PA Humanities Launches Voices of History Pittsburgh Video Series, Showcasing Local Black History

PA Humanities proudly announces the release of the first video, “Pennley Court,” featuring bestselling author Damon Young, from its Voices of History Pittsburgh project, debuting in honor of Black History Month. This statewide initiative to document and preserve Black history launched in Pittsburgh in 2024 and is heading to select cities across the state. The stories collected showcase a selection of residents who have shaped the city’s past and continue to inspire its future.

Voices of History: Stories from Black Pennsylvanians is a multi-year effort dedicated to amplifying the firsthand accounts of Black community life in Pennsylvania from the 20th and 21st centuries. The Pittsburgh installment features 15 professionally recorded narratives from residents of historically significant Black neighborhoods, including the Hill District, Homewood, and East Liberty. The stories were filmed at the iconic August Wilson House and the August Wilson African American Culture Center’s permanent exhibit, The Writer’s Landscape. These deeply personal stories explore themes of family, migration, entrepreneurship, and community-building, contributing to a richer understanding of Pennsylvania’s history.

Pittsburgh storytellers shared their memories at Community Story Circle events.

“The Voices of History project highlights the power of storytelling to preserve history, strengthen communities, and deepen our understanding of Pennsylvania life,” said Dawn Frisby Byers, Senior Director of Content & Engagement at PA Humanities. “By capturing these stories, we are not only honoring the past but also creating a lasting record that will inspire and educate future generations.”

Voices of History launched in May 2024 with a special event featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson (Caste, The Warmth of Other Suns) at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh. Inspired by the storytelling traditions of legendary playwrights like August Wilson, the initiative follows a structured process:

• Community Story Circles: Residents gather to share personal memories related to family, work, and migration.
• Professional Video Recording: Select stories are professionally recorded and enriched with historical photos.
• Community Watch Events: Public screenings bring communities together to celebrate and discuss the shared histories.
• Digital Archive: Stories will be preserved in an accessible digital repository, ensuring long-term public engagement.

The Pittsburgh installment highlights the resilience and contributions of Black residents that have shaped the city’s cultural and economic landscape. It kicks off with a project highlight reel and the full release of “Pennley Court,” a video featuring bestselling author Damon Young and his memories of an incident on an East Liberty basketball court that shows humor, courage, and a father’s love. The remaining stories will be released in the coming weeks, including a reflection on the Hill District’s once-thriving Black businesses that defined the neighborhood and a look at East Liberty before urban renewal reshaped its diverse, blended communities. Collectively, the fifteen stories bring to life important voices and histories.

With the success of Pittsburgh, Voices of History will expand to five additional cities—Erie, Scranton, Philadelphia, State College, and York—by 2026. Each city’s collection of stories will contribute to a comprehensive digital story bank, a permanent archive on the African American experience in Pennsylvania.

“The rich and complex history of Black Pennsylvanians is integral to the state’s identity,” said Frisby Byers. “Through this project, we are creating an invaluable resource for educators, researchers, and the general public, ensuring that these histories remain visible.”

The Voices of History project in Pittsburgh is made possible through the generous support of The Heinz Endowments, Erie Insurance, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and individual donors. Key partners include the August Wilson House and August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The Voices of History videos are produced by Morgan Moody with creative direction by Terrell Robinson.

Voices of History Pittsburgh videos will appear on PA Humanities’ website and on YouTube as they are released.

To learn more about the project, visit pahumanities.org/voices.

The Voices of History project in Pittsburgh is made possible through the generous support of The Heinz Endowments, Erie Insurance, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and individual donors.