“We needed a black press because there was no way to get our story out to the general American public.” — Dr. Edna B. McKenzie
Branch News Update: 1Q 2025
From the Desk of the President:
A Short Note On African American History From The Firing Line
On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14151 titled: ” Ending Radical Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” Prior to the advent of the modern day Civil Rights Movement, there were no significant conversations surrounding DEI, DEAI, JEDI, DEIB which are consequences of that evolving Movement.
One should be cognizant that the modern day Civil Rights Movement is part of the broader Black Freedom Struggle which is one of the most important stories in American history. The Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement are elements of the Black Freedom Struggle or African American Freedom Struggle.
Wherein, on January 23, 2025, President Trump revoked Executive Order 11246 which was one of the most important Executive Orders in the history of the United States of America. It was signed at the height of the modern day Civil Rights Movement. The African American leadership class persistently, vigorously, relentlessly, enthusiastically pushed President Johnson to sign the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 11246 which complimented the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Executive Order 11246 was signed on September 24, 1965 by President Johnson. No other Executive Order was as important as Executive Order 11246 except for Executive Order 9981 which was signed by President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1948 which abolished discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin in the United States Armed Forces. This order led to the desegregation of the United States Military. African Americans, Indigenous Americans, Black Hispanics, Latinos have significantly benefitted from Executive Order 9981.
On September 24, 1965, President Lyndon Baines Johnson issued Executive Order 11246 prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin by those organizations receiving federal contracts and subcontracts. Whereby in 1967, in Executive Order 11375, President Johnson amended the order to include sex on the list of attributes. Executive Order 11246 also required federal contractors to take affirmative action to promote the full realization of equal opportunity for women, African Americans and other minorities.
African Americans should be cognizant that we no longer have the protection in the federal workforce and federal contracting with President Trump revoking Executive Order 11246.
Whereby, I was a direct witness and beneficiary of Executive Order 11246 in 1966 which was actually one year after President Johnson signed it.
Wherein for the first time in its history, the United States Department of the Interior with the U.S. National Park Service visited our campus for the recruitment of African American candidates for Park Rangers in 1966.
After an exhaustive FBI background check, I was hired as a United States Park Ranger I to work on the main gate of the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. However, I turned down the job for personal reasons, much to the chagrin of the United States Park Rangers. But I was told that I would have been the first Negro hired to work at the Grand Tetons National Park.
Thus the U. S. National Park Service demonstrated what Affirmative Action was really all about by taking positive steps to end discrimination and to prevent its recurrence by preparing, creating, providing opportunities that were previously denied African Americans.
Affirmative Action was a useful tool and one of the main positive byproducts of the Civil Rights Movement which significantly helped millions of African Americans in a deeply embedded structurally racist society in their continual quest for first class citizenship. It must also be noted that more Caucasian women were the largest beneficiaries of Affirmative Action than any other Protected Classes.
Wherein the African American led Civil Rights Movement fiercely encouraged and vociferously demanded that President Johnson sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which he signed on August on 6, 1965. A significant amount of blood, primarily by African Americans, was shed to obtain the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Further, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is only a shell of the original act. The ruling in Shelby County vs Holder in 2013 did away with section 5(H) of said act with reference to Pre-Clearance. In its decision, the Supreme Court invalidated in Section 4 (b) of the Voting Rights Act which provided the formula that determines which jurisdictions were covered under Section 5. Thus the Supreme Court’s decision allowed states with a history of race discrimination to implement voting changes without federal approval. States have added 100 Restrictive Laws since SCOTUS Gutted the Voting Rights Act 12 years ago. We need the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 ( H. R. 14) to pass Congress and to be signed by the President.
This bill would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, most notably it’s requirement for states and jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations to seek federal approval before enacting changes to their voting laws.
We need to elect Congress people in the mold of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Barbara Jordan, Shirley Chisholm, Ron Dellums, Walter Fauntroy, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker and Angela Davis. Far too many people have grown too comfortable, apathetic and complacent which we can ill afford at this juncture in this evolving flirtation with limited representative democracy. We must provide the framing plus impetus for our young people to get involved in the ongoing Black Freedom Struggle. No one has the luxury of sitting on sidelines in (La La land) where monumental changes are taking place on a daily basis.
It is vitally imperative that me make sincere efforts to recapture the fire, spirit, enthusiasm, persistency, togetherness, esprit de corps of the Second Reconstruction Period (1950-1970) to tackle and solve the unique 21st Century challenges of today.
Whereby two months before President Johnson signed the historic monumental Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, he delivered a commencement address to the engaged students of Howard University, the largest HBCU in that period.
President Johnson’s speech underscored the foundation of “Affirmative Action” by acknowledging that ‘it was not simply enough to provide opportunity but that true justice demands that the playing field is leveled so African Americans, centuries oppressed by chattel slavery and Jim Crow become fully equipped to seize the same opportunities afforded to white Americans’.
“But freedom is not enough. You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying: Now you are free to go where you want, and do as you desire, and to choose the leaders you please”
President Johnson further stated: “you do not take a person, who for years. has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say ” you are free to compete with all the others, and still justly believe that you have been completely fair”. President Johnson continued to say “thus it is not enough just to open the gates of opportunity. All of our citizens must have the ability to walk through those gates”.
As proud ASALH members and members of the community and nation, we do in fact have an obligation, duty and responsibility to teach accurately our robust Black History to young people and young adults in order for them to successfully navigate the present landscape in this rapidly changing experiment in participatory governance.
Investing in our youth with a membership in ASALH is one way to prepare them for a better tomorrow and brighter days. A highly educated engaged citizenry is one of the best defenses against tyrannical rule.
Indeed African Americans are a gift to America and should always be viewed in that historical context for without our many contributions, America today would be a second rate power.
Ashe.
Asante Sana
Respectfully yours,
Ronald Brooks Saunders, President
Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of the Association for the Study of American American Life and History (ASALH)
ASALH Living Legacy Honoree, 2023
ASALH Branch of the Year for 2022
Pittsburgh Circle of Courage Honoree, 2017
Stories Shared to Empower
History | Resistance | Joy | Recognition
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
On March 6, 2025, Dr. Phillips-Cunningham delivered the keynote for the Rosalyn Terborg-Penn Women’s History Convocation at Morgan State University. Her talk was about Nannie Helen Burroughs’ political and labor organizing legacies in the church and education. Dr. Phillips-Cunningham’s book, “Nannie Helen Burroughs: A Tower of Strength in the Labor World,” was published by Georgetown University Press in February 2025.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
East End Area AARP Chapter 4542 celebrated Womens History Month at their March 27, 2025 meeting. The chapter has begun a tradition of celebrating local Pittsburgh women who have excelled in their calling and made significant contributions to the city and local communities. The chapter invited two local Pittsburgh women who took totally different paths to arrive at where they are today.
Connie Portis, known in the Pittsburgh area for her innovative and risk-taking ventures in the publishing world was one of their honorees. The Pittsburgh Black Directory and Resource Guide and the Women’s Yellow Pages are only two of her publications. In addition, Ms. Portis has established several non-profit funds and is now operating a Sisterhood Women’s Program. These programs touch the lives of men, women, young people, families, business people and others in Pittsburgh and around the country. Ms. Portis continues to do the work of her calling.
The chapter’s other honoree was Brenda Tate. Brenda Tate was born and raised in Pittsburgh’s Hill District and her journey was one of tragedy and redemption. She has told her story in her just published book, “Journal of a Black Women in Blue: Navigating Abuse, Addiction, Racism and Sobriety. Her book is relatable, eye-opening and entertaining. Ms. Tate still lives in the Hill District and is involved with a successful community program for seniors.
Exciting News to Share from Branch Member Dr. Artie Travis
I am deeply honored to announce my induction into the Danville High School Wall of Fame as the 62nd inductee. This recognition is the culmination of years of determination and a lifelong commitment to leaving my communities better than when I arrived.
This honor is not mine alone—it is a tribute to the unwavering love and foundation built by Grandpa Lee and Grandma Mable, as well as the entire Oliver family—uncles, aunts, and cousins—who shaped my journey. It would not have been possible without the constant support of my mother, Rose Mary, and my brother, Britt, who have been my anchors every step of the way. At the heart of my journey has been the love and joy of my daughters, Amber, Maritza, and Nirvana, and my beloved grands, Zoe, Winter, and Mello. They have been my inspiration and my motivation to keep pushing forward.
But the true anchor of my life was my wife, Francine—my compass, my heart, my joy, and a phenomenal mother. For 32 years, as I served on eight college campuses before retiring on January 31, 2025, she was by my side, guiding me with her love, wisdom, and unwavering support. I also share this honor with Peachy, and my dear cousins and as well with my Western Avenue partners—the friends who became brothers—and their incredible parents who helped shape us into who we are today. Anvil Sr. and Jr., Reggie Little and Big, and so many others who were part of the village that raised me.
To be recognized alongside legends like Dick Van Dyke, Gene Hackman, Bobby Short, Ms. Thornton, and David Fields is truly humbling. My official induction will take place in Danville on June 6th, and I am beyond grateful for this incredible honor. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey—I share this recognition with all of you!
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DR. EDNA B. MCKENZIE BRANCH OF ASALH 