The metal around his waist and wrists attest to his badness, and the look on his face further cements it: this is a man that few people would mess with. But once upon a time, he wasn’t bad at all. Awhile back, that man in the orange jumpsuit was a little boy in blue overalls. He’s a menace now, but he was someone’s baby then.

It was a magical night filled with anointed singing, dancing and music.

Local songstress J’Aira Pryor and her friends, gospel group Praise, Worship and Deliverance, mime group Spirit Mime Ministry and singers Joey Morris and Rev. Les Boone gave the audience the reason for the Christmas season at New Horizon Theater.

J’AIRA PRYOR

“Truly we praise God for being here to celebrate Christ’s birth,” said Praise, Worship & Deliverance member, Pamela Morman.

This week I visited the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum in Homewood, Bethel AME Church in the Hill District, The Kingsley Center in East Liberty, Krobar in the Strip District, Tim’s Lounge in the Hill District, the Blakely Center in the Hill District and Ava Lounge in East Liberty.

Representin’ for the red and black at the Schenley High School reunion in Homewood.

My first stop was the Kingsley Center in East Liberty where the Community Empowerment Association held their annual Kwanzaa celebration with everyone from the community coming out to participate.

Dear Gwendolyn:

I am concerned about the future of my granddaughter. She graduated from high school two years ago and attended college (for one semester) last fall. Now she is not working and not in school. She came to the family Christmas dinner with her boyfriend’s 3-year-old girl who constantly screamed while she was there. She told the family that her boyfriend has full custody of his daughter.