This Black History Month we at CCJ are celebrating the rich black history here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. For this blog post, we interviewed five amazing women of color on their perspectives on what it means to be an advocate for justice in our community.
Judge Traci McDonald-Kemp
Where she grew up: Washington, PA
About her: Judge Traci McDonald-Kemp was the first black woman elected to a county-wide office in Washington County, and the first black woman to take the oath of office as a Washington County Common Pleas Court judge. Her father is local civil rights activist James R. “Cookie” McDonald (read more about Mr. McDonald here). Judge Traci, her husband Todd, and their daughters Ariana and Olivia continue to reside in Washington County.
1 Why is standing up for justice important to you?*
It is part of my calling. True fairness can actually change the world. We may not always agree, but if we are able to listen and respect and try to see different perspectives, then we’re really doing our job. Not just me as a judge but us as humanity. I think that’s part of what we’re here to do. While we may all have positions and thoughts, it’s important to have respect and to expect respect. You have to give respect and all of that is part of our justice and balancing and understanding. You have to listen; you don’t have to agree. If you listen, you might find an understanding and you can hear another perspective. I think it’s important to understand how someone got to where they are, and then can we figure out other commonalities.
We’re so used to saying all the things that are wrong and never acknowledging what might just be right. We talk about why we don’t agree, as opposed to those things that we agree on. We need to get out of our echo chambers, perhaps see the world and experience things that we aren’t as comfortable with. Stop screaming at one another and worrying about simply making a point; stop and listen instead. I think we will find there are many more things on which we agree.
2 Is there someone that inspired you along the way, a historical figure or a person in your life?
That question is difficult. So many people have inspired me. We have to experience and allow the people that touch our lives to enrich us. My parents were enormous inspirations. My mother was super compassionate, very caring, someone everyone listened to and would ask for her advice. My father was an activist. He’d say – move the world by working hard to move it, and to serve God is to serve mankind.
I’m inspired by a child that I encounter, a business associate, a mentor, a friend and even a person that I might pass on the street. So I guess my inspiration comes all the time. And I am inspired by so many people all through life, knowing most people are trying to be their best person under their life circumstances. Any time you’re not inspired you just need to stop and look around you and find it again.
It’s also important to appreciate and find the positive in our communities. When I was growing up, my dad showed appreciation for so many different people and what they do. He talked about how they were so valuable and essential. He would find a positive quality, even with people with whom he disagreed or who he didn’t particularly care for, saying they were very passionate in their thinking or hard working or whatever it may be. I guess it can be summed up by saying: be inspired by the value and richness of you and open your eyes and mind to be inspired by the value and richness of others.
3 What is one piece of advice you would give someone that is getting involved in fighting for justice for the first time?
Well, it absolutely is daunting. This morning, someone had contacted me and said, I’m really concerned because I saw this happen. And it was wrong. And I know that everyone’s going to hate me because I’m raising this as an issue. And they’re going to be mad at me. And they’re going to be upset with me. And I said, if it’s wrong, then you have to say something. I think that we all have to have a moral compass. This helps you pick your fights. What’s right is right. But “what’s right is right” doesn’t mean we stop listening, or stop learning what’s right. It doesn’t mean there couldn’t be another “right” as well, based on perspective. But if it’s something that you believe in, and if it needs to be done, then you put on your so-called big girl clothes and do it and you can’t worry about the criticism that comes with it. Because, trust me, the criticism that’s going to come from a failure to stand up is a lot worse than anything that results from being criticized for standing up. If you’re true to your values and you’re true to what you believe in, then let the criticism come. As long as you’re honest and you’re truthful, then you’ll deal with the criticism and people will respect you, no matter what their view is. I told her you’re gonna have to do it. Yes, you’re right, they’re gonna hate you. But they’ll respect you later.
4 What does your ideal community look like? What are we fighting for?
What is ideal depends on what your perspectives are; ideal depends on what your background is; ideal depends on so many things, I don’t know that there is such a thing as an ideal community. I think that you’ll get a different answer depending on who you’re asking. For me, an ideal community is a place that my family and my children are able to live and be respected and give respect. Ideal community is where my children and the others in the community can thrive and have opportunity. Why I give such broad terms is because thriving for one person may be a completely different thing than thriving for another person. A quality education for one person might not be for someone else. For example, if you have a child that has a severe intellectual disability, that child might need a special instructor or certain criteria available. Another child that seems to excel in everything they do and is gobbling up the work, their ideal education is going to provide them with opportunities to spread their wings and do more and continue on that upward path. So I think that it depends. If a person is homeless, having any type of home and a roof over their head is going to be ideal. Thriving for one person may be different than thriving for another person, and people need different forms of support. I think the ideal circumstance is that we are able to grow and thrive and do well and survive, and there aren’t artificial barriers that are put in our way for any reason.
Kierra King
Where she grew up: Canonsburg, PA
Age: 22
About her: Kierra King is a 2017 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School. She is currently a graduating senior at Clark Atlanta University majoring in Economics. Kierra is a two-sport student-athlete, President of Pretty Girls Sweat CAU, the Second Vice President and Chair of Program Planning and Development of the Sigma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and a community organizer and activist for BLM Wash.
1 Why is standing up for justice important to you?
Standing up for justice is important to me because it is evident that our country was built for only some people to prosper. It’s time that we fix that. I feel like people look back at history and think it was so long ago. My grandparents’ parents and grandparents were slaves: The slaves we read about in school. My grandparents went to segregated schools and lived through the civil rights movement. It’s easy to dismiss that and say people should get over it but the reality is that this was not long ago. The last thing I want is to worry about my children experiencing things I’ve experienced or even worse. So that’s why I fight for justice.
2 Is there someone that inspired you along the way, a historical figure, or a person in your life?
I think going to college at such a historical institution inspired me. I attend Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA. My school is home to the Atlanta University Center which houses Morehouse College and Spelman College. The AUC was home to many prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and more recently Senator Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams. It was also the home of the Atlanta Student Movement of the 1960s. To be surrounded by the idea of fighting for justice has inspired me. Also, the 22 Founders of my sorority Delta Sigma Theta were trailblazers when it came to fighting for equality. Their first act of service was marching in the women’s suffrage march of 1913.
3 What is one piece of advice you would give someone that is getting involved in fighting for justice for the first time?
Don’t be afraid, speak with conviction, and don’t stop. A lot of times it can be intimidating to talk to politicians and community leaders, but our voices are so powerful when we use them. Be confident that what you’re doing is right and like Senator John Lewis said, don’t be afraid of “good trouble.” Also, stay active. This is not an overnight process. It will take some time, but we cannot back off. If you choose not to be in the streets protesting, you can still call or write to local politicians or talk to school board leaders.
4 What does your ideal community look like? What are we fighting for?
My ideal community is one that is blended with all backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. There is no poverty, and everyone has equal opportunities to quality education and jobs. A community that has leadership aimed toward growing. We are fighting for a chance. What I mean by that is often (especially in the city) folks do not even have a chance. Education is subpar and there are limited job opportunities because of strict requirements, and the jobs that are available pay minimum wage which is hard for anyone to live off of.
Faith McClendon
Age: 20
Where she grew up: North Strabane, PA
About her: Faith is a junior at Robert Morris University, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Cyber Forensics. She serves as the student ambassador for the Multicultural Student Services at RMU and the Vice President for the Criminal Justice Society. She is an independent activist and advocate for the People, working to improve the well-being of those in southwestern Pennsylvania. She is currently working on a project that aims to help black trans and gender non-conforming folk and help the incarcerated, formerly incarcerated; and unhoused folk.
1 Why is standing up for justice important to you?
Standing up for justice is a duty. The late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm said, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” Standing up for justice is a service, which is something we all should be doing.
2 Is there someone that inspired you along the way, a historical figure or a person in your life?
Someone that inspires me is my late father. He was also proud to be black and was never silent on critical issues. Some other people that inspire me are some beautiful individuals I met over the summer of 2020, and they are Toy Slaughter (they/them) and Jalina McClarin (she/her). Their ambition and desire for change, even after all of the obstacles and challenges we have faced, inspires me to keep going as well.
3 What is one piece of advice you would give someone that is getting involved in fighting for justice for the first time?
The advice I would give to someone who wants to get involved in fighting for justice is to start local. There are so many issues that need to be addressed in our backyards. The amount of local organizations and activists that are out here is beautiful; and what else is beautiful is being able to see change happen right in front of you.
4 What does your ideal community look like? What are we fighting for?
My ideal community includes multiple things. One thing I see in my ideal community is no people living in poverty or unhoused. Everyone should be able to have a job that does not overwork them and allows them to pay their bills. Another thing in my ideal community is the end of racist police and abolishing the system, replacing it with a more just and efficient system that allows the community to be involved and those who are part of the system to be held accountable for their actions (e.g., CAHOOTS). I would also include the end of mass incarceration. There are other solutions besides throwing people in jail/prison. Many offenders can be rehabilitated, but the criminal justice system does not give them adequate resources to do so, thus they re-offend. Healthcare for all is a part of my ideal community as well. Healthcare is a human right.
Phoenix White
Age: 20
Where she grew up: Pittsburgh Suburbs
About her: Phoenix White was a 2020 organizing fellow at the Center for Coalfield Justice. She lived throughout western Pennsylvania while growing up, and currently resides in Canonsburg, PA. While pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Delaware State University, she discovered that her passion for environmental justice was something that she could no longer ignore. Phoenix’s plans to merge her love for art, the environment and her community is what brought her to CCJ. During her free time, you can expect to find Phoenix hard at work turning her artistic visions into reality, starting a new book that she will never finish, or exploring all the natural wonders that Pennsylvania has to offer.
1 Why is standing up for justice important to you?
I have experienced racism and economic inequality from a young age, though I didn’t know or understand it at the time. My experiences as a child and young adult coupled with the knowledge of the social/racial injustices that have taken place in America sparked a flame in me. Standing up for justice means I’m helping end that cycle of generational trauma within the black and POC communities and creating a space that is truly free for all.
2 Is there someone that inspired you along the way, a historical figure, or a person in your life?
In my freshman year of college, I was given the opportunity to take an African American History course. It was there that I learned about the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a main channel for change for students and young adults who felt like their voice was not heard during the civil rights movement. Their fight for change and commitment to making a difference, despite their young ages, inspired me.
3 What is one piece of advice you would give someone that is getting involved in fighting for justice for the first time?
Remember to rest. It’s very easy to get absorbed in social justice work. A lot of people, including myself, put their own needs on the back burner without realizing it. Social justice work, no matter how important, is never more important than your own physical and mental health.
4 What does your ideal community look like? What are we fighting for?
My ideal community would be a place where equity is prioritized, rather than equality. My fight for change is rooted in the basis that everybody’s voices should be heard and their needs accounted for.
Holly Sobiech
Where she grew up: Monroeville, PA; currently lives in Canonsburg, PA
About her: She is Phoenix’s mom!
1 Why is standing up for justice important to you?
I believe justice is integral to our country’s commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Just like those rights, justice should be applied equitably to all peoples, regardless of differences.
2 Is there someone that inspired you along the way, a historical figure, or a person in your life?
I am blessed to have been raised by two woke parents who remain active in the fight for justice for all. My mother served as the president of the NAACP East Chapter. Seeing my parents’ lifelong commitment to ending injustice inspires me daily.
3 What is one piece of advice you would give someone that is getting involved in fighting for justice for the first time?
My advice is to be intentional in not allowing folks to gaslight you and make you think that what you are fighting for is not a real issue. Always come back to the facts. Facts don’t lie.
4 What does your ideal community look like? What are we fighting for?
My ideal community is one where respect for others and their differences is the highest priority. The US has to stop prioritizing money over justice.
In 2018, Kristen graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in Environmental Studies and a passion to go back to the community where she grew up to make a positive impact. She joined the team in the summer of 2019 as an intern and was promoted to Outreach Coordinator in the summer of 2020. Kristen's family has lived in Washington and Greene Counties for generations. Her great-grandparents were coal miners and steel workers in Washington County. She has a passion for writing, storytelling, and helping to build community in the region she calls home. In her free time, you'll find Kristen canoeing local rivers, gardening, and spending time with her miniature schnauzer puppy named Karl.
