100 Black Men of Western PA, Pittsburgh Public Schools host African American History Challenge

A question about Pittsburgh’s first Black college stumped participants in the 30th African American History Challenge Bowl: A Legacy of Academic Excellence.

The longtime collaboration between Pittsburgh Public Schools and 100 Black Men of Western PA, Inc., took place on Friday at Pittsburgh Greenway.

Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Wayne N. Walters hosted the event, which included students from 19 middle schools and eight high schools showcasing their knowledge and cultural awareness.

“In a school district that has a majority of students who are African American, but also a diverse student population. The importance of learning the history of other cultures and other ethnicities is important because it is all part of American history,” Walters said. “Much of our history has contributed to America’s identity and who we are, and it is important that their stories are told.”

The questions centered on arts and entertainment, biography, facts and trivia, history, science and discovery and sports.

After four rounds, the championship round questions increased in detail and difficulty. High school students were asked, “What was the first Black college that opened in Pittsburgh on the North Side and closed before World War I?”

There was a long silence from both team — no one was able to answer. The answer was Avery College, which opened in 1849 and closed in 1873.

Oluwatobiloba Olaora, 16, a junior at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) and Arinola Bejide, also 16 and a junior at CAPA, led their school to victory. They will go on to compete in The Brace B. Godfrey African American History Challenge national competition and scholarship program in June in Atlanta, sponsored by the 100 Black Men of America Inc., a national African American-led mentoring organization.

“I think this is impactful, because we are often in the classroom where we are taught about history that is not ours, and our history is erased from the curriculum,” Olaora said. “As a Black woman being part of this program, it helps to emphasize our history, but it also taught me a lot that I didn’t know.”

For the middle school division, Pittsburgh Colfax took first place and CAPA took second. The students received trophies for their accomplishments.

“I am so full of joy and proud of my students because of their thirst for knowledge, their drive, their ambition, their ability to be competitive in these spaces is really what will propel them into the future,” Walters said.

Rose Carlie Pierre, 16, is a sophomore at Obama Academy of International Studies 6-12, which came in second. Pierre lived in Haiti for 12 years. “It’s important to me because it is interesting to see how much people know, and it makes me want to learn even more when I see how much others know,” she said.

In 1804, Haiti became the first Black free republic.

“That pushes me and makes me proud that I have some ground, and have some basis that I can talk about being free,” Pierre said.

“Given the climate we are in, the fact that there are forces out there that are trying to alter the history and take us backward, it takes on a particular significance that our young people learn the true history,” said Alfred Valentine, president of the 100 Black Men of Western Pa. “It is important to understand that Black history is American history.”

Contest judge Jacqueline Clarke is an African American history teacher at Obama Academy, her alma mater. Clark said serving as a judge of the challenge was a full circle moment — she participated in the African American History Challenge Bowl when she was in middle school.

“Honoring the value of Black history, not just for our Black students, but all of our students, gives the students a space to embrace history and network and fellowship with each other,” she said. “The value of being exposed to Black history at that young age and now me being a Black history teacher at Obama — it is a significance of what our students can do if they are exposed to the information, not just in the moment but in the future.”