pittsburgh
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The Coronavirus Killed My Friend. His Blood Is on Donald Trump's Hands
On Sunday the 29th, the New York Times published “Nothing Matters Anymore (Except What Actually Does)“—my essay about some of the existential crises the coronavirus has thrust on us, the violence of the whiplash of the past month, and the electric slide. I first sent Jen Parker, a staff editor at the Times, a draft…
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White Judge Placed on Administrative Duty After Calling Black Woman Juror in a Head Wrap 'Aunt Jemima'
While most people probably have more pressing things on their minds when they’re selected for jury duty, apparently we need to be scrutinizing what we wear, too. A Pennsylvania judge has been stripped of “administrative duties” after allegedly calling a black juror, who showed up to trial in a head wrap, “Aunt Jemima.” According to…
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On Processing My Messy Feelings About Kobe Bryant’s Myth, Life and Death
The first time I saw Kobe Bryant play live was at the McDonald’s All-American Basketball Game in 1996. The game was played in Pittsburgh that year, and I went to the Civic Arena downtown to watch it. I’d already had a relationship with the idea of him. He was the top high school basketball player…
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White Woman Claims Pittsburgh Public Schools Passed Her Over for Promotions, Raises Over Less Qualified Black Employees
A white secretary for Pittsburgh Public Schools is alleging she’s the victim of reverse racism. Kristen Frankovich, a chief executive secretary who has worked for the school district since 2007, filed a racial discrimination suit against it on Thursday. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Frankovich claims in every position she’s held, she has been “consistently…
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Pittsburgh Doesn’t Deserve Mike Tomlin
So this premise is already operating at a deficit: If born, I guess, you deserve the ability to continue living, and whatever’s necessary to achieve that goal—food, water, safety, shelter, etc.—exists under that umbrella. But once we get into concepts like happiness and fulfillment, our application of “deserve” becomes nebulous, as it gets conflated with…
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Pittsburgh Is the Worst City in America for Black People. Here's How It Can Get Better
If you need an example of the level of danger Pittsburgh’s black population faces for just living in the city, drive down Centre Avenue, go through the Hill District and then North Oakland, and then stop once you find yourself in front of UPMC Shadyside. Park your car, get out, and survey the beautiful campus…
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Man Faces Assault Charges for Using Excessive Force on 13-Year-Old After Police Wouldn’t Do It for Him [Corrected]
Authorities filed assault charges against a Pennsylvania man, whom they initially declined to arrest, after he was caught on video forcibly restraining a child in a park. On Tuesday, June 25, Shalayla McGovern says her 16-year-old daughter walked to a park in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood to meet with some friends. The teenage girl reportedly asked…
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Pittsburgh School District Under Fire After Active Shooting Drill Gunman Wears Arabic Garb
The Penn-Trafford School District is in deep shit after their active shooting drill training video hit the Internet, featuring the “shooter” adorned in traditional Arabic garb. “To stereotype the shooter is appalling given the data on active shooters and the recent shootings at the Tree of Life and Christ Church,” Elaine Linn, board secretary of…
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10 Unbiased, Impartial and Very Good Reasons Why You Should Buy Damon's Memoir, What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker
If you follow VSB on any social media platforms, you know that Damon is currently in week one of his national tour for his debut book, a memoir-in-essays titled What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker, released on Tuesday and published by ECCO Books. The release of this book is the culmination of a book…