A Reflection on Migrations
As we all do our best waiting for sun to break through the clouds and the warmth and light of spring to be upon us, February offers the opportunity for both observation and reflection...we have a little bit of both for you today.
You don't have to be a birder to enjoy the
latest article from Angela Biederman, chief deckhand on the
Explorer riverboat. Her chronicled observations of the migratory waterfowl around the three rivers welcomes readers to discover the unique beauty of the everyday nature around us, fleeting as it sometimes is.
And while we're reflecting on that, consider the thing about migration: it is an action precipitated by external forces—forces that instigate change. For legendary baseball player Josh Gibson, those forces inspired his family to relocate to Pittsburgh, part of the Great Migration of African Americans in the 20th century, families who headed out of the South seeking a better life. While his father found work in the mills, Gibson found his place in history as part of the Homestead Grays. This week's story,
Josh Gibson Gets His Due by Director of Historic Resources and Facilities Ron Baraff, uses an item from our archives to tell a story that ties in to the external forces of Gibson's lifetime—but also ones at play today.
The legacy of our region's past has many lessons to share. At times, it is inspiring, showing how the work of regular folks can transform the physical world—their steel built landmark engineering structures and won world wars. But in many ways we are still recovering from it—be it the ecology of our rivers and what lifeforms it can support or societal upheavals that kept (or should we say keep) people from recognizing the humanity of their neighbors.
Perhaps in this pandemic era, we can all take some time to reflect on the beauty around us, from the contour of the clouds to the character of our companions....and soon enough we will all be able to embrace spring—regardless of the groundhog's prognostication!