About the Author

Raymond Henderson, a 1961 graduate of Braddock High School, was born and raised in North Braddock and Braddock. He has been a community activist since 1965. Ray worked as a steelworker from 1966 until 1984 when he lost his job due to the closing of Duquesne Steel Works. While working at Duquesne, Ray was a grievance man for twelve years and participated in local and national union politics. Ray also completed certification to work with children and adults with mental and physical disabilities and worked as a child advocate and cross-cultural trainer for the Urban League of Pittsburgh. Beginning in the 1980s, Ray began collecting oral histories of African-American steelworkers. In 1996, he and longtime friend documentary filmmaker Tony Buba co-produced and co-directed the award-winning film "Struggles in Steel: A History of African-American Steelworkers."