GUMBO FEST 2007 - A REVIEW by D.L. Norris

"Is that Dr. Vernell Lillie doing her thing on the dance floor to the jazzy tunes of Jimmy Sapienza's Five Guys Named Moe", I asked my husband. I asked this question as my mouth watered with anticipation for our first serving of gumbo. We were in attendance at the Afro-American Music Institutes Gumbo buffet fundraiser held this past Sunday afternoon at 4 PM. As Gumbo lovers and a preparer of gumbo myself, I thought I was at one of my favorite spots in New Orleans or an old family gathering enjoying a nice hot bowl of gumbo- this gumbo was stuffed with crab legs, large shrimp, hot links, chicken, okra, rice and all in a rich spicy savory broth of rue browned to perfection. The AAMI gumbo was the real deal, not some watered down imitation version.

For those who were not there, I have one thing to say to you, " You missed it!". Plan now to attend their next Gumbo buffet fundraiser next year. Or better yet, make a donation to this wonderful musical establishment, founded by Dr. James Johnson and his lovely vivacious wife, Pamela. This year, media personalities Katrina Owens, reporter for WPXI-TV and Vince Simms also of WPXI-TV were master of ceremony. Don Patterson, AAMI Marketing Director, was the perfect greeter and made you feel welcomed and appreciated for attending. There were a host of community notables in attendance, including web-mistress, Donna Baxter from the Soul Pitt.

The AAMI began in 1982 as a proprietary venture. However to facilitate expansion and include youth from families of limited income, creative fund-raising was initiated to promote program growth and to provide scholarships. In June 1992, the Institute was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. AAMI received its federal nonprofit was initiated 501(c) 3 status in March 1993. To make a donation or for more information, visit www.aamipittsburgh.org or call 412 241-6775

Another non-profit event that took place this past week was the N.E.E.D.Benefit dinner, Sylvester Pace, Executive Director. The Negro Education Emergency Drive is a wonderful organization that assist our children to attend college by defraying a portion of the cost for books, supplies and equipment for college. In some cases, talented children have even been provided lap top computers plus financial scholarship. Although I missed last weeks dinner due to an obligation out of town, this organization is a most worthy cause and is also a 501 (c) 3 and work investing into. For more information regarding N.E.E.D. and all the fantastic edifying, educational and enriching programs and scholarships they offer or to make a donation, please go to: http://www.needld.org/ or call N.E.E.D. directly at 412-566-2760.

38th NAACP Image Awards by Kam Williams

Image Awards Upstaged by Resignation of NAACP President

Judging by the 38th Annual NAACP Image Awards which aired on Fox last Friday, it appeared that the organization was really getting its act together. First of all, the show was broadcast live for the first time, as opposed to pre-recorded, which had always been the case in the past.
More importantly, virtually every aspect of the program, from its host, LL Cool J, to the presenters to the performers to the awardees, carried themselves with a notable dignity and grace, almost as if class had been planned as the prevailing theme. And perhaps most significantly, the choices of winners reflected an understanding that the Image Awards is not supposed to be a popularity contest but an opportunity to reward those individuals in the arts who have exhibited the most dedication to alleviating social problems and to challenging harmful stereotypes.

This year, there were no blatantly embarrassing moments such as the time when Barbershop, a film which belittled the achievements of both Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, landed the most nominations. The only questionable winner was actor Isaiah Washington (Grey’s Anatomy), given his recent homophobic remarks which he has since recanted. At least, in his acceptance speech, he thanked Jasmyne Cannick, the lesbian activist who had come to his defense in her syndicated column.

Also in attendance and taking home trophies were Oscar-winners Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland) and Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), along with 40 or so other lucky luminaries. (See complete list below) Honorary awards went to CNN News Anchor Soledad O’Brien, Comedian Bill Cosby and Bono, who brought the house down with an emotional plea for aid for the children of Africa.

The Cos was surprisingly subdued by comparison, given his recent penchant for stirring the waters with caustic comments about the state of African-American culture. Ms. O’Brien, who was quite touching in her reflecting about her roots, her family, and the arc of her career, was handed her award by actress Kerry Washington and NAACP President Bruce Gordon.
This latter factoid has suddenly become noteworthy, because Mr. Gordon, 61, announced his resignation the Sunday after the show, after serving only 19 months, citing irreconcilable differences with his board of directors. “I believe that any organization that's going to be effective will only be effective if the board and the CEO are aligned and I don't think we are aligned," he admitted.

His reign had been marked by controversy from the start, because he came to the job with no civil rights background, but rather with an impressive corporate resume’ as a captain of industry in the telecommunications industry. As for lessons, Gordon stated that "What I've clearly learned in my tenure here is that all is not well in black America, that's for sure.”
And despite the best Image Awards show ever, all is apparently not well with the NAACP, either, since its board members were reportedly caught by surprise by the announcement. Now they must start a fresh search for a chief executive to stabilize an organization struggling to stay relevant in the face of suggestions that it might have outlived its usefulness.

COMPLETE LIST OF NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNERS

MOVIES:

Motion picture: "The Pursuit of Happyness."
Actor in a motion picture: Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland."
Actress in a motion picture: Keke Palmer, "Akeelah and the Bee."
Supporting actor in a motion picture: Djimon Hounsou, "Blood Diamond."
Supporting actress in a motion picture: Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls."
Independent or Foreign Film: "An Inconvenient Truth."
Director of motion picture, television movie: Spike Lee, "The Inside Man."
Writing for motion picture, television movie: Doug Atchison, "Akeelah and the Bee."

TELEVISION

Comedy series: "Ugly Betty"
Director of comedy series: "Kenneth Whittingham, "The Office."
Actor in a comedy series: Tyler James Williams, "Everybody Hates Chris."
Actress in a comedy series: Tracee Ellis Ross, "Girlfriends."
Supporting actor in a comedy series: Reggie Hayes, "Girlfriends"
Supporting actress in a comedy series: Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"
Writing in comedy series: Silvio Horta, "Ugly Betty."
Drama Series: "Grey's Anatomy"
Director of drama series: Karen Gaviola, "The Whole Truth."
Actor in a drama series: Isaiah Washington. "Grey's Anatomy"
Actress in drama series: Kimberly Elise, "Close to Home."
Supporting actor in a drama series: Omar Epps, "House."
Supporting actress in a drama series: Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy"
Writing in drama series: Shonda Rhimes, "Grey's Anatomy," "It's the End of the World."
TV movie, miniseries, or dramatic special: "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts."
Actor in a TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: Kadeem Hardison, "Life is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story."
Actress in a TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: Sophie Okonedo, "Tsunami, The Aftermath."
Actor in a daytime drama series: Kristoff St. John, "The Young and the Restless."
Actress in a daytime drama series: Tracy Ross, "Passions."
News, talk or information, series or special: Tavis Smiley, "Katrina--One Year Later."
Reality: "American Idol."
Variety series or special: "An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder."
Children's Program: "That's So Raven"
Outstanding Performance, Children's Program: Raven Symone. "That's So Raven"

MUSIC

New artist: Corinne Bailey Rae.
Male artist: Prince
Female artist: Mary J. Blige.
Duo or group: The Roots.
Jazz artist: Glady Knight.
Gospel artist, traditional or contemporary: Kirk Franklin.
Music video: Mary J. Blige, "Be Without You."
Song: "I Am Not My Hair," India.Arie.
Album: "Dreamgirls" (Soundtrack)

LITERATURE

Literary work, fiction: "Baby Brother's Blues," Pearl Cleage.
Literary work, nonfiction: "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream," Barack Obama.
Debut author: "Letters to a Young Brother," Hill Harper.
Biography, autobiography: "The Pursuit of Happyness," Christ Gardner.
Instructional: "Mama Made The Difference," T.D. Jakes.
Poetry: "Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer," Maya Angelou.
Children: "Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom," Carole Boston Weatherford.
Youth/teens: "Letters to a Young Brother," Hill Harper.

Diary of a Tired Black Man, Film Review by Kam Williams

Brow-Beaten Brother Gets Even in Thought-Provoking Melodrama

In recent years, numerous revenge-themed Hollywood adventures have seemed to take a certain delight in portraying black men as unreliable womanizers undeserving of any respect, like the sort of losers always airing their dirty linen any day of the week on The Jerry Springer Show. From Waiting to Exhale to Two Can Play That Game to Diary of a Mad Black Woman, these female empowerment flicks have generally left brothers not only brow-beaten but in need of an image overhaul.

Now, help has arrived in Diary of a Tired Black Man, a fascinating half-documentary-half melodrama which marks the directorial debut of Tim Alexander. A little over a year ago, you may remember how Alexander generated a phenomenal air of anticipation about this controversial picture merely by making the trailer available over the internet.

That three-minute teaser captured the explosion of James (Jimmy Jean-Louis) who was frustrated about being dogged by his ex-wife, Tanya (Paula Lema), and her girlfriends because he showed up with a white woman to pick up his daughter during a custody exchange. Without reacting to their attack, he calmly pauses to address Tanya and her Amen chorus of supporters. Speaking in a measured tone of voice, he gets the last word, letting them know that he had been, and still is, an excellent though unappreciated provider.

The full-length feature opens with this same scene, but rather than proceed with the rest of the modern morality play immediately thereafter, the ingenious director came up with a brilliant cinematic device which only heightens the already palpable tension. He freezes the action after this point of departure (and again periodically throughout the picture) for revealing man-in-the-street interviews featuring fan reaction to the commercial, comments culled from footage he shot while crisscrossing the country with a hand-held camera.

So, essentially half of what we see onscreen is an intriguing documentary of everyday folks from all walks of life, both male and female, weighing-in on the battle-of-the-sexes. And these remarks, ranging from the profane to the profound and from the silly to the sobering, prove to be every bit as telling as the fictional front story.

For instance, a young woman quick to question whether there are any good black men out there refers to the married guy she dated for two years as “typical “and an “effed-up, trifling-ass Negro.” Yet, when asked why she even entered such an ill-fated, illicit liaison in the first place, her only answer is that she “fell in love,” leaving the audience to conclude that she’s just as much to blame for her lot in life as all the black men she’s just dissed.

To the director’s credit, he does also include conversations with some sisters who don’t absolutely go berserk when questioned about the behavior of brothers, like the one who forcefully makes the case that, “Not every black woman walking the face of this Earth is angry. There are plenty of sweet, sugary, syrupy sisters that I know that brothers don’t want.”
Overall, the movie does come down rather hard on sisters, even though it doesn’t let brothers off the hook entirely. Cleverly-edited to keep the audience on the edge of its seat, the movie flits back and forth between this sort of frank dialogue and the riveting tug-of-war between James and Tanya. With both the factual and fictional parts of the picture equally absorbing, expect to emerge from theater emotionally drained yet inspired to discuss the degree of dysfunction permeating African-American relationships among your friends and family.

Tim Alexander is quick to say that “Diary of a Tired Black Man is not a movie, It’s a message.” Well, I’d say it’s both, and if his aim with this message movie is to kickstart an overdue dialogue for change, I’d say congrats for more than meeting that challenge.

To see the trailer that caused the uproar, visit: http://www.diaryofatiredblackman.com/

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 108 minutes
Studio: ScreenTime Films

Colin on Call

Colin Roach
The Light the Flambeau Interview
with Kam Williams

Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Colin Keith Roach migrated to New York City in 1970 before moving on to Los Angeles seven years later. He attended college out West, earning an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and a graduate degree in Public Administration from California State Dominguez Hills and California State Los Angeles Universities.
In the mid-Eighties, he studied ancient Egyptian history and its related spirituality, authoring numerous articles on the Egyptian philosophy of MAAT, focusing on its application to contemporary life. After recently developing an interest in filmmaking, he wrote a screenplay, “Light the Flambeau,” and produced a very intriguing, professional-quality trailer for it which can be viewed at: http://www.previewreels.com/light_the_flambeau/

By day, he’s the Industrial Engineering Manager of a large fireplace manufacturing company in L.A., though he’s currently co-writing another script called “Downside.” Colin is divorced and has two sons but he is about to remarry soon. Here, he talks about “Light the Flambeau,” which he hopes to turn into a full-length feature. The movie is about a suicidal, 21 year-old college student’s attempt to convince the father he has just met to take him back to their Carribean roots to heal his illness.

KW: Are you related to the late Trinidadian poet, Eric Roach, who is known as the black Yeats?
CR: He was my father.

KW: I was a black literature major, and enjoyed his work. Where did you come up with the idea for Light the Flambeau?
CR: As they say, Kam, fiction usually has some elements of truth to it. My son entered my life when he was 21. To find answers, I simply drifted back through the generations and my experiences from growing up in a family in Tobago that really didn’t want me.

KW: Do you identify with the main character?
CR: There are two main characters and I identify with both of them. I’ll let the audience decide whose story it is.

KW: How would you describe the angst that he’s going through?
CR: When one is battling for survival in an unorthodox way, you either build character if you don’t have it, or else lose your fight. Imagine a 21 year-old propelled by forces he cannot see, and fighting his inherited demons on a journey to save himself. Bloom or doom, human beings teach us something either way.

KW: What genre of film would you consider this picture and what themes will it be exploring?
CR: To me and those who worked on the trailer, read and edited the script, it’s a spiritual melodrama. In Flambeau, people are struggling with the cards they were dealt, and with the consequences of the decisions they made. The results are deeply transformed characters.

KW: What is your prior experience with moviemaking?
CR: None.

KW: Did you study cinema in school?
CR: Just some workshops and classes in screenplay writing.

KW: What audience do you expect this film to find?
CR: We are really going after spiritual communities globally, but specifically, the African-American, Canadian, English, African, Caribbean and Brazilian markets are our bulls-eye targets.

KW: Are you looking for help to turn this trailer into a full-length feature?
CR: Boy are we! Part of our approach is to cast actors from each of the regions I just mentioned. We already have bios and photos from many actors. We have a budget done and would really like our community businesses to participate through our corporation that’s has already been set up.

KW: When did you decide to take a shot at showbiz?
CR: I have lived in Los Angeles since 1977 but I am not employed in that industry. Living here gave me access to training and professionals but this type of project is independent. Hollywood studios make action thrillers and horror movies for 18 to 24 year-old audiences. They will have nothing to do with these types of non-white dramas, and that’s understandable. These stories must be told independently. To be successful, we must take risks and have support from like-minded people across the globe.

KW: What’s the message of the movie?
CR: I don’t want to give away much but I’ll say the story suggests the human capacity to grow and adapt is limitless when we step off the beaten path.

KW: Do you plan to bring back the same cast members from the trailer to be in the movie?
CR: That’s up to the fine production company, Production HQ, and Judy Marcelline who produced it. It’s their call, but I’ll say probably not. I think they would love to talk with Delroy Lindo about playing Noah.

KW: Do you have any interest in perhaps acting in it yourself?
CR: Oh God, none.

KW: Who’s your favorite director?
CR: Mira Nira, the Indian lady who made Monsoon Wedding.

KW: Don’t worry, he’s not a stalker, but Jimmy Bayan needs to know where in L.A. you live?
CR: The San Fernando Valley.

KW: What do you do to unwind?
CR: I am energized by going after Caribbean immigrant stories. I have three log lines in the can. My cousin and I are working on one about a young man who rejects his family’s deeply-held values of hard work and opted for a very different lifestyle. He is on a journey also but in the wrong direction.

KW: It seems like you are on a journey yourself.
CR: Absolutely!

KW: Where to?
CR: That’s the mystery of life. We think we know where we are going, and what we are doing, but do we really?

Tasha’s Turn to Shine

Tasha Smith - The Daddy’s Little Girls Interview
with Kam Williams

Tasha Smith was born one of identical twins on February 28, 1971 in Camden, New Jersey where they were raised by their single-mom, along with a younger sister. She and her clone, Sidra, got an early start in show business, both modeling and performing in community theater.
At the age of 18, the statuesque beauty moved to L.A. where she supported herself by taking assorted odd jobs while trying her hand at stand-up comedy. She made her big screen debut, along with Sidra, in 1994 in Twin Sitters, following that up with supporting roles in such movies as Playas Ball, The Whole Ten Yards, ATL, and You, Me and Dupree.

A versatile talent, Tasha handled guest TV appearances on everything from Nip/Tuck to Girlfriends to Chicago Hope to America’s Next Top Model to The Steve Harvey Show to Girlfriends to The Tyra Banks Show to Boston Common to The Corner, an HBO mini-series. With Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, she has landed what is likely to prove to be her breakout role as Jennifer, a vindictive woman caught up in a custody battle with her ex-husband over their three daughters.

Away from the set, Tasha is committed to devoting some of her time as a motivational speaker for kids from disadvantaged communities. In addition, she enjoys cooking, rollerblading, working out and travel.

KW: Tell me a little about your character.
TS: I play Jennifer. Jennifer is what I call the devil of the script. Anytime there’s a God, there has to be a devil. And anytime there’s good, there has to be evil. And the evil sometimes is the best! [Laughs] Jennifer is a mom seeking revenge and power, the control that she feels she may have lost. And Monty [the character played by co-star Idris Elba] is going to have to suffer as bad as she can make him suffer. So, I had a lot of fun playing Jennifer. I hope that people hate her, literally. [Laughs again] If they do, then I’ve accomplished my job.

KW: How would you describe Jennifer and Monty’s relationship?
TS: My character loves him, was in love with him. It was just one of those deep-down soulish loves that didn’t work out. And because of whatever reasons it didn’t work out, resentment, anger and bitterness developed, out of hurt. It’s like, ‘If I can’t have you, and if you can’t be happy in my life, I’m going to make your life hell.’ And I think that she still wants Monty, if she could have him, yeah. But it’s not going to happen, so therefore, she has to go far to the left, baby.

KW: How was it working opposite Idris?
TS: Mr. Idris Elba is amazing! He happens to be British, but what’s funny about him is that when he’s speaking in his American dialect, he looks like he’s a brother from the ‘hood. But as soon as he brings out that English thing, I’m like, ‘Woo! You look like you’re from London. Oh my God!’ It’s like everything on him changes. He’s so cool! He’s the coolest. He’s so supportive. He’s so present. He’s just a professional actor. And on top of that he’s funny too. He’s a good guy to hang around. He’s just so unselfish. I loved working with Idris. I hope to work with him again, too, because he’s so amazing.

KW: How about the actress playing your other adversary in the movie, Gabrielle Union?
TS: Number one, Gabrielle is so funny. She is like a goofball. She has such a great personality and brings such great energy to the set.

KW: How was it being directed by Tyler Perry?
TS: He’s just so giving. He gives you an opportunity to create. You can ask, ‘Tyler, are there any notes?’ and he’ll say, ‘Yeah, hit your mark.’ [laughs] Hit your mark. ‘Okay, well I guess that must mean I’m doing something good.’ He just gives you freedom to be loose. He gives you room. And to me, that’s kinda’ cool when the director trusts the actors’ instincts and gives them room to do what they do.

KW: What would you say is the message of this movie.
TS: I feel like this story is going to celebrate fatherhood, I really do. I feel like this is something that we need. We need to see a good father, a father that’s willing to fight for his children, and who’s willing to do whatever he has to do to make it happen. You know how you usually see the mother always trying to get the children, and the mother being the good guy? Well, in this movie, the father is the good guy. And I feel like it’s going to celebrate fatherhood, and make fathers out there want to be fathers, want to fight for their children, want to take care of their children, and want to be in their children’s lives. That’s a story that I just feel we need to hear and that we need to see. It’s so beautiful, because I’ve never seen it, especially in an African-American story.

Thandie Newton: The Norbit Interview

By Kam Williams

Thandiwe Newton was born in London on November 6, 1972 to a mother from Zimbabwe and British father. En route to fame and fortune, the 5’2” cutie pie would remove a “w” and a syllable from her name, which means “beloved.” This is ironic because she later played the title character in the screen adaptation of the Toni Morrison novel “Beloved.”

But Thandie is probably now best known for her work in Crash, where she played a woman violated right in front of her husband by a crude cop during a profile stop. Although she wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar, she won a British Academy Award for that nonpareil performance.

Also on her resume’ are memorable outings in Besieged, The Trouble with Charlie, Mission: Impossible II, The Chronicles of Riddick, and as Sally Hemmings in Jefferson in Paris. Recently, she appeared opposite Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. Here, Thandie talks about working opposite Eddie Murphy in Norbit.

KW: What interested in playing Kate?
TN: After all these years, here was something that just pushed things a bit more. I also thought it was an opportunity to really explore character. And despite the fact that in many ways Kate is the straight man of the film, there were still moments of fun and silliness that I could really enjoy. And, to be honest, the main thing I wanted to experience was to be around a craftsman like Eddie, a genius, to be in the presence of someone creating something memorable. And I just knew from reading it that it was going to be memorable.

KW: What’s it like working with Eddie?
TN: You bust out with laughter and there’s romance, and it’s smart, and makes you kind of think about stuff, but not so much so that you’re twisting your brain. Everybody loves Eddie Murphy. Everybody appreciates what he does and wants to see him enjoying what he’s doing. And he’s enjoying what he’s doing and he’s doing something really special. I mean, I didn’t know that this was going to be an opportunity for that, to be around someone creating something special. It’s been a privilege.

KW: How do you generate chemistry with a character like Norbit?
TN: What the character Norbit is putting out there is basic human kindness, and it’s got to be the most attractive, beautiful quality. So, for me as an actress, and a person defining this character, to genuinely feel that Kate would genuinely fall in love with Norbit is so exciting for me actually. Because even though I’m doing this film which relies heavily on suspending your disbelief, and is a fantasy, I always love to find the truth in things. And there is in this, and it’s such a welcome surprise.

KW: What did you think of the rest of the cast?
TN: Cuba Gooding, Jr., I was so excited to be working with him, and to be playing this couple with him, because he brings so much more complexity to it. His comic timing is so good, and he’s such a cool guy. And every single character in the film, no matter how small, is played by someone who just fills it to its maximum. The movie has just drawn really strong quality performers together. And I really feel like it’s a celebration of the work of Eddie Murphy. Everybody says the same thing. We’re all bowing down to a great man, and a great work. I love this film because it seems to bring so many of the qualities that make him great together.

KW: What did you think of the makeup job they did on Eddie?
TN: The makeup is so advanced now that it really is real! So, when Eddie walks on as Rasputia or as Mr. Wong, it’s fascinating.

Let's Get it Together! By L.S.G.

A New Column – “From the Soul of an Outsider”
From The Soul of an Outsider is a new Soul Pitt exclusive column by Lakeda Summes-Giles. This African-American female, originally from Atlanta, talks about Pittsburgh and its community from the perspective of an out-of-towner who has been in the city since 2001 and her analysis of it. Send comments/questions to outsider@thesoulpitt.com

Let's Get it Together!
By L.S.G.

Not only should we get it together, but when we go after prosperity and success as a community and "Let's get it together". I was asked to write an article, that was based on a realistic perspective about the City of Pittsburgh, from an outsider's experience, which I happen to be. We should begin a new challenge for ourselves, let's break the "Willie Lynch" syndrome together ya'll. There is simply not enough cooperation and unity, and not just in this city. But Pittsburgh has got the 'disconnection thing' down pat, and that's pretty bad. How many of us can we find, regularly complaining about an encounter with someone within our community, that has behaved in a fake, inconsistent, or shady fashion? I find that this often sets the social scene within this city. Even in business, is that why the Pittsburgh Black Economic Structure is so unstable. What if a similar crisis occurred like we witnessed with Katrina? Will we be able to help our own community, seeing that the Government has such a slow response, especially when assisting the poor black community in crisis? Well this column is not about the faux pas of the system, but about our community's accountability for itself.

Pittsburgh has the potential to do as well as other largely black populated cities. Me, being an Outsider finds that because of the social disorder that rest within the black community here currently, prevents the true reflection of our potential from manifesting itself. I used to be very social at my arrival into the city, but as I witnessed the dismissal of what good I was bringing to the table, by a certain group of select individuals, and you know who you are, along with the accentuation of negativity surrounding me, openly and subliminally telling me, " we don't want you here outsider, go!" I began to stay in hibernation to draw strength from this rejection. And I did leave here many times, bravely returning because God brought me here, and I love a real challenge. Most say that they are 'gettin money', and all that is cool especially when we share it with each other, but I have mainly encountered only "Individualist", who feel if they make it that is improving the image of our community, but still the poor black underprivileged suffer.

I believe our poverty is due mostly from the lack of knowledge as many wise persons have said, and not because we lack the resources, material things, or money. Do me a favor and increase your awareness by reading the "Willie Lynch Letter", which was regarded highly during the times of slavery, by the slave owners of this country. It helps to begin the challenge that I mention in the start of this column, and thank you, those of you who are brave enough to begin it. It would also be nice if we had a business district here with the show of financial support for the same things we buy in other communities. It would be nice if Pittsburgh's Black Community wouldn't be so competitive against itself, but more supportive toward it's artist, so that there could exist a strong list of industries here, since Pittsburgh is known for being an industrial city. The one thing that I consider a strong attribute to Pittsburgh is that, though it is a vast city; it is also like a small town, because everyone knows one another. That's all good but make way for the outsiders to come in and bless you with their jewels also.

I have been very blessed cause I'm a fighter and I don't give up, and I believe that the negativity will be overcome, in time, with more of a universal mind state. This can be easily be gained by learning the right things that will improve and give new meaning to Life, for everyone. Pittsburgh has been under this negative spiritual cloud for so long, like our community blames and refuses to forgive itself for something, well I'm the messenger brought to shed some sunlight on you and allow a true beautiful reflection to be revealed. We are forgiven of our insecurity, let's stand together in this great light and love each other, cause I swear if you do the research you'll see we just might all be family. Pittsburgh stop the hardcore drug selling, stop the homicidal gun violence, be a strong example the whole world can point at and recognize the greatness of. Be respected by respecting yourself and each other. If you begin something stay until it's finished, to the people starting families or anything positive.

With that being said let's talk about mating and meeting in this city, in our community. What I see is a lot of bitterness between the sexes. I believe in taking things slow, especially since we have AIDS in epidemic proportions here in our community. Love is a process, one which should be encouraged to engage in, especially between man and woman. We need to replenish our seed with black men, who have also been dying with little or fuss being made, within the city. Pittsburgh, see where I coming from, to where we could be going? Stay tuned for more from this outsider and of course "Let's get it together!" L.S.G.

About the Author

Lakeda Summes-Giles is originally from ATL, moved to the 'Burgh in 2001, has a thing for writing. And is also an entrepreneur of the "Truly Natural Self Care Botanicals Systems". Check it out at www.mytrulynatural.com

Send comments/questions to outsider@thesoulpitt.com