I am Mrs. Barchak, retired English teacher from Wilkinsburg Junior Senior High. Perhaps, I was not blessed enough to have taught you. This brilliantly written and presented documentary speaks of the tragedy of racism that exits and may always exist in the USA: I left the USA to move to Morocco to remove myself from racism. I truly was born to teach only at WJSH. It is impossible to express the ultimate rewards teaching there gifted me. Yes, I am white, but the soul is not a race. We are all from Africa, which is now my adopted home. I taught at Wilkinsburg High from 1968 to 1996 when failed lower back surgery ended my career. I lived in Wilkinsburg. I have been gone a long time. It is heart breaking to see a very special place in my spirit and main reason for living destroyed. Greed, stupidity, needless fear, war, violence are vile parts of our species. You exemplify all that can be achieved with extreme handicaps attached. Bravo!
I've lived in Pittsburgh my whole 37yrs of life and currently in wilkinsburg since 2020 and am a mother of 5, they don't see us here, we aren't heard, our babies need to feel hopeful and secure. Thank you for spreading awareness ❤️ 🙏🏿
Forgot i saw him that day was working at the furniture store but this day i was up stairs in the building work on it. Was a cold day out i was drity. Lol
Very interesting… and, very sad! My family lived in Wilkinsburg, at 825 Rebecca Avenue, back in the 60s, when I was in grade school. I am 72 now. I went to Johnson Elementary school, in Wilkinsburg, for my first few years of school. My older brother graduated from Wilkinsburg high school, around 1959, and my sister also went there. It was a great place to live. As a kindergarten through second grader, I could walk from lower Rebecca Avenue over to Johnson school and back. My sister worked on Penn Avenue at a drugstore, and walked home at night safely. But my dad died of cancer, when I was in second grade… and we too, were poor. My mom was raising the three of us, as my older brother joined the Air Force right after graduating. We moved to Indiana, Pennsylvania, where I grew up and went to college. But Wilkinsburg to me, was the last place that my whole family existed in. My brother passed away many years ago, as did, my sister, and finally, my mother. It’s just my younger brother and I that are still alive. So when I look at pictures of the house on Rebecca Avenue, and at your house in this video… It truly breaks my heart. Without a doubt… different circumstances, but same results. I have daydreamed of buying that double duplex on Rebecca Avenue and restoring it… but I know it’s just a daydream. But believe me, I understand how you feel about looking at what used to be your home, and what has happened to it. I wish you the best of luck in your acquiring and refurbishing the house you grew up in. I really do!
I live in Wilkinsburg. I moved in the borough in the late 80s. I moved into the house I am in now in 1993. House was built in 1900. Needs work I can't always afford to do. My youngest was born while we lived in that house. It's home. Im dug in for better or worse.
Took wife home a few months back… we made the same observations you mentioned about empty streets of homes and how google is spreading in one direction only
Kyle Holbrook mural depicted at 15:00 some of the most valuable landmarks this mural was painted over and its worth hundreds of thousands, much more than the building they are on, notice there is no paint chipping and deterioration.
I grew up in Wilkinsburg, my father grew up in Wilkinsburg, his father grew up in Wilkinsburg and his father lived in Wilkinsburg as an adult. We hated to leave but it just got too dangerous. Someday it will return to its former glory but I probably won't live to see it.
I once lived in Wilkinsburg 1980's 16:53 ... I attended Church, I worked and Volunteered. I had to relocate for the exact negative reasons you are sharing. Racism remains the key factor for our Culture in this sad and broken world..
hello from Chicago; hello from all of the cultures who stream into this place from around the world and strive for success ...and ask for nothing but the chance to do that (they succeed) ...but not every culture
I am Mrs. Barchak, retired English teacher from Wilkinsburg Junior Senior High. Perhaps, I was not blessed enough to have taught you. This brilliantly written and presented documentary speaks of the tragedy of racism that exits and may always exist in the USA: I left the USA to move to Morocco to remove myself from racism. I truly was born to teach only at WJSH. It is impossible to express the ultimate rewards teaching there gifted me. Yes, I am white, but the soul is not a race. We are all from Africa, which is now my adopted home. I taught at Wilkinsburg High from 1968 to 1996 when failed lower back surgery ended my career. I lived in Wilkinsburg. I have been gone a long time. It is heart breaking to see a very special place in my spirit and main reason for living destroyed. Greed, stupidity, needless fear, war, violence are vile parts of our species. You exemplify all that can be achieved with extreme handicaps attached. Bravo!
I've lived in Pittsburgh my whole 37yrs of life and currently in wilkinsburg since 2020 and am a mother of 5, they don't see us here, we aren't heard, our babies need to feel hopeful and secure. Thank you for spreading awareness ❤️ 🙏🏿
@@Fruitfulness86 was there a couple of years ago, never seen so many white women with mixed babies🤣, times sure have changed
Fascinating. Grew up near there during the same years. Nice to see it featured. 🤙🏼
Dre this is incredible. I never knew your story. I’m so proud of your accomplishments.🙏🏾🫶🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Forgot i saw him that day was working at the furniture store but this day i was up stairs in the building work on it. Was a cold day out i was drity. Lol
That's right!
Very interesting… and, very sad!
My family lived in Wilkinsburg, at 825 Rebecca Avenue, back in the 60s, when I was in grade school. I am 72 now.
I went to Johnson Elementary school, in Wilkinsburg, for my first few years of school. My older brother graduated from Wilkinsburg high school, around 1959, and my sister also went there.
It was a great place to live. As a kindergarten through second grader, I could walk from lower Rebecca Avenue over to Johnson school and back. My sister worked on Penn Avenue at a drugstore, and walked home at night safely.
But my dad died of cancer, when I was in second grade… and we too, were poor. My mom was raising the three of us, as my older brother joined the Air Force right after graduating. We moved to Indiana, Pennsylvania, where I grew up and went to college.
But Wilkinsburg to me, was the last place that my whole family existed in. My brother passed away many years ago, as did, my sister, and finally, my mother. It’s just my younger brother and I that are still alive.
So when I look at pictures of the house on Rebecca Avenue, and at your house in this video… It truly breaks my heart.
Without a doubt… different circumstances, but same results.
I have daydreamed of buying that double duplex on Rebecca Avenue and restoring it… but I know it’s just a daydream.
But believe me, I understand how you feel about looking at what used to be your home, and what has happened to it.
I wish you the best of luck in your acquiring and refurbishing the house you grew up in. I really do!
@@StillRockinat71 i really liked your comment✊🏿I’m also in Wilkinsburg on Rebecca ave and the story you told was truly heartbreaking
I live in Wilkinsburg. I moved in the borough in the late 80s. I moved into the house I am in now in 1993. House was built in 1900. Needs work I can't always afford to do. My youngest was born while we lived in that house. It's home. Im dug in for better or worse.
SO glad to see this. thank you
Took wife home a few months back… we made the same observations you mentioned about empty streets of homes and how google is spreading in one direction only
I live in Wilkinsburg. Great story and the best of luck to you.
Bringing back lots of memories, I grew up on hill sve
Kyle Holbrook mural depicted at 15:00 some of the most valuable landmarks this mural was painted over and its worth hundreds of thousands, much more than the building they are on, notice there is no paint chipping and deterioration.
I grew up in Wilkinsburg, my father grew up in Wilkinsburg, his father grew up in Wilkinsburg and his father lived in Wilkinsburg as an adult. We hated to leave but it just got too dangerous. Someday it will return to its former glory but I probably won't live to see it.
I once lived in Wilkinsburg 1980's 16:53 ...
I attended Church, I worked and Volunteered. I had to relocate for the exact negative reasons you are sharing. Racism remains the key factor for our Culture in this sad and broken world..
hello from Chicago; hello from all of the cultures who stream into this place from around the world and strive for success ...and ask for nothing but the chance to do that (they succeed) ...but not every culture
100
@@BiccMitchum 1924
Most people lost their homes because they raised the taxes so high they literally stole their homes off from under them.
I hope he gets the house and others that can buy up houses around this area. They then will get some of that investment money!
❤
he must of been gone for a while his Pittsburgh accent is struggling 😂 😂
I'm going to move in that house no one will know. They'll never know
Amerikkka