Summit Against Racism
Including interview with Celeste Taylor, Principal Coordinator of the NAACP’s Black and White Reunion

The annual Black and White Reunion, a summit to combat racism and social injustice, was held on January 17 at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Begun six years ago with the support of the NAACP and founding member Kenneth Owens-El, the summit was organized initially in response to the suspicious death of Jonny Gammage, Jr. at the hands of Pittsburgh police.  Since then, the Reunion has grown to encompass the annual community forum for discussion and enlightenment on diverse issues of social justice. 

"It’s a forum the community can count on, and use," says Celeste Taylor, who has been a principal coordinater of the Reunion since its inception.  We’re an all-volunteer group.  We do tabling, and newsletters, but the main purpose of the summit is to bring groups together."  The event board raises enough money each year from community donors to put on a successful summit and fund a scholarship for an African-American law student dedicated to civil rights. 

As well as the Church and the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch, the community sponsor organizations this year included the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Friends Meeting, Whole Foods, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Bidwell Corporation. 

There were over 200 people involved during the day, with a diverse mix of progressives, and annual membership support from the Community of Reconciliation, Friends Meeting, and the Thomas Merton Center.

"They were lifted up," enthuses Taylor.  "Seeing people from so many different communities there to support each other, everybody can see that we don’t need to reinvent the wheel." 

In addition to engaging in discussions, there were several "action item" initiatives, introduced at last year’s Reunion as a way for people to do something about the problems they see in their community, even in one afternoon.

Over 50 people during the day composed letters against police brutality, an ongoing issue, which will be sent to the various Pittsburgh precincts.  Taylor is especially pleased about the tangible results of the new initiative.  "We’ll definitely have more action items next year."

The Reunion was coordinated by Taylor and Peggy Donaldson, and included workshops on community involvement hosted by ACORN and the Fair Housing Partnership, the Mural Bridge Project, and Good Schools Pennsylvania.  Taylor herself co-led a workshop titled, "Community Well-Being."  She acknowledges there was some tangible tension between the participants at the event, between secular and religious peoples, between people of different ethnicities, but is quick to cite that as a positive thing. 

"People can be most put off by angry Black Nationalists.  I grew up with angry black men.  We should not ignore anyone’s anger.  The point is to find out why they’re angry." 

She hopes to include an increased emphasis on facilitation training in next year’s workshops.  "A friend gave me this book, "Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life," by Marshall B. Rosenberg.  It offers a whole new way of looking at things."

The keynote address this year was offered by Stephen B. Thomas, Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Minority Health.  Dr. Thomas’ views espoused the idea of universal health care as a rallying point for civil rights. While supportive of Dr. Thomas’ remarks, Taylor would like to see a greater commitment to issues of equality and social justice by the University of Pittsburgh, at large. 

"[The University] has a lot of resources and influence.  I would like a verbal commitment from the Chancellor.  In this region, a lot of people don’t make a living wage.  With the power and scope of UPMC, there should be some way to provide free health care to groups of underserved employees.  That’s what I want to see them focusing on."

In the future, Taylor sees the event enhanced, and continuing to spread through the community.

"The more people we have on council, the more we can do.  We have many more young people on the council, now.  That’s evidenced this year by the ‘Sons of Allen’ (a young Muslim men’s dance troupe who entertained the assembly).  People came out from McKeesport.  In my workshop, a man offered to transcribe the discussion, and volunteered his time in the future.  He was blind.  These are people with skills and a lot to offer.  We’ve expanded our territory in terms of age, race, religion, and ability."

In the more immediate future, Ms. Taylor will be hosting a teach-in, in honor of the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.  The class will focus on the practical concerns of community advocacy for young children’s education. Enrollment for the class is limited.  The teach-in will be held February 21st at the Albright Community United Methodist Church on 486 S. Graham Street in Shadyside.  Teach-in begins at 9:30 a.m, followed by a community Speak-Out at 2:30 p.m., which is open to the public.