Breaking News Alert
THE BLACK BUZZ SPORTS NEWS SERVICE
Dallas, Texas
Sunday, February 7, 2011-2: 08 AM ET
BBSNS
Dallas.... The Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, 31-25, to win their 13th. N. F. L. championship and their first in 14 years.
The Steelers played extremely sloppy football, and they turned the ball over three times which resulted in three Packer scores. Big Ben Roethlisberger looked out of sync most of the game with his very high and overthrown passes all game long. On two separate occasions Roethlisberger over threw the streaking Wallace who had beaten his man and Roethlisberger missed open receivers all game long.
Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers put on great imitation of John Elway has he hit his receivers with laser like passes in stride all game long, and the Packer defense proved that you can't win games with stats. On Sunday February 6, 2011 against the Steelers the Packer defense proved that they were better coached, prepared and they executed their defensive game plan flawlessly. Even when their great corner back the former Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson went down the Packers didn't loose a beat with his replacement who intercepted one of Roelisthberger's passes.
The Steelers big play makers the All World Troy Palamalu, and Mr. Harrison were absent all game long and they never rose to occasion to make one big play. Is Palamalu overrated? Well he's not in the class of a "Ronnie Lot, Rod Woodson, or Ed Reed. Cream rises to the top, and the NFL's MVP on defense Palamalu cost the Steelers two touchdowns by biting on one play and just simply loosing site of the coverage on another key Green Bay touchdown.
Green Bay was the better prepared team, and I knew as I predicted on January 23rd that Mendenhall would make a key fumble in a game which would be very costly for the Black and Gold. Mendenhall should have been hitting the whole with his head down lower, but he was running with his head straight up like frighten rooster. Thus Mendenhall again showed that he has the disease of fumbleitis. Mendenhall's fumble shifted the entire momentum back to the Pack.
When will the Steelers draft or acquire some tough running backs and defensive linemen from the SEC?
The Steelers had too many costly mental mistake penalties which cost them key field position.
All the so-called football pundits and experts on the NFL Channel, Fox Sports News, and ESPN kept saying that the Packers would win this Super Bowl match-up against the Steelers. The old reliable number 12 Terry Bradshaw stuck with his home boys, and predicted that the Steelers would win against the Pack. But I think Bradshaw's analysis of the Steelers winning was based solely upon loyalty, and not on sound football judgement. I think the Steele rs partied too much in Dallas while McCarthy's Packers were the more serious team, and their experience at wide receiver was telling. The Packer wide receivers and tight ends were simply too fast and better football players than anyone in the Steelers secondary. The Steelers Gay should be cut out right for his horrible play in the secondary, and none of the members of the Steelers secondary deserve to be paid. All the members of the Steelers secondary need to give their checks to Gwen's Kids or the National Negro College Fund.
Hines Ward and James Farrior played well but they must accept the fact that this may have been their last run at a Super Bowl title. Both Ward and Farrior have had borderline Hall-Of-Fame careers.
I knew the Steelers were going to loose when the over the hill wide receiver Randle El made a catch, and went through some theatrics as though they had won the game. There is nothing wrong with showing true passion, and intensity but Randle El's celebration was way over the top given the fact that Steelers were still trailing in the ball game.
The great Jimmy Brown who was more militant than any of today's ball players has often said look and perform like you been there before relative to making touchdowns and great plays.
I recall in one game that Jimmy Brown was playing against the New York Giants in which the great Sam Huff had just stopped Brown after Brown had gained five yards, and Huff started talking trash to Brown when he was down on the ground. The great Brown got up very slowly, and on the next play Jimmy Brown ran off tackle for a 45 yard touchdown, and while exiting the end zone Brown said to Huff " Hey Huff you can have the ball."
I remember Brown playing in another game against the Cowboys and Hall-of Famer Bob Lilly may have hollered an unkind racial remark, and Jimmy Brown picked ( Jacked-Up) Lilly up on the field and body slammed him to the ground, and on the next play big Jim ran for a touchdown.
I remember the great Hall-of Famer Paul Warfield, who I consider the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game routinely made catches like Randall El with one hand often without any fanfare. I know Jerry Rice has the stats and Super Bowl rings, but the Ohio State super quiet Warfield in my opinion was the better wide receiver. When Warfield first came up to the Browns the Browns were a simply a running team with Jimmy Brown, and the great Ernie Green, Charlie Scales and the great Hall-of Famer Leroy Kelly at RB.
Therefore Warfield never got as many as chances as Rice who played primary in the pass happy West Coast Offense of Walsh, and his predecessor coach Seifert.
Even when Warfield was with the hard running Dolphins of Czonka, Kick and Mercury Morris, Warfield didn't get the ball thrown to him very often. The Dolphins were a run first team, and they only passed the ball as an after thought to break up the concentration that defenses would exhibit trying to stop the Czonka, Kick, and Morris.
In 1963 I attended a game in Buckeye Stadium in Columbus Ohio, and watched Warren Ohio's native son Paul Warfield play dominating superior play at three different positions for the great Wood Hayes as the Buckeyes rolled over the hapless Indiana Hoosier's. If Paul Warfield played in Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense he would have caught 130 passes a season along with all the touchdowns, and he was much faster than Rice, and he had better hands than Jerry.
Ask Bob Greise who was the best route receiver in pro-football history.
Warfield is probably the greatest athlete to come out of Warren G. Harding High School in Warren Ohio, and during Warfield's era every scholastic prep star football player in the greater Warren area wanted to play for Woody Hayes at Ohio State or the Browns of Paul Brown or his disciple Blanton Collier.
Only one of the Packers receivers ( Jennings) displayed a weak celebration on one play after having caught a pass against the Steelers cushioned vanilla fudge secondary.
If and when the boys from the Steel City ever make it back to the Super Bowl under coach Mike Tomlin they will need to bring a Sparta mindset to that game, and football championships are won in the hot torrid dreary days in July and August. I have been saying all along that Tomlin's training camp was too soft and lackadaisical. The Steelers two minute drill with 1:57 left in the game revealed how terribly coached they were as they looked completely in disarray.
Big Ben has had marginal performances in two out of his three Super Bowl performances.
I watched the Bengals win the game of the stats against the 49ers in the Super Bowl 23, but the fearless warrior Joe Montana led his team to victory with 35 seconds left to go in the game when Montana hit John Taylor with a touchdown strike to win the game. And I witnessed the other master John Elway lead his team to so many come from behind wins that John could run the two minute offense with his eyes closed. Ask the old Cleveland Browns how good John Elway was of running the two minute offense.
I really don't care about how many stats or numbers Tom Brady or Peyton Manning have. John Elway, and Joe Montana were truly the greatest talents to ever play the Quarterback position to date. Case closed.
Yes I know that the Redskins Doug Williams had the best one quarter performance in Super Bowl history, and given the right playing circumstances Doug may have been in the disussion with Montana and Elway.
The Steelers thought they could just walk out on the field and win the game. And they also bought into all of the hype in Pittsburgh about allegedly how great they were. The Steelers left there heart on Heinz Field in that fluke game against the Jets.
It might be a long time in the future before the Steelers ever make it back to big dance.
Look for a Rodgers and Brady match-up in next years Super Bowl.
This kid Rodgers could lead the young Pack back to many Super Bowls in the future.
Brett who?
* Note the Green Bay offensive line had been together for the entire season and the Green Bay defense proved that they were more formidable in their match-up with the Steelers.
Congratulations Packers, The Pack is Back
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
NEGRO HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY: News of Hill City, By ALLEN R. REDDICK
BLACK BUZZ NEWS SERVICE
The James S. Robinson Project
Robinson + Saunders Archives
Special Report
Pittsburgh PA
February 5, 2011
Pittsburgh... The following article by Allen R. Reddick appeared in The Pittsburgh Courier on April 20, 1946.
News of Hill City
By Allen R. Reddick
The reception given last Saturday in honor of Howard C. McKinney, former superintendent and director of Hill City was a very colorful affair. Old citizens of our organization were on hand to greet Mr. McKinney in a most friendly manner.
Mr. McKinney spoke briefly and that spark of humor, is still burning. Mac, as his old friends call him could always in the past make us laugh, with his keen wit and humor.
The reception was sponsored by the Hill City Women's Auxiliary of which Bettie Davis is president.
The Hill City Military Band was present and played a concert in honor of Mr. McKinney We wish to thank Raymond Harris conductor, who has devoted so much of his time and talent. Our boys will be seen in local parades and concerts in the near future.
The graduating ceremony held for the Junior Home Nurses last Tuesday was a very colorful and interesting affair. An original skill written by the group and directed by Mrs Eunice Cook was presented.
We are happy to welcome back to the set-up former Deputy Mayor, Mabel Jackson. Miss Jackson has been serving overseas as assistant field director for the American Red Cross. You can find this energetic young woman back on the job. She is helping in the recently open game room.
Director James S. Robinson has announced that softball teams may register for league participation any time after Monday, April 22.
The James S. Robinson Project
Robinson + Saunders Archives
Special Report
Pittsburgh PA
February 5, 2011
Pittsburgh... The following article by Allen R. Reddick appeared in The Pittsburgh Courier on April 20, 1946.
News of Hill City
By Allen R. Reddick
The reception given last Saturday in honor of Howard C. McKinney, former superintendent and director of Hill City was a very colorful affair. Old citizens of our organization were on hand to greet Mr. McKinney in a most friendly manner.
Mr. McKinney spoke briefly and that spark of humor, is still burning. Mac, as his old friends call him could always in the past make us laugh, with his keen wit and humor.
The reception was sponsored by the Hill City Women's Auxiliary of which Bettie Davis is president.
The Hill City Military Band was present and played a concert in honor of Mr. McKinney We wish to thank Raymond Harris conductor, who has devoted so much of his time and talent. Our boys will be seen in local parades and concerts in the near future.
The graduating ceremony held for the Junior Home Nurses last Tuesday was a very colorful and interesting affair. An original skill written by the group and directed by Mrs Eunice Cook was presented.
We are happy to welcome back to the set-up former Deputy Mayor, Mabel Jackson. Miss Jackson has been serving overseas as assistant field director for the American Red Cross. You can find this energetic young woman back on the job. She is helping in the recently open game room.
Director James S. Robinson has announced that softball teams may register for league participation any time after Monday, April 22.
Friday, February 4, 2011
THE REAL AMERICAN HISTORY
BLACK BUZZ NEWS SERVICE
Mexico, Maine
February 4, 2011
(BBNS)
MEXICO... In 1967, George Peabody gave one million dollars to set up the Peabody Fund, which aided Negro American education.
Mexico, Maine
February 4, 2011
(BBNS)
MEXICO... In 1967, George Peabody gave one million dollars to set up the Peabody Fund, which aided Negro American education.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Egypt’s Struggle against US Funded Repression:Tales of US Sponsorship of Repressive Regimes
Black Buzz News Service
College Park, Maryland
February 3, 2011
Written by Solomon Comissiong
Daily Journal (Opinion), Media, War and Peace, World News Jan 29, 2011
On January 25th, 2011 scores of Egyptians decided they were no longer going to tolerate widespread repression from the hands of their own government. This longstanding Egyptian government, headed by Hosni Mubarak, has ruled with a heavy hand for three decades. Throughout this regime thousands have been killed, unjustly imprisoned, or tortured. Starting in Tunisia, a wave of revolution built momentum; soon it became tsunami of radical change. People throughout the Maghreb have reached their social Rubicon, vowing to no longer succumb to widespread suppression, hunger and poverty; meanwhile their elected leaders live like fat cats. This truly is a historical moment in recent history, and perhaps longer. Few media outlets have comprehensively covered this ongoing event—none were US corporate media outlets. We should seldom be shocked at the blatant omission of critical facts, regarding geopolitical events, that the US media has become rather adept at. For that matter, they also practice the same type of “journalism” with regards to critical domestic issues.
The US corporate media has followed the lead of Al Jazeera in terms of actually reporting the mass protests in Egypt (well, kinda sorta); however that is where the similarities begin and end. Instead of showing the story from multiple angles the US corporate media has chosen to focus from primarily the “US perspective” and the possible ramifications to American interests if the protests go a certain way. For instance CNBC contributor, Erin Burrnett, stated Friday January 28th, 2011 on the MSNBC “Morning Joe” program that, “If this spreads, the United States could take a huge hit because democracy in a place like Saudi Arabia, you’ve talked about who might come in power, what that means for oil prices. They’re going to go stratospheric.” She, like “Morning Joe” host, Joe Scarborough, who then replied, “No doubt about it.” was speaking from the point of view of the US elites’ interests. US elites, like the US government, could give a damn if the people of Egypt suffered another 30 years of brutal repression so long as their precious financial and imperialist interests go unscathed. Instead featuring expert guests with a wide range of perspectives on the social climate in Egypt, as Al Jazeera has done throughout, the US corporate media has done the complete opposite. They have provided little broad based contextual perspective, made sure their guest “experts” did the same, and negated any comprehensive exposure regarding the US government’s relationship with the Mubarak regime.
Faithful and zombie-like US corporate media viewers will get no understanding regarding the fact that their government funds the repressive Egyptian military and riot police to the tune of 1.3 billion dollars per year. Even the tear gas canisters that were responsible in bashing in the heads of some protesters had “Made in USA’ written all over them. I guess the US corporate media did not want to trouble Americans with that valuable knowledge. They also found no reason to explain to viewers how brutal and oppressive the Mubarak regime has been during his 30 year tenure as president. I guess if they did that they just might have to explain why the US government has politically and financially supported such an authoritarian government. Vice President Joe Biden pretty much summed up which side of history the US government has become accustomed to being on when he said, “Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things. And he’s been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle East peace efforts; the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing relationship with – with Israel. … I would not refer to him as a dictator.” Any reputable professional media would have challenged Biden’s statement. Mubarak has been a faithful ally to the US; however whether or not Joe Biden refers to him as a dictator does not change the fact that Hosni Mubarak is in fact a dictator.
The US media system functions like a fourth branch of government and because of this they are compliant to their partners in Washington by providing as little perspective and information as possible. After all, too much information given to Americans would raise too many pesky questions. Americans are blindly obsequious to the US government due to their rather limited point of reference regarding America’s historically dubious role in global destabilization and support for some of the planet’s more repressive governments. The US government and their corporate media sycophants have masterminded the cultivation of a societal culture that has trained Americans to selectively defend the interests of ruthless oppressors all the while vilifying those being oppressed.
The US seldom predicates it allegiances with other countries on conscious, it bases them on convenience. The US government’s own self-interest is at the top of their decision making process regarding foreign policy. These decisions rarely include justice, freedom or democracy. This is why America has long supported repressive regimes like that of Egypt, Colombia and yes Israel. Despite its horrendous record regarding the murder of trade union organizers and its use of the military to terrorize civilians; Colombia has received over 7 billion dollars in military aid from the US since 2000. In exchange the US has almost unfettered military access throughout Colombia. The US could give a damn about countless human rights violations throughout Colombia so long as their military bases are built and maintained in the South American country. The US has also funded Colombia’s indiscriminate rogue war on drugs, “Plan Colombia”. Colombia’s right wing ex-President who oversaw much of the human carnage now teaches in Washington DC at Georgetown University. However, Colombia is outdone by Israel when it comes to receiving military aid from the US. Israel continues to serve as one of the most repressive states in recent history. The government of Israel’s outright suppression of Palestinians is deplorable by any human standards. Palestinians continue to live some of the most oppressive conditions throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They cannot control their water system, electricity, and are subject to degrading check points throughout the region. Brutal military force from the Israeli Defense Forces has taken the lives of scores of Palestinians, mostly women and children. Those who were outraged at what the white minority apartheid regime did to black South Africans prior to the early 1990s should be equally incensed by what the state of Israel is currently doing to Palestinians. However, it seems as though the US government lacks a moral compass on this issue as they supply Israel with 8.2 million dollars a day in direct military aid. This comes by way of US taxpayer dollars.
The US government has spoken with a forked tongue for a long, long time. Year after year after year, the US government masquerades around the globe as the self-proclaimed paragon for freedom, justice, equality and human rights. However in the meantime they are engaged in bloody illegal wars and financially supporting destructive and repressive governments. As long as the American people allow themselves to be kept in the dark, as well as choosing to remain socially apathetic; there is no conceivable end in sight. The American people have a choice. They can either speak out against the actions of their government in the name of the American people, or they can remain silent as their tax dollars continue to be used as “blood money”. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” How long will we continue to cooperate?
Solomon Comissiong is an educator, community activist, author, public speaker and the host of the Your World News media collective (www.blogtalkradio.com/Your-World-News) and www.yourworldnews.blip.tv.
College Park, Maryland
February 3, 2011
Written by Solomon Comissiong
Daily Journal (Opinion), Media, War and Peace, World News Jan 29, 2011
On January 25th, 2011 scores of Egyptians decided they were no longer going to tolerate widespread repression from the hands of their own government. This longstanding Egyptian government, headed by Hosni Mubarak, has ruled with a heavy hand for three decades. Throughout this regime thousands have been killed, unjustly imprisoned, or tortured. Starting in Tunisia, a wave of revolution built momentum; soon it became tsunami of radical change. People throughout the Maghreb have reached their social Rubicon, vowing to no longer succumb to widespread suppression, hunger and poverty; meanwhile their elected leaders live like fat cats. This truly is a historical moment in recent history, and perhaps longer. Few media outlets have comprehensively covered this ongoing event—none were US corporate media outlets. We should seldom be shocked at the blatant omission of critical facts, regarding geopolitical events, that the US media has become rather adept at. For that matter, they also practice the same type of “journalism” with regards to critical domestic issues.
The US corporate media has followed the lead of Al Jazeera in terms of actually reporting the mass protests in Egypt (well, kinda sorta); however that is where the similarities begin and end. Instead of showing the story from multiple angles the US corporate media has chosen to focus from primarily the “US perspective” and the possible ramifications to American interests if the protests go a certain way. For instance CNBC contributor, Erin Burrnett, stated Friday January 28th, 2011 on the MSNBC “Morning Joe” program that, “If this spreads, the United States could take a huge hit because democracy in a place like Saudi Arabia, you’ve talked about who might come in power, what that means for oil prices. They’re going to go stratospheric.” She, like “Morning Joe” host, Joe Scarborough, who then replied, “No doubt about it.” was speaking from the point of view of the US elites’ interests. US elites, like the US government, could give a damn if the people of Egypt suffered another 30 years of brutal repression so long as their precious financial and imperialist interests go unscathed. Instead featuring expert guests with a wide range of perspectives on the social climate in Egypt, as Al Jazeera has done throughout, the US corporate media has done the complete opposite. They have provided little broad based contextual perspective, made sure their guest “experts” did the same, and negated any comprehensive exposure regarding the US government’s relationship with the Mubarak regime.
Faithful and zombie-like US corporate media viewers will get no understanding regarding the fact that their government funds the repressive Egyptian military and riot police to the tune of 1.3 billion dollars per year. Even the tear gas canisters that were responsible in bashing in the heads of some protesters had “Made in USA’ written all over them. I guess the US corporate media did not want to trouble Americans with that valuable knowledge. They also found no reason to explain to viewers how brutal and oppressive the Mubarak regime has been during his 30 year tenure as president. I guess if they did that they just might have to explain why the US government has politically and financially supported such an authoritarian government. Vice President Joe Biden pretty much summed up which side of history the US government has become accustomed to being on when he said, “Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things. And he’s been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle East peace efforts; the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing relationship with – with Israel. … I would not refer to him as a dictator.” Any reputable professional media would have challenged Biden’s statement. Mubarak has been a faithful ally to the US; however whether or not Joe Biden refers to him as a dictator does not change the fact that Hosni Mubarak is in fact a dictator.
The US media system functions like a fourth branch of government and because of this they are compliant to their partners in Washington by providing as little perspective and information as possible. After all, too much information given to Americans would raise too many pesky questions. Americans are blindly obsequious to the US government due to their rather limited point of reference regarding America’s historically dubious role in global destabilization and support for some of the planet’s more repressive governments. The US government and their corporate media sycophants have masterminded the cultivation of a societal culture that has trained Americans to selectively defend the interests of ruthless oppressors all the while vilifying those being oppressed.
The US seldom predicates it allegiances with other countries on conscious, it bases them on convenience. The US government’s own self-interest is at the top of their decision making process regarding foreign policy. These decisions rarely include justice, freedom or democracy. This is why America has long supported repressive regimes like that of Egypt, Colombia and yes Israel. Despite its horrendous record regarding the murder of trade union organizers and its use of the military to terrorize civilians; Colombia has received over 7 billion dollars in military aid from the US since 2000. In exchange the US has almost unfettered military access throughout Colombia. The US could give a damn about countless human rights violations throughout Colombia so long as their military bases are built and maintained in the South American country. The US has also funded Colombia’s indiscriminate rogue war on drugs, “Plan Colombia”. Colombia’s right wing ex-President who oversaw much of the human carnage now teaches in Washington DC at Georgetown University. However, Colombia is outdone by Israel when it comes to receiving military aid from the US. Israel continues to serve as one of the most repressive states in recent history. The government of Israel’s outright suppression of Palestinians is deplorable by any human standards. Palestinians continue to live some of the most oppressive conditions throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They cannot control their water system, electricity, and are subject to degrading check points throughout the region. Brutal military force from the Israeli Defense Forces has taken the lives of scores of Palestinians, mostly women and children. Those who were outraged at what the white minority apartheid regime did to black South Africans prior to the early 1990s should be equally incensed by what the state of Israel is currently doing to Palestinians. However, it seems as though the US government lacks a moral compass on this issue as they supply Israel with 8.2 million dollars a day in direct military aid. This comes by way of US taxpayer dollars.
The US government has spoken with a forked tongue for a long, long time. Year after year after year, the US government masquerades around the globe as the self-proclaimed paragon for freedom, justice, equality and human rights. However in the meantime they are engaged in bloody illegal wars and financially supporting destructive and repressive governments. As long as the American people allow themselves to be kept in the dark, as well as choosing to remain socially apathetic; there is no conceivable end in sight. The American people have a choice. They can either speak out against the actions of their government in the name of the American people, or they can remain silent as their tax dollars continue to be used as “blood money”. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” How long will we continue to cooperate?
Solomon Comissiong is an educator, community activist, author, public speaker and the host of the Your World News media collective (www.blogtalkradio.com/Your-World-News) and www.yourworldnews.blip.tv.
LETTER FROM PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR, ROBERT P. CASEY
BLACK BUZZ NEWS SERVICE
The Ronald K. Saunders Project
The Saunders Family Archives
Camp Hill, PA
February, 3, 2011
Mr. and Mrs Ronald K. Saunders received this letter from Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey on March 30, 1987.
THE GOVERNOR March 30, 1987
Mr. and Mrs Ronald K. Saunders
777 Bloomer Way............ .................
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Dear Mr. and Mrs Saunders:
May I extend a warm invitation for you to join me on Thursday, April 2, 1987, to witness the swearing-in ceremony of Barton A. Fields, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
A brief ceremony will take place in the Governor's Reception Room, Main Capitol Building at noon. A buffet luncheon will be served at the Governor's Residence immediately following the swearing-in.
I hope you can be with us, and I ask that RSVP to David Bako at ( 717 ) 787-4540 OR ( 717 ) 787-2500.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey
Governor
The Ronald K. Saunders Project
The Saunders Family Archives
Camp Hill, PA
February, 3, 2011
Mr. and Mrs Ronald K. Saunders received this letter from Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey on March 30, 1987.
THE GOVERNOR March 30, 1987
Mr. and Mrs Ronald K. Saunders
777 Bloomer Way............ .................
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Dear Mr. and Mrs Saunders:
May I extend a warm invitation for you to join me on Thursday, April 2, 1987, to witness the swearing-in ceremony of Barton A. Fields, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
A brief ceremony will take place in the Governor's Reception Room, Main Capitol Building at noon. A buffet luncheon will be served at the Governor's Residence immediately following the swearing-in.
I hope you can be with us, and I ask that RSVP to David Bako at ( 717 ) 787-4540 OR ( 717 ) 787-2500.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey
Governor
SHUMAN WORKER shows the way: Ron Saunders experiments a lot to find a way.His goal is to save youthful offenders from themselves, to give them direction.
BLACK BUZZ NEWS SERVICE
The Ronald B.Saunders Project
The Saunders Family Archives
Branchton PA
February 2, 2011
The following article titled "Shuman Worker shows the way" appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on January 16, 1994, and was written by the highly distinguished PG reporter Jean Bryant.
SHUMAN WORKER SHOWS THE WAY
By Jean Bryant
Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Ron Saunders of Wilkins is a civil rights activist, husband, father, youth advocate and poet.
But he says the most challenging role in his life is that of youth care worker at Shuman Juvenile Detention Center in East Liberty. Saunders works in Unit K at Shuman, an honor unit for youths whose good behavior, has earned them certain privileges.
"A lot of people have given up on these kids," says Saunders. "But I haven't I see their worth as human beings. I believe they can overcome their past, regardless of what they've done.
"It hurts to see young people-whether they be black or white-in trouble. In many cases they are coming from dysfunctional families. And I use all the skills I've learned down through the years trying to turn them in the right direction."
Saunders' poetry reveals the pain he feels over the violence that brings many youths to Shuman.
DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS AIN'T US
Here I am sittin in my crib with my homies;
Seeing young bucks killing each other every day,
Can't understand why we as adults;
Haven't shown them how to resolve their conflict
in a more constructive way.
These young bucks are strapped
from head to toe,
but soon they will learn a
very difficult lesson, you shall
reap what you shall sow.
Their mothers, fathers, sisters and
brothers are dying
Babies weep at night over the
sound of gunfire, and some are
still crying.
I see a young buck in a car creeping,
Slowly down the street with the window rolled down
And his hand on the Trigga,
Shots are fired, a young Blood shouts
" I just capped another Crip Nigga."
Pretty soon there won't be many young bucks left
Brothers and Sisters are getting locked up
For all kinds of heinous crimes and even petty auto theft
Cuz these young bucks are robbin from the poor,
I say extinction of our race is what we are headed for.
The young bucks shout, "they don't care,"
And they're headed down the path of destruction
That leads to nowhere.
These young bucks have no respect
For themsleves or each other,
When we were growing up we were taugth
To love one another,
And anybody who was down with it
Could be our brother.
Drive by shootings in our community
Have created a lot of turmoil, fear, confusion and fuss
But we must still tell the young bucks
That these drive by shootings just simply ain't us.
When will these drive by shootings stop
Only when we adults persuade our young bucks
To refrain from being addicted to
certain types of negative rap and hip hop.
That great American dream has been
Deferred for so long,
Communities are still erupting and exploding
As young bucks continue to go wrong.
Some of the young bucks are trying to be just like
The movie characters, Nino Brown, and Dough Boy
Instead of making a positive contribution,
To our society like Barbara Jordan,
Ida Wells Barnett, and Elijah McCoy.
Teach the young bucks to do more positive things
Other than to say it loud,
We have to lead, guide, direct, instruct,
The young bucks to become truly Black and proud.
Cuz check this out!
What is needed in the Black communities
Is a massive spiritual revolution
Yo' we should all know,
That's really the only solution.
" I see their worth as human beings.
I believe they can over come their past, regardless of what they've done."
- Ron Saunders, Youth Care Worker.
To get them on the path to somewhere, Saunders sees that the youth in his charge get plenty of recreational activity, and are involved in character-building programs.
"We teach life skills,-how to properly mop the floor, comb your hair, brush your teeth, teach them to write-grammar, punctuation, uplifting things," Saunders explains.
To sharpen their minds and aptitude, Saunders devises his own trivia games for them.
For example, he has a world map pinned to a wall in the Unit K dorm. At various times, Saunders calls out locations and challenges the youth to find them on the map. Other games include sports, American history, World history, and black history trivia.
Saunders works with Career-day programs in which businessmen/women come to Shuman to talk about their professions and encourages the youths to reach for higher goals. Saunders has chaired the Black History Month Program at Shuman. Saunders has been at Shuman since 1989.
" Detention by itself is a very brief and critical time. We have to be careful that we try to motivate them at this point in their life," he said.
"For some, it's the first time they've ever been in that situation so it's a very traumatic time," he added.
That so many of the youth at Shuman are black is quite disturbing.
" What we need is a massive spiritual revolution in the black community. There is a lack of values in the black community such as we've never seen before. We've gotten away from traditional values-praying together, sitting down to have a meal together, and demanding excellence from our young people.
Saunders, who once pushed for more minority hiring at Shuman, received an "Extra Effort Award" in 1991 for his work there.
Ron is willing to go that extra step beyond what's expected of him,' says Shuman Director Alex Wilson." He's constantly striving to get the youths here to look at not only where they are today but to realize this doesn't have to be their lot in life.
Wilson says Saunders tries creative ways to motivate the youths not only in his charge but throughout the Center.
"He's always looking for a new and different things to do with our youth around self-esteem, often dealing with cultural aspects for the African-American youths here. On a given day, we're talking about 85 percent African American young people here."
Shuman worker gives values, direction to youth offenders
On a particular day, Saunders dressed in a red jogging suit danced around a ping pong table with his youthful partner in an intense doubles game.
Afterward, several youths dressed in white uniforms talked about Saunders' interaction with them.
Several boys, who can't be identified because of their ages, admired Saunders' skill on the basketball court.
" He used to be a coach, and he shows me a lot of fundamentals like how to slice and cut off the high post," says one boy.
" He's all right," says another, " I like to play basketball, and he's steering me in the right direction."
Other boys said they respected the knowledge that Saunders shares with them on an educational level and on a personal level.
" Sometime, when we have problems, we talk things over with him and he straightens it all out," says another boy.
" He gives me good advice, "says another, " He tries to keep your mind in the right state of mind."
Born and raised in the Hill District, Saunders attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School and Herron Hill Junior High School. He graduated from Fryeburg Academy, in Fryeburg Maine in 1950.
" I can't name one youngster who grew up on Bloomer Way who went into a life of crime, "Saunders says.
"They had many more obstacles to overcome than, say kids out of Fox Chapel- the main thing being the color of their skin. And I call it the red badge of courage myself."
Saunders studied Molecular Biology at Colgate University in Hamilton New York, and political science and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Since then Saunders' life has been spent on the front line activities in the fight for civil rights, as well as working to give guidance to area youths.
His activities have included everything from supervising and coaching youth sports to investigating cases for the state Human Relations Commission and Supervising production at the former Volkswagen plant in East Huntington, Westmoreland County.
At Volkswagen, he was among 22 employees who successfully sued the company for racial harassment, and racial discrimination in all the terms and conditions of employment.
In 1984, Saunders was the principle founder of the National Black Political Caucus an organization he still uses as a forum for varied political activities. He and his longtime friend, civil rights activist Reginald Plato, is the President of the Caucus.
" He's a real go-getter, I'll say that, " Plato says of Saunders. " He believes in being involved. And he's interested in young kids and their improvement."
But kids and peers are not the only ones who appreciate Saunders' dedication to his ideals.
His wife Gina of 22 years says although his civic and social work often means time spent away from home, she wouldn't have it any other way.
" When we met, it was during the time when civil rights was a major issue, and he was committed to helping young people, " says his wife, a Supervisor in the local office of the ATF.
" If he hadn't continued along those lines, I might have thought I had married someone who wasn't true to what I admired him for."
The Ronald B.Saunders Project
The Saunders Family Archives
Branchton PA
February 2, 2011
The following article titled "Shuman Worker shows the way" appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on January 16, 1994, and was written by the highly distinguished PG reporter Jean Bryant.
SHUMAN WORKER SHOWS THE WAY
By Jean Bryant
Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Ron Saunders of Wilkins is a civil rights activist, husband, father, youth advocate and poet.
But he says the most challenging role in his life is that of youth care worker at Shuman Juvenile Detention Center in East Liberty. Saunders works in Unit K at Shuman, an honor unit for youths whose good behavior, has earned them certain privileges.
"A lot of people have given up on these kids," says Saunders. "But I haven't I see their worth as human beings. I believe they can overcome their past, regardless of what they've done.
"It hurts to see young people-whether they be black or white-in trouble. In many cases they are coming from dysfunctional families. And I use all the skills I've learned down through the years trying to turn them in the right direction."
Saunders' poetry reveals the pain he feels over the violence that brings many youths to Shuman.
DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS AIN'T US
Here I am sittin in my crib with my homies;
Seeing young bucks killing each other every day,
Can't understand why we as adults;
Haven't shown them how to resolve their conflict
in a more constructive way.
These young bucks are strapped
from head to toe,
but soon they will learn a
very difficult lesson, you shall
reap what you shall sow.
Their mothers, fathers, sisters and
brothers are dying
Babies weep at night over the
sound of gunfire, and some are
still crying.
I see a young buck in a car creeping,
Slowly down the street with the window rolled down
And his hand on the Trigga,
Shots are fired, a young Blood shouts
" I just capped another Crip Nigga."
Pretty soon there won't be many young bucks left
Brothers and Sisters are getting locked up
For all kinds of heinous crimes and even petty auto theft
Cuz these young bucks are robbin from the poor,
I say extinction of our race is what we are headed for.
The young bucks shout, "they don't care,"
And they're headed down the path of destruction
That leads to nowhere.
These young bucks have no respect
For themsleves or each other,
When we were growing up we were taugth
To love one another,
And anybody who was down with it
Could be our brother.
Drive by shootings in our community
Have created a lot of turmoil, fear, confusion and fuss
But we must still tell the young bucks
That these drive by shootings just simply ain't us.
When will these drive by shootings stop
Only when we adults persuade our young bucks
To refrain from being addicted to
certain types of negative rap and hip hop.
That great American dream has been
Deferred for so long,
Communities are still erupting and exploding
As young bucks continue to go wrong.
Some of the young bucks are trying to be just like
The movie characters, Nino Brown, and Dough Boy
Instead of making a positive contribution,
To our society like Barbara Jordan,
Ida Wells Barnett, and Elijah McCoy.
Teach the young bucks to do more positive things
Other than to say it loud,
We have to lead, guide, direct, instruct,
The young bucks to become truly Black and proud.
Cuz check this out!
What is needed in the Black communities
Is a massive spiritual revolution
Yo' we should all know,
That's really the only solution.
" I see their worth as human beings.
I believe they can over come their past, regardless of what they've done."
- Ron Saunders, Youth Care Worker.
To get them on the path to somewhere, Saunders sees that the youth in his charge get plenty of recreational activity, and are involved in character-building programs.
"We teach life skills,-how to properly mop the floor, comb your hair, brush your teeth, teach them to write-grammar, punctuation, uplifting things," Saunders explains.
To sharpen their minds and aptitude, Saunders devises his own trivia games for them.
For example, he has a world map pinned to a wall in the Unit K dorm. At various times, Saunders calls out locations and challenges the youth to find them on the map. Other games include sports, American history, World history, and black history trivia.
Saunders works with Career-day programs in which businessmen/women come to Shuman to talk about their professions and encourages the youths to reach for higher goals. Saunders has chaired the Black History Month Program at Shuman. Saunders has been at Shuman since 1989.
" Detention by itself is a very brief and critical time. We have to be careful that we try to motivate them at this point in their life," he said.
"For some, it's the first time they've ever been in that situation so it's a very traumatic time," he added.
That so many of the youth at Shuman are black is quite disturbing.
" What we need is a massive spiritual revolution in the black community. There is a lack of values in the black community such as we've never seen before. We've gotten away from traditional values-praying together, sitting down to have a meal together, and demanding excellence from our young people.
Saunders, who once pushed for more minority hiring at Shuman, received an "Extra Effort Award" in 1991 for his work there.
Ron is willing to go that extra step beyond what's expected of him,' says Shuman Director Alex Wilson." He's constantly striving to get the youths here to look at not only where they are today but to realize this doesn't have to be their lot in life.
Wilson says Saunders tries creative ways to motivate the youths not only in his charge but throughout the Center.
"He's always looking for a new and different things to do with our youth around self-esteem, often dealing with cultural aspects for the African-American youths here. On a given day, we're talking about 85 percent African American young people here."
Shuman worker gives values, direction to youth offenders
On a particular day, Saunders dressed in a red jogging suit danced around a ping pong table with his youthful partner in an intense doubles game.
Afterward, several youths dressed in white uniforms talked about Saunders' interaction with them.
Several boys, who can't be identified because of their ages, admired Saunders' skill on the basketball court.
" He used to be a coach, and he shows me a lot of fundamentals like how to slice and cut off the high post," says one boy.
" He's all right," says another, " I like to play basketball, and he's steering me in the right direction."
Other boys said they respected the knowledge that Saunders shares with them on an educational level and on a personal level.
" Sometime, when we have problems, we talk things over with him and he straightens it all out," says another boy.
" He gives me good advice, "says another, " He tries to keep your mind in the right state of mind."
Born and raised in the Hill District, Saunders attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School and Herron Hill Junior High School. He graduated from Fryeburg Academy, in Fryeburg Maine in 1950.
" I can't name one youngster who grew up on Bloomer Way who went into a life of crime, "Saunders says.
"They had many more obstacles to overcome than, say kids out of Fox Chapel- the main thing being the color of their skin. And I call it the red badge of courage myself."
Saunders studied Molecular Biology at Colgate University in Hamilton New York, and political science and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Since then Saunders' life has been spent on the front line activities in the fight for civil rights, as well as working to give guidance to area youths.
His activities have included everything from supervising and coaching youth sports to investigating cases for the state Human Relations Commission and Supervising production at the former Volkswagen plant in East Huntington, Westmoreland County.
At Volkswagen, he was among 22 employees who successfully sued the company for racial harassment, and racial discrimination in all the terms and conditions of employment.
In 1984, Saunders was the principle founder of the National Black Political Caucus an organization he still uses as a forum for varied political activities. He and his longtime friend, civil rights activist Reginald Plato, is the President of the Caucus.
" He's a real go-getter, I'll say that, " Plato says of Saunders. " He believes in being involved. And he's interested in young kids and their improvement."
But kids and peers are not the only ones who appreciate Saunders' dedication to his ideals.
His wife Gina of 22 years says although his civic and social work often means time spent away from home, she wouldn't have it any other way.
" When we met, it was during the time when civil rights was a major issue, and he was committed to helping young people, " says his wife, a Supervisor in the local office of the ATF.
" If he hadn't continued along those lines, I might have thought I had married someone who wasn't true to what I admired him for."
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Edie Naveh, Director Of The United Jewish Federation Of Pittsburgh Sent A Letter To John J Craig, Jr. Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
BLACK BUZZ NEWS SERVICE
The Ronald B. Saunders Project
The Saunders Family Archives
February, 2, 2011
Wounded Knee, South Dakota
January 20, 1994
Mr. John J. Craig, Jr.
Editor
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
50 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA, 15222
Dear Mr. Craig:
I want to congratulate you on the excellent article by Jean Bryant in the Post-Gazette, January 16, 1994, about Ron Saunders, Shuman Center worker, civil rights activist, a man of many talents, dedication and interests.
However, I was disappointed the writer did not include Mr. Saunder's long time association and membership in the Community Relations Committee's Black/Jewish Dialogue of the United Jewish Federation.
The Black/Jewish Dialogue is an opportunity for African-Americans and Jews in Pittsburgh to get together on a regular basis to discuss issues of concern facing their respective communities and to work together toward common goals. Too often we hear in the media of the difficulty different ethnic groups have in communicating, of tensions between blacks and Jews. However, Mr. Saunders' commitment to the Dialogue, to bettering inter group relations, to the idea of coalition building presents a positive, creative and productive role model which must be recognized, praised, and emulated in the community.
Sincerely,
Edie Naveh
Director
EN/pjm
The Ronald B. Saunders Project
The Saunders Family Archives
February, 2, 2011
Wounded Knee, South Dakota
January 20, 1994
Mr. John J. Craig, Jr.
Editor
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
50 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA, 15222
Dear Mr. Craig:
I want to congratulate you on the excellent article by Jean Bryant in the Post-Gazette, January 16, 1994, about Ron Saunders, Shuman Center worker, civil rights activist, a man of many talents, dedication and interests.
However, I was disappointed the writer did not include Mr. Saunder's long time association and membership in the Community Relations Committee's Black/Jewish Dialogue of the United Jewish Federation.
The Black/Jewish Dialogue is an opportunity for African-Americans and Jews in Pittsburgh to get together on a regular basis to discuss issues of concern facing their respective communities and to work together toward common goals. Too often we hear in the media of the difficulty different ethnic groups have in communicating, of tensions between blacks and Jews. However, Mr. Saunders' commitment to the Dialogue, to bettering inter group relations, to the idea of coalition building presents a positive, creative and productive role model which must be recognized, praised, and emulated in the community.
Sincerely,
Edie Naveh
Director
EN/pjm
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