewhere else with remembering pride, pride will always bring you home. Pride will always bring you home. You know I talked to Gail Austin, the lady who sort of narrated the piece for us, and there was an article done not too long ago in the Daily Paper here, the Post Gazette. They talked about Harambe and why it would not be back. And she says it just simply outrew its current location or its location. And

they were victims of their own success. But we look back on it fondly. And that's probably the last time I'll get to run that piece. But we look back on Harambe fondly. And Gail says anybody else who wants to take up the mantle can do so. Well speaking of big events, the All -Star game is coming to Pittsburgh and along with it, a host of activities where you can have fun. And here's Pat Cotman -Green to tell us more. Green Cotman, pardon me, I always do that. Why do I have no idea? I'm sorry, I apologize. Forgive me, how are you? Fine, thank you. Welcome back. Thank you. Glad to see you. It's been a long time. Yeah, now there was another article in the Post Gazette that talked about this big extravaganza being the biggest thing to come down the pike since Harambe, is it right? That's what people are saying. This is the pre -major leak All -Star Game Weekend extravaganza. That's really sponsored by BET. It's going to be a weekend. July 9th through 10th, 10th rather of softball games, delivery softball games,

boat ride, a jazz concert, and a tribute to the Negro Baseball leak, which is the real reason why it's being held. I would imagine that there are not a whole lot of Negro league players who are active back then, who are still around, but some of them are coming to town. Yes, some of them will be here on July 9th at the Crawford Grill for a private reception and honor of them. And some of the things that are going on like the softball game are going to be fun raises that will benefit them because as I understand it, and I've read a couple of articles about this now, they really haven't gotten any pension or anything else. They didn't qualify for these things out of the Negro leagues where it was never set up. And so now they are old men in their 70s and 80s and sometimes living on public assistance and housing developments and on and on and on, and there are some horror stories for these men who are real

sports heroes. And you've done a great deal of research. I have to say that, and actually BET, which you know is cablecast leader, has been very involved in documenting footage on the living members as well as just tributing through documentation, their history, and their contributions to the sport of baseball. You think this is going to get a lot of people of color in the city involved their tons of activities. And I have been doing a lot of interviews. It seems almost one a week with all the black folks who are involved with the all -star game around the edges of it, involved as players, sports celebrities and sons of celebrities who are raising funds to do sports things. You think that this kind of activity is important for our community to be hooked in and involved with the all -star game. It is a major league event. Yes, absolutely. And we're really satisfied with the partnerships that we've established locally with the pirates. Al Gordon's been very involved with us in planning this. And I have to add that Jasmine Productions is actually spearheading the

local coordinating of this event for BET. And I'm working with that Jasmine Productions to do the PR connected with it. But because we're involving so many different entities at the local level, it creates so many opportunities for people. For example, at the softball game, which occurs on Sunday, July 10th, we'll have an opportunity for vendors to actually come and sell, not only food vendors, but crafts vendors as well. Are you still signing them up as well? Yes, we are. And I think you're going to give the number at the end of the show. And for any kind of information, vendor opportunities or tickets, people can call that number. Well, we can display it right now. Okay, let's see. Tell us really these. It's two, three, two. Two, three, two. Six, seven, one, oh. Okay, and repeat it again for those who might be scrambling for their pencils. There it is on the screen. Two, three, two, six, seven, one, oh. Okay, all right. And maybe we'll repeat it again. Now, so vendors can still get involved. What kind of vendors? Teachers, food, memorabilia, the kinds of vendors that we

saw at the Harambe and any other. You'll be a big festival. Yes, well, it's a celebrity game. I mentioned celebrity. A lot of the celebrities are coming from BET. We're familiar with, of course, Bev Smith and Angela Stribley. Bev Smith's a part of the weekend. Oh, okay. And we also have Ed Gordon. And we have Vesta on more national level in terms of celebrity appeal. We have Vesta. Vesta is going to play softball. Oh, this is part of the weekend. This is part of the weekend. We'll see who's going to play softball. That's the excitement. We'll see who's going to play softball. Okay, all right. Now, that's one activity. I've mentioned the tribute reception. I've mentioned the softball. I've mentioned the boat ride. You didn't mention one of the musicals. Right. Ronnie Laws. Okay. Ronnie Laws on the ninth, the evening of the ninth at Manchester Craftsman's skill. Ronnie Laws will do a jazz concert. And this is

a paid thing. It's not free. Yes, right. That's a small auditorium packed to place. All of the events are fee -based except the private reception. Would you get it to anyway, right? However, if organizations would send on their stationary request for youth tickets, we will give youth tickets to organizations for the softball game. Okay. But it sounds like it could be a real well of a event. And you never know who's going to drop by when it comes to the players. Right. The current major league players. Also, who may drop by. Some of the all -stars may come to the game, watch the celebrities. And I guess at the reception, it could be the same way, right? Yes, it could be. Lots of surprises. And vendors could get involved and be part of this and make some money and have some fun also. Absolutely. What's that phone number again? Two, three, two. I'm looking at it. You see that? I'm looking at it. Six, seven, one, oh. Okay. So, a vendor should call that name. Vendors, ticket information, information for organizations

wanting to have free tickets for youth to attend the softball game. What are the dates again? July 9th through the 10th. Okay. Well, Pat is always a very professional and slick job when you're involved. What did you say? A very professional and slick job when you're slick, meaning good. Oh, great. Okay. Don't misunderstand me. So that things will go along well. I'm sure. Thank you. Thank you. And letting our viewers know about it. Thanks so much. All right. Well, that winds up this edition of Black Horizons. By the time you see this, I'll already be on vacation. So, I hope that you'll tune in next week when Manette Seat hosts the show. As for WCHJ's Black Talk, we'll have some very special guest hosts sitting in for me there. And I hope that you'll tune in to 1550 AM just to see or hear what's going on. In the meantime, I'm going to try to have some fun. As the good Lord is willing, I'll see you