Black Teenagers in the 1950s & Their Disappearance From Contemporary Pop Culture

Leather jackets. Elvis. Sock hops. Cruising the strip. These iconic images of the 1950s are often associated with white teens of the eras. But what about the experience of Black teenagers?

Saul Straussman will discuss the intersection of Black and white teenagers’ experiences during this decade of dramatic change as he explores how pop culture of the 1970s and 1980s erased the experience of Black teens during the Fifties revival craze.

Saul served as president of our congregation from May 2019 until earlier this year. He is an educator, content facilitator, and curriculum writer who recently completed his MA in history through Pace University/Gilder Lehrman Foundation. A native New Yorker, Saul hails from a family of educators, though it took him some time before he succumbed to the family business. For the past 16 years he has taught a variety of history courses at Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill. Saul is also a consultant for the College Board, a musician, and an avid cook. He lives in Highland Park with his wife, Kellee Van Aken, and their two dogs, Ruby and Ollie. They have two adult children, Minrose, who lives in Paris, and Eli, who lives in Pittsburgh.

The program will be a hybrid with in-person attendance available by reservation only, and it will also be accessible by Zoom link. (Link will be provided closer to the date.)

Because of the pandemic, there will be no food and beverages served. 

RSVP to Todd Miller at (412) 848-1082 or toddprmktg@gmail.com by Wednesday, November 17 or register below.

TEMPLE SINAI COVID POLICY UPDATE (Effective November 5, 2021): MASKS ARE NOW REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES WHILE AT TEMPLE SINAI

Anyone entering the Temple Sinai grounds or building must (a) they have been fully vaccinated, (b) they will wear a mask at all times, (c) they are not experiencing symptoms of COVID, (d) they are not aware of any recent exposure or have had a negative (rapid) COVID test within 3 hours prior to entering the grounds, and (e) they agree to comply with all COVID requirements while on Temple Sinai grounds.

By entering Temple Sinai grounds or building you are indicating your understanding of and agreement with these rules on behalf of yourself and any minors whom you are accompanying.

Masks are available for anyone who did not bring one.

Fully Vaccinated means at least two weeks after the second shot of a two-shot regimen (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna) or after the single shot of a one-shot regimen (e.g. Johnson & Johnson).

Exceptions: masks are not required for children under the age of two. Vaccinations are not required for individuals for whom they are not yet available (under the age of 12) or those for whom vaccination is not possible. For full details, click to see the current policy.