Tony Norman

2 months ago | nextpittsburgh.com | Tony Norman

Percival Everett is the ironist par excellence of American literature. Who better to take on the responsibility of rehabilitating the imbalance at the heart of what many consider America’s greatest novel — Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”? Everett has described “James,” his 2024 National Book Award-winning novel focusing on the death-defying resourcefulness of the runaway slave Jim, as being “in conversation” with Twain’s 1884 flawed masterpiece, but not a sequel.

Feb 17, 2025 | nextpittsburgh.com | Tony Norman

“Who is that Black dude and ‘dat Jewish cat / Bringing hip-hop music back / just heard their newest track.” — from “Global Movement” by KMOS & Selecta. If you’re inclined to give KMOS (Khari Mosley) and Selecta (Jim Scoglietti)’s full-length debut release “Bringing ’88 Back” a fair listen, you’ll find yourself smiling, nodding and feeling optimistic about local hip-hop with an old-school twist for the first time in years.

Nov 11, 2024 | publicsource.org | Tony Norman |Tony Norman |Rich Lord

More than 50 people, mostly Black, gathered on the 6th floor of the Comfort Inn in Deutschtown on Oct. 29, with a panoramic view of the city’s skyline and the evening light falling on the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. It was a beautiful backdrop to an often blunt conversation ahead of a City Planning Commission hearing and possible vote scheduled for Nov. 12. That’s when Esplanade, a proposed $740 million development topped by a Ferris wheel, is set for a public hearing and potential vote.

Oct 1, 2024 | nextpittsburgh.com | Tony Norman

“Yihla moja / Yihla moja / The man is dead / The man is dead!” — excerpt from “Biko” by Peter GabrielArtist vanessa german served up the best eulogy imaginable on her Instagram account a month ago for fellow artist Emory Biko upon news of his passing on Aug. 16.

Sep 9, 2024 | nextpittsburgh.com | Tony Norman

In a country with the most expensive health care in the world, few subjects are as painful — or inexplicable — as America’s increasing infant mortality rate. America has 5.37 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, making it one of the least safe countries for a baby to make it from the delivery room to its first birthday celebration. Black infant mortality rates showcase the disparity between health care costs and medical outcomes compared to other racial groups here and the rest of the world.