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NEW
Pittsburgh Courier
VOL. 100, NO. 47 Three Sections Published Weekly 50 CENTS
NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1, 2009
Tyler Perry
donates $1M
Whitfield and Dias families
Courier
to NAACP
WASHINGTON, D.C.—
living with pain after killings
honors Men
The NAACP, the country’s
of Excellence
oldest and largest civil
by Christian Morrow
rights organization, an-
Courier Staff Writer
nounced Nov. 23 that ac-
Educators, journalists,
claimed film director Tyler
Donna Whitfield knows
Perry has donated $1 mil-
her son wasn’t a saint,
lion, marking the largest
but he wasn’t a devil ei-
CEOs and fallen hero
gift ever given by an indi-
ther, and he did not de-
vidual.
serve to be gunned down
among those feted
In addition, Perry pur-
on the streets of Home-
chased several NAACP
wood by a teen he didn’t
commis-
even know.
by Rebecca Nuttall
sioned
He was in a good place Courier Staff Writer
Jacob Law-
things were going good,”
rence litho-
she said. “He was up the
Since 2003, the New Pittsburgh Courier
graphs and
street just shooting pool. I
has honored men from across the greater
additional
miss him. I love him. It’s a
Pittsburgh area for their professional ex-
lithographs
great pain to lose a child.
cellence and
by artists
But it’s a greater pain to
dedication to
Elizabeth
think that this kid be-
the community.
INSIDE
Catlett,
lieves he can just take a
This year’s list
Sam Gill-
life—and his sorry
of 50 men gath-
iam and
mother won’t even say
ered with fam- New Pittsburgh
PERRY
Jonathan
she’s sorry for her sorry
ily, friends and
Green. The gift, which will
son.”
colleagues for a Courier
be distributed over the next
Stefan Whitfield, 34, of
sold out awards
four years, was made to
Wilkinsburg, was smok-
reception at the 50 Men of
commemorate the organi-
ing marijuana with an ac-
Rivers Club
zation’s centennial anniver-
quaintance outside the
that drew more Excellence
sary.
now closed Mac Can Do
than 300 people
“We are honored that
bar on Brushton Avenue
Nov. 19. Awards
Tyler Perry chose to sup-
when 19-year-old Julian
“It’s humbling
port the NAACP,” said Ju-
Larkins began firing at
and it makes Reception
lian Bond, chairman of the
them. Whitfield’s friend
you want to
NAACP. “Tyler is a coura-
was grazed by a bullet be-
work that much photo coverage
geous pioneer in bringing
fore he made it around
harder. I have
positive images of African-
the corner. Whitfield
the deepest ap-
preciation that
See Page A6
American culture and
didn’t get that far, he fell
struggles to the screen. His
to the sidewalk with a
anyone can feel
remarkable journey from
fatal wound to the head.
to be noticed,” said Rev. Dr. William Curtis.
poverty and childhood
Two private security
“To a large degree I try to make sure I not
abuse to become one of the
guards witnessed the
only serve my members, but the commu-
world’s most successful
shooting and chased
nity at-large.”
filmmakers and entrepre-
Larkins to Hale Street
Like Rev. Curtis, the other honorees ex-
PHOTO BY GAIL MANKER
neurs is an inspiration to us
where they found him
HOLDING ON—Donna Whitfield hangs on to the flyer announcing her slain son’s
SEE HONORS A5
SEE PERRY A5 SEE WHITFIELD A4 funeral.
Operation Better Block takes to the streets
Braddock Hospital
by Rebecca Nuttall
Courier Staff Writer
Abandoned homes tops list
houses are taken care of so that
closing spurs
they are no longer eyesores or
centers for criminal activity.
Operation Better Block is on a
mission to conduct 1,000 sur- of Homewood’s concerns
“We have actually inter-
viewed students at Westing-
community standoff
veys through the month of house. They’ve given some
November to find out what been the problem of crime and bit of a shock.” tremendous answers to the
by Rebecca Nuttall
Homewood residents want to violence in the neighborhood. Moore, who took the lead in questions,” Moore said. “I was
Courier Staff Writer
see in their community. To “Quite frankly we expected launching the campaign, said shocked because I had a 16-
date, with a staff of less than that crime and violence would responses to the survey cut year-old boy tell me his favorite
Since the University of Pittsburgh Medi-
20, the group has talked to be on the survey. We didn’t ex- across all age groups with thing about Homewood was the
cal Center announced the closing of Brad-
more than 700 people, with just pect crime and violence to come teenagers having similar con- houses. It made me realize
dock Hospital last month, several meetings
one week left to go. in second to doing something cerns as their parents. Many these kids really understand
and rallies have been held with local gov-
So far, abandoned homes have with the abandoned houses,” residents were concerned with the assets of our community.”
ernment and community organizers band-
climbed to the top of the list of said OBB assistant director saving Homewood’s old houses
ing together to oppose the closing.
issues. Second in priority has Evans Moore. “That was a little and ensuring other abandoned
SEE OPERATION A4
On Nov. 23 a private meeting was held to
form a group charged with the task of pre-
venting the closure. It will likely be made
Taylor, Brentley urge opposition to school closings
up of people such as Allegheny County
Council members, congressmen, local pas-
tors and representatives from Heritage
Health Systems.
by Christian Morrow
Wanda Henderson, Annette Wer-
“Their sole purpose will be to come up
ner, Parents United for Responsi-
with new ideas regarding UPMC Braddock
Courier Staff Writer
ble Education Reform and NAACP
closing to see if there is a way to prevent
In one of his last acts as a Pitts- education chair Marilyn Barnett to
the closing,” said Braddock Borough man-
burgh Public School director, Ran- address a consultant’s recommen-
ager Ella Jones. “We’re definitely trying to
dall Taylor warned an audience of dation earlier this month to close
make it not final.”
East End parents, teachers and in- 15 schools including two high
In October, UPMC announced they would
terested residents to be wary of an- schools.
cease operations at Braddock hospital on
other round of school closings. “Take this plan seriously. Don’t
Jan. 31. The suddenness of the announce-
“In 1997, I came in during a think it’s just a talking point, a
ment is part of what bothers the commu-
storm of reconfiguration, and I’m planning tool,” he said. “The 2006
nity most as they say adequate notice
leaving the same way,” he said. plan was Mr. Roosevelt’s plan and
should’ve been given.
“And we still can’t seem to get it it was an incompetent plan that
“The concerns in the community are we
right.” wasted millions of dollars. We can’t
were all blind-sided by this, there was no
Taylor’s remarks came during a allow him to do another one.”
notice given by the local officials, which we
PHOTO BY ROSSANO P. STEWART
Nov. 23 town hall meeting he con- Roosevelt has repeatedly said the
feel should’ve taken place to give the resi-
vened with fellow School Director plan saved money and moved stu-
STAY VIGILANT—Outgoing school director Randall Taylor tells
dents fair warning,” Jones said. “When
Mark Brentley Sr. and a panel that
parents not to think the latest recommendation to close schools
included veteran education activist
SEE TAYLOR A4
is just “a tool” or a talking point. SEE HOSPITAL A5
NEW
Pittsburgh Courier
George Curry says
To subscribe, call
Moderate Democrats enjoy too much clout
412-481-8302 ext. 120
or FAX 412-481-1360 Forum A11
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