Here is a question for you. What did tearing down the statue of Stephen Foster accomplish? From my point of view, and only my point of view, I cannot see that anything positive was accomplished. This came to mind the other day when an article was published in the Post-Gazette about the former Negro Opera House on Apple Avenue. The street runs off Lincoln Avenue in the Lincoln Lemington part of Pittsburgh. I used to pass the house every day on the way home from work. I lived in that neighborhood for over 40 years. The house that I am speaking of has an interesting history and was designated as a historic landmark. All that sounds good but historic landmarks must be taken care of by someone don’t they? And it looks like no one is taking care of the property on Apple Avenue. On the social media post about this topic, I suggested that instead of tearing down monuments and statues why not build up Black neighborhoods? Put that same energy into finding funding for the Negro Opera House, the August Wilson House, Black Wall Street, and your own neighborhood. I do not see a lot of value in tearing down a statue, but I do see value in adding a plaque that gives a clear history of the statue and why it was placed in that particular location.
African Americans do not want their history to be erased or removed and I am sure other races feel the same. As for the location of Stephen Foster, the 800-pound statue is now in a city-owned lot next to a dog park, and if you think there is no value in the “hood” take a drive through Homewood. Someone thinks there is value in that location. New homes are being built and home on Idlewild Street was recently put on the market for $247,000.
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