History and Purpose

The Black and White Reunion was organized in 1996 response to the death of black motorist Jonny Gammage while in police custody and the unacceptable not-guilty verdicts of the perpetrators. Tim Stevens, then NAACP Pittsburgh Branch president, founded the Black & White Reunion with a vision to rekindle the spirit of the 1960’s, to bring together a “reunion” of Black and White people in a collaborative spirit to address the racial and class inequality and division in our society.

Tim was joined by a small group of black and white, Pittsburgh area community leaders and activists to organize the first annual Summit Against Racism in 1999. Since that first Summit, The Black and White Reunion has served as a catalyst and vehicle for education, advocacy and organizing on numerous civil and human rights campaigns in the region.

The Black and White Reunion’s (B&W Reunion) mission is “to bring together organizations and individuals to eliminate racism and to become allies in the struggle for human equality.” The B&W Reunion is led by a Coordinating Council which meets quarterly during the year. The Coordinating Council involves other community leaders and resource people in our Summit Planning Team, meeting at least monthly in the six months leading up to the Summit.