“Hop” Kendrick: Lack of home structure is major factor in our demoralizing

by Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick, For New Pittsburgh Courier

Across this nation, in a number of major cities with a significant Black population crime, shootings and killings are running rampant. I like so many of you cry out asking God to help us and question why those who are in control of these cities have absolutely failed to put a stop to this genocide.

As a youngster growing up I witnessed the beginning of the monster “Dope” and the devastating affect it had on our communities, entire families and the neighborhoods. The dope man became king. People were hypnotized as these persons drove high priced cars, wore fancy clothes, flashed huge bankrolls, bankrolled local sports teams, etc. A number of attorneys got wealthy. Certain police, certain judges and law enforcement overwhelmingly would simply state, “So what, drugs is the monkey’s problem.”

Drugs have not been eradicated. It now is a problem that all races are confronted with, but it is still too prevalent in Black neighborhoods. The problems we are confronted with today are the same problems that have been roadblocks for you and me for at least the last 80 years in the city of Pittsburgh.

Let us analyze: There has always been a lack of quality education in public schools, underemployment and unemployment, which limited our ability to buy or rent in certain neighborhoods. College was not even a dream and only those who were truly blessed with faith in God dared to become businesspersons.

There was an unbelievable shortage of decent housing available for Blacks and a miracle occurred called Public Housing, namely the Projects. I recall a neighbor of ours moved into the projects and invited me to stay overnight. It was the first time I had ever taken a bath in a bathtub. In fact where we lived only two houses in the neighborhood had bathtubs. Then came a period of time when the projects were in an unbelievable stage of deterioration. I remember some of the projects were now four stories high and a lot negative changes had taken place. It was the beginning of the 1960s and the tenants now challenged the Housing Authority. Tenants had dogs, stores, after hour joints, and were selling drugs. These individuals were in the minority but this was the beginning of the demise of the projects and the tearing down of the projects.

One of the worst tragedies was the projects became overwhelmingly one parent head of the household. They were the super strong Black mothers and I called them Wonder Women.  Daddy was absent then and an unbelievable number of daddies are still absent. Yes, it’s an overwhelming factor in the demise of the Black family structure.

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