ASALH 2023 Theme: Black Resistance
Welcome to the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH Located in Pittsburgh PA
Upcoming Event : Global Histories of Resistance
Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH Welcomes
Dr. Kris Manjapra, Professor of History, Tufts University
June 19 at 2-4 PM ET
What is Resistance?
RESISTANCE IS THE CREATIVE RESPONSE TO OPPRESSION.
KRIS MANJAPRA CHRONICLES 600 YEARS OF RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, SOUTH ASIA & EUROPE.
REGISTRATION & FULL DETAILS COMING SOON
It is our pleasure to welcome you to the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Pittsburgh Branch of ASALH, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, established in 1915 by Carter G. Woodson.
Here you can join the ranks of thousands of other members and experience the richness of the ASALH organization, activities and events, and how we labor in the service of Black people and all humanity.
Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about the organization, our ongoing work, or membership.
Branch News
- Love Warriors and Battle Scars-An Analysis of Black Healing and Black Resistance
- President’s Circle Featuring Dr. Sharita Jacobs Thompson
- President’s Circle Featuring Ruth Helen Washington
- President’s Circle Featuring Andrea Coleman
- President’s Circle Featuring Dr. Beatrice Vasser
- President’s Circle Featuring Isabella Rozalia Catalina Jordan
- President’s Circle Featuring Dr. Carol V. Francois
- President’s Circle Featuring Lynne Robinson
- President’s Circle Featuring Njaimeh Njie
- President’s Circle Featuring Dr. Shirley Biggs
Ronald B. Saunders, Branch President
Our mission is to promote, interpret, disseminate, research information about Black life, history and culture — every aspect — to the global community.
“This is not just for Black people. This is for everybody.”
—Ronald B. Saunders, Branch President
The ASALH Pittsburgh Branch carries the legendary name of Dr. Edna B. Mckenzie.
Established on September 9, 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, we are the Founders of Black History Month and carry forth the work of our founder, the Father of Black History.
ASALH’s mission is to create and disseminate knowledge about Black History, to be, in short, the nexus between the Ivory Tower and the global public. We labor in the service of Blacks and all humanity
BRANCH LEADERSHIP GALLERY
Alexis
Clipper
Secretary
Alonna
Carter
Historian
Anita
Russell
VP Media Relations
Rev. B. De Neice Welch, PhD
First Vice President
Betty
Pickett
VP Youth Outreach
Judith
Saunders
Treasurer
Dr. Stephanie Boddie
VP Programming
Madelyn Turner-Dickerson
VP Membership & Donations
Tamara
Saunders
Administration
Rev John
Welch, PhD
Chaplain
DR. EDNA B. MCKENZIE
Dec 29, 1923 – June 26, 2005
Image © Carnegie Museum of Art, Charles “Teenie” Harris Archive
PIONEERING JOURNALIST AND HISTORIAN: IN THE COMPANY OF GREATNESS.
Dr. McKenzie was known for never having a harsh word against anyone, but what she wrote for the Pittsburgh Courier powered the collapse of discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. Dr. McKenzie was an accomplished pianist and the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in history at the University Pittsburgh
Dr. McKenzie began her career at the Courier as a society reporter in the 1940s, quickly jumping to the news desk and covering lynchings and other hard news alongside the men. When she went on the road for her series on discrimination, Charles “Teenie” Harris, the Courier’s legendary photographer often accompanied her to document what happened.
Armed with her pet phrase “tell the truth,” Dr. McKenzie was meticulous in documenting Black history. She believed history could be used to empower, inform, and teach, and that Black people should never be ashamed of their history.
ASALH 2023
National Events Celebrated Locally
DR. EDNA B. MCKENZIE BRANCH OF ASALH 