NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER PEOPLE MARCH 10-16, 2010 C3
Pittsburghers Speak Out:
Do you care about lack of Black participation in the Winter Olympics?
There were very few Black participants in the recent Winter Olympics so we asked Pittsburghers what their take was. Here’s what you said:
“I wasn’t really inter- “My view on it is it’s a “I watch the skating I “African-Americans aren’t “It’s Winter Olympics, “As far as lack of partici-
ested in the Winter Caucasian sport, it’s for saw the USA girls, the known that much for partici- of course we know we pation, we did have some.
Olympics except for the Anglo Saxons. Speaking Chinese but I didn’t see pating in winter sports. participate in Summer Shawnee Davis won a
hockey. The African- of me, I do know there’s any minorities. Yes, it We’re not avid skiers, we’re Olympics. I did enjoy sliver and gold medal. We
American I did know one guy, I watched him a bothered me, I remem- not avid ice skaters, we don’t watching it. I enjoy the had someone from Ghana
who played hockey is couple of times, I think ber years ago when typically do those things so Winter Olympics, I like who participated even
one of the best in the he won silver and a gold Sugar Ray Leonard was I’m not really surprised that the snow. There was an though he didn’t stand a
world, although he medal. That’s fine speed there and there was one we weren’t greatly repre- African-American chance of winning any
played for the Canadi- skating. I like speed skat- ice skater.” sented. I’m not disappointed skater. There was also medals, at least he was
ans. But as a whole I ing, but racing down the Myra Mangum either and I don’t really see African skier, he’s from there participating for
wasn’t really interested hillside at 80 miles I’m Oakland why one would be. We’re Ghana. It doesn’t bother Africa. I’m not upset that
because these aren’t not interested. No it Home-maker represented well in the Sum- me since it’s not some- there wasn’t a huge partic-
sports that African- didn’t bother me.” mer Olympics and that’s thing that we generally ipation of African-Ameri-
Americans participate Steven Rucker good enough.” partake in.” cans there but we did have
in. Black Ridge Neicy Readie Robin Woods some and they did well.”
Brian Smith UPMC Schenley Heights Summer Hill Delsean Hart
Penn Hills Flight attendant Auditor Carnegie
Self-employed
(Compiled by Gail Manker, photos by Gail Manker.)
Shenango farmer
by Genea Webb
didn’t know what to do for
85-year-old author’s children’s book
her. When she died I knew
For New Pittsburgh Courier
I wanted to be a nurse be-
Nightly dreams are a cause I wanted to know
likely occurrence for every- what to do at the bedside,”
one. But Crawford Square she said.
resident Rachel J. Poole Golden. “At
Never too old to dream
tomer and
After graduating as co-
turned a vivid dream she my age you we formed a valedictorian from West-
had in 2007 into an inspir- are just great rela- inghouse High School in
ing and uplifting children’s happy to be tionship be- 1942, Poole was one of
book. alive and cause I was three African-American
“I had the dream at the you can’t re- on the sales women accepted into the
age of 82,” recalled Poole, member ev- floor,” said University of Pittsburgh’s
85. “It was a vivid, heart- erything.” Deborah five-year nursing program
warming dream that was She told Hickman, in 1943. Seven years later
about me. I was transform- Kay’s tale to owner and she married teacher and
ed from an old woman, her grand- operator of administrator Marion
which I am now, to a young children who the store. “I Poole and became an inte-
girl who had hair that was told her asked her to gral part of the Civil
made of green beans that “Nan, you have a sign- Rights Movement.
hung to the middle of her have a ing because For 10 years she worked
back. I was happy to see book.” I wanted to as the director of nursing
that I was young and I Listening make sure at Western Psychiatric
could go outside and see to them, that our Hospital. She was the first
animals that don’t get Nan, as she community person to hold that presti-
along. I was able to feed is affection- and our peo- gious position. Poole re-
them. I love children and I ately called ple would tired at the age of 59 as a
love animals so it was by her grand know about Dean of Life at the Al-
great.” kids, sat her book. legheny branch of Commu-
“The Girl with Green down and The book nity College. The school is
Bean Hair” is a 30-page wrote the shows that a division of the University
book that tells the story of book in one you never of Pittsburgh.
Kay who wakes up one day. stop dream- Poole is scheduled to
morning to find that she is “The Girl ing no mat- read “Girl With Green
no longer old and in pain With Green ter how old Bean Hair” at the Hill
but is in fact a young, vi- Bean Hair” you are.” House Association March
brant girl who has a head is illustrated And Poole 20 and the Homewood Li-
of green beans for hair that by Julianne hasn’t. brary April 3.
she realizes is the perfect Sota, a 21- At the age “I want children to know
thing that can be used to year-old of nine she how great they are and
end world hunger. The CAPA High saw her what they have to offer to
president of the United School grad- mother die the world,” Poole said.
States sends Kay through- uate cur- of cancer. It “Our real task is to get our
out the world to feed starv- rently study- was then young kids to develop their
ing kids with her green ing at the she commit- egos and help them to as-
bean hair. University of ted her life sure themselves and build
Kay wouldn’t take any the Arts in to becoming their self-esteem.”
payment for her good London, a nurse. “The Girl with Green
deeds and she was paid in England. “Mom was Bean Hair” is on its way to
high-fives by those she fed. “Julianne
PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO
HONORED—Rachel Poole is honored by Pittsburgh City Council.
at home in
making Poole’s dream for
As a result, the president was one of bed and I children come true.
named her The Best. When my daugh-
she returns back to the ter’s students at CAPA and lishers.” Kay’s story at various li-
U.S. and goes to sleep, she we had a very wonderful Poole’s daughter sug- braries and bookstores
awakens to find out that relationship. We got along gested self-publishing. throughout the Pittsburgh
she had dreamed every- fine. She is a wonderful With her daughter’s help, area.
thing. girl,” Poole said. Poole got the book pub- Most recently she had a
“I hadn’t remembered a After the book was com- lished by Xlibris Corp. last book signing at the
dream so vivid and I pleted, Poole sent the book year. Frankstown Road Giant
dream every night,” said to about 10 publishers and “It was a nuisance, but it Eagle in Penn Hills.
Poole, who lives with her got two rejections. I said, worked out well,” she said. “I met her in May of 2002
daughter, Tenanche “I’m too old to wait for pub- Now, Poole will read when she came in as a cus-
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PHOTOS BY ERIN PERRY
AFRICAN FASHIONS—The William E. Anderson Library of Penn Hills presented a Black history programfeaturing African fashions with
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Lillian “The Pink Lady” Peterson. The fashion show was held at the Lincoln Park Community Center. At left: Models wear fashions from
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Nigeria. At right: Business owner and designer Lillian Peterson demonstrates a head wrap on Darlene Colllier.
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