THE LEGACY OF PITTSBURGH, PA.
People of African heritage have populated Pittsburgh since at least its founding as Fort Pitt during the French and Indian War, --- and, employed in various enterprises as slaves until the practice was made illegal in the year 1780 via Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s gradual emancipation law.
"The French and Indian War (part of the world-wide power struggle in Africa, the Americas, Caribbean and Europe between Great Britain and its allies competing with the French Empire and allied nations) began in the year 1753 and ended in 1764.
During and after the war, men of African heritage served as scouts, teamsters and slave laborers in service to the British regular army. In addition, Black militiamen served with independent colonist units from Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
By the end of the war, England had captured much of the territory previously claimed by France, and black Americans had won honors in battles at Fort Duquesne, Fort Cumberland, and the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec.
"Negro Mountain" in Western Maryland honors a black man killed in a fight against the Indians during this war. By the end of the Colonial period, several patterns had emerged, Black had become synonymous with slave even though there were numerous free blacks in many Northern colonies. As the black population grew from zero (prior to the year 1619) to 462,000 in the 1770 census, white colonists increasingly feared that blacks trained in military arts would foment revolts.
Hence blacks were exempted from peacetime military duty. During emergencies, however, there was insufficient manpower among the white colonists to meet the military need. Therefore, limited numbers of blacks were allowed to participate; generally in support roles, but occasionally in combat units. Leadership roles, particularly officer positions, however, were denied to blacks." [Black Americans in Defense of Our Nation: U.S. Department of Defense, 25 January 1985]
Hundreds of business enterprises were established by African-Americans in the Hill District and beyond growing in prosperity and economic opportunities for youth, --- until the post-war planning by the Mayor David L. Lawrence administration. His urban renewal plans, programs and budgeting with the aid of federal, state, county and private funds essentially removed and dispersed hundreds of African-American businesses, -- and over 50,000 consumers from their Hill District base. It killed Black enterprises and employment possibilities for "the least of us!"
Perhaps a coincidence, but in the same time-line, similar urban removal schemes for relocation and concentration of the Black poor occurred in Birmingham, Alabama and Johannesburg, South Africa. Consequences were the same, at least in the context fostering resentment that would lead to riots within a decade?
More on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ..... below