Is that this dude's "myspace" picture? How do you determine what reader submissions to post on this site? Did you just pick a rant out of a hat and post it?
Is that this dude's "myspace" picture? How do you determine what reader submissions to post on this site? Did you just pick a rant out of a hat and post it?
Reading this thread from top to bottom tonight has convinced me that BRO is a wholy unacceptable place to have any sort of discussion deeper than "where to go to lunch tomorrow." Racism and class warfare is a little too involved when the editor of the site, who has in previous posts claimed to be a journalist, is making pig noises.
Drop the rants from random emailers. Stick to restaurant openings.
The comments from the editor really make me re-think advertising on your web site, and I question the companies that are already advertising here. I can understand a few irate readers posting irate comments, but when the editor of the site is a key player in attacking and instigating readers, and not just defending herself, it seems so silly.
Many good articles have turned into nasty car wrecks - we don't want to look, but we can't turn away.
For your company's sake, I hope I am alone in this thinking, but I doubt that I am.
Thank gosh we still have Christa and others at the Yum section.
Colin, when you call people 'racist' as loosely as you do, you inflate resentment, narrow focus, and ultimately censor those who may have a legitimate feeling of frustration. You might as well call them a pedophile.
What's queer is that racism is just as diverse as the people it harms and ignores. Too often the term is equated to biggotry and conotes hatred and blanket close mindedness. I think most people have racist inclinations, but I don't think most of them are hate mongers.
In this city, people of every skin color and group of ancestral origin have a reason to be frustrated. Racism is cyclical. Getting involved in the pissing contest of who started what is what feeds racial bias.
Part of having an open conversation about race is allowing the Rev. Jeremiah Wrights and the Pat Buchanans of the world to speak. In my opion, they both go off the deep end, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few legitimate points that need to be communicated.
Lastly, to whomever called the people of Buffalo "savages" you should be ashamed of yourself. Negatively categorizing 300,000 people who (on the whole) have nothing in common other than the fact that they live within 52 sq miles of eachother, is the worst part of prejudice.
I lived in south side Chicago for a year, and in my opinion it's the most racially segregated city I have ever been to. No city is entirely clean, but no one deserves to be crucified either.
I am sure if you talk to any local area news people they can tell you about the good news stories they have written and not just about "Lilly Whitesville" or Mr. and Mrs. White and their 2.5 white children. However, I THINK part of the problem is, is that the good news does not have as much impact or audience as the crime or other "negative" stories. I do not have any facts, it's just a theory. I am sure if you comb thru the archives of Poynter or some other journalism think tank, you will probably find a story on it (or just Google the subject).
Also the Buffalo News has a portion of their site dedicated to community journalism on Buffalo.com. You can submit "stories" to, I am guessing, the editor for publication, which sounds like free publicity to me. Plus, it has Spotted where you can upload photos of you local event. Digital cameras are pretty common by now, and all you need it a computer and access to the internet. I have not checked out if any other TV stations are doing community reporting, but they probably are to some extent.
If you are a leader of an organizer and do not have time yourself, then ask a volunteer or get an "intern". There is always someone that likes to write or take photos. The News is having some sort of meeting on the citizen journalism portion of their site. Info here: http://tinyurl.com/4s9d4m
This is an opportunity for any organization that feels it is being "by passed" to get some free publicity. I know it may not be as good as a "professional" story but it's a solution. Sorry if I "promoted" the News so much, I am just not as familiar with what the local TV Stations are offering, someone feel free to fill in that needed info.
And of course, they can always submit something to BRO! J
As I said, the Big One is the Germans, so we in the "big three" are the ones who should feel left out.
Not mentioned here explicitly yet, but there implicitly is the myth of Buffalo as "one of the most" segregated or racist cities. Total bull.
Human nature is pretty much the same all over. Buffalo's housing patterns are pretty much the same as similar-sized cities in the Northeast with similar immigration histories. Comparing us to the South and the West is absurd on its face.
Our alleged greater racism is the useful scapegoat for the true cause of Buffalo's decline: big government, the failure of all big government policies tried in the last 50-60 years. People around here will twist logic and fact to obscure the obvious cause of our decline: excessive consumption of capital by the political class.
after reading the original post, i barely had an idea what the author was getting at. as the thread evolved, it appeared he was primarily trying to point out that local media outlets don't produce positive stories about minority populations. one of the reference he cites - kevin o'neil - thoroughly refutes that "point" by highlight all the minority-focused stories he's worked on. Then, 'critt' implies that O'Neil must be lying about it and starts talking about Buffalo's population loss as if media coverage of minority populations has driven or exacerbated that population loss.
This reads like a whole lot of sound and fury signifying a bunch of people who don't even know what they hell they are saying.
Although I agree with the concerns expressed here, is a targeted attack labeling one news reporter appropriate on this site? And does this particular BRO correspondent get to use language like "take your suburban ass to the East side???" Is that bringing us together? And nice job, BRO, with the disclaimer making sure to note that you're not one of THOSE bad news outlets!
I think this issue is important and worth exploring, but in a more responsible way.
"bitch slap from an editor? I'd say that's slightly unprofessional.."
Welcome to the world of Elena, zen, whose 'promise to run more East Buffalo stories this year" devolved quickly into stories about old Polish Catholic churches abandoned by the Diocese (because not enough white people were left to enjoy them), and a 'potemkin villiage' on Sycamore that pours all the false hopes of revitalization into a Celebration, Florida-style subdivision (for political insiders). No depth whatsoever from this one, but she wants to be accorded the respect due any "journalist". So here goes: ECB, please do us all a favor and change your screen name to "ROFL".
I've always wondered too why they don't have greeting cards just for minorities in WNY. I'm so tired of the racism in this area. Newell, I think it's time to find a new editor or at least tell her not to post anymore.
I feel sorry for the advertisers on this site. They need eyeballs, i.e., comments to back up any illusions of viewership and community interest. But when people log on and provoke just the kind of intensity that drives those numbers up, they are labeled by The Managing Editor as "masterbatory"[sic],"sad,sick bastards" in messages sent to them by her. Contrarywise, if comments were strictly limited to the "approved, dull-as-dishwater" backslaps and logrolling amongst a clique of their "friends", the result would be so paltry, that advertisers should rightfully demand proof that any readership exists. It's a tightrope indeed, but the best and most thriving blogs manage the discourse UNEMOTIONALLY and with a cocksure belief that a little catharsis is what their readers come to their sites for. Buffalo Rising is actually pretty damn good in so many ways, and potentially, one of the best out there, but they need to step back and ask themselves, "are we just a tight little knitting circle, or can we branch out and leave a mark where the mainstream press dares not go?" After all, the whole point of the internet was to bypass traditional media that arrogantly omits 98% of the human experience from their sanitized text and broadcasts. Ask the "Why Guy" just WHY that is!
Critt-So no dissenting views? And who exactly is the "we" that will revitalize our home? Some of your points are a bit contradictory.
So it seems that the issue here is that not everyone is getting their fair share of the media pie. I'm sure if we double check Kevin's facts about the story he covered, that it would check out. Eric - do you watch the news everyday and keep tally, or are you just going off of what you see on the news when you happen to watch it (then making judgements based on that)?
I think we need to do some math, and check out the facts about not only Buffalo, but also WNY. So why don't we check out the demographics and that should help us figure out the ratio of news stories to population? Here are some facts gathered from city-data.com (http://www.city-data.com/city/Buffalo-New-York.html):
Races in Buffalo:
* White Non-Hispanic (51.8%) * Black (37.2%) * Hispanic (7.5%) * Other race (3.7%) * Two or more races (2.5%) * American Indian (1.4%)
Let's check out some suburbs which are included in WNY, which is what the news covers:
Races in Tonawanda:
* White Non-Hispanic (97.5%) * Hispanic (0.9%) * American Indian (0.6%)
Races in Amherst:
* White Non-Hispanic (88.4%) * Black (3.9%) * Asian Indian (1.7%) * Chinese (1.6%) * Hispanic (1.4%) * Two or more races (1.1%) * Korean (0.9%)
Here are the Erie County stats (from wikipedia):
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 950,265 people, 380,873 households, and 243,377 families residing in the county. The population density was 910 people per square mile (351/km²). There were 415,868 housing units at an average density of 398 per square mile (154/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.18% White, 13.00% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 3.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of German, 17.2% Polish, 14.9% Italian, 11.7% Irish and 5.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 91.1% spoke English, 3.0% Spanish and 1.6% Polish as their first language.
So if you look at the population break down, doesn't it make sense that there would be more stories about "whites" than say, Koreans - or even blacks for that matter? If there's more people of a certain demographic, doesn't it make sense that there would be more to cover from that group? It may be more of an issue with the percentages of a demographic than "let's cover just white kids from the suburbs". (Also, it should be noted that there are minorities in the suburbs and just because there's a suburb story doesn't mean that it's one race vs another or city vs suburb. The news needs to cover all of Western NY, and the city is a small percentage of that - let alone one part of the city.
Jim Ostrowski: "big government liberalism" is the skirt you hide behind when you don't want to confront tough subjects like racism, isn't it? It must be nice to live in that conservative denial state where you can make fatuous remarks like, "Buffalo is no more or less racist than many other American cities." That's like someone in 1955 saying "Buffalo has no more or less polio than other American cities." So there isn't an issue here, is there? Because we're 'just like everybody else'. Well, you "moved on" -because you're not black. And Elena's "moved on" because she's not black. You pay your respects and leave. How thoughtful. I say this to you, Eric, dig and dig deep. Who cares about some local T.V. douche? Find the people that lead to the you to the fire. Leave the 'smoke' for amateurs like ECB.
Nice point Jim. Where (literally) in the world is free of racism?!
Also, why is there all this negative news about Buffalo? Maybe because there's a lot of negative things going on (I'd be interested to see some more stats):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate
I don't see how the news doing more stories on little Mikey from the East side would have stopped the mass exodus from the city to the suburbs (perhaps it had to do with quality of schools and safety). That is a very weak point. The reason why we're "barely a tertiary market" has nothing to do with the media coverage, it has to do with the economic shift from manufacturing to skill based jobs and the role of the global market.
Critt, I understand and support your need for helping spread the word on good things going on in the city but I think you are stretching on some of these points and are going off what you think to be reality and not looking at the actual facts. Keep fighting the fight, but please use some facts to back up your points.
Colin, STFU! I wondered how long it would take for some idiot to raise that. What did he write that wasn' t true? Just because you don't like reality doesn't give you the right to bust out that way over-used word j-off.
"Blacks were treated kindly by northern cities whose abolition-minded residents sympathized with them over the injustices of slavery and who helped many of them escape their servitude through the Underground Railroad. Blacks found northern cities to be refuges from Jim Crow laws early on and were eager to join the ranks of the factory workers to begin new lives. . . . To this day, the most segregated cities in america are in the Midwest, once a bastion of Lincoln Republicans that welcomed Blacks."
I have to disagree. The North was quite racist in its own way. There were draft riots when Lincoln changed the goal of the Civil War from union to anti-slavery. The North had Black Codes to match the South's Jim Crow.
Mark Goldman's book, City on the Lake: The Challenge of Change in Buffalo, New York, is about official racial discrimination against blacks in the 20th century. About Civil War-era Buffalo, he writes:
"Like most Americans in the middle of the nineteenth century, Buffalonians were distinctly racist, and while many may well have abhorred slavery (no working man in his right mind would want to compete with slave labor), the overwhelming majority had no desire to live among blacks. This was true of the reform-minded WASP community who supported colonization of America’s blacks in Africa as well as for the German and Irish immigrant community who for racial as well as economic reasons wasted little love on the black race." [p. 90]
Goldman quotes from a German-language newspaper: "’We want no negroes in the northern states because we anticipate nothing good from the mixing of the black and white races. We want the region of Kansas to be reserved for honest white workers.’" [p. 90] Goldman continues:
"race relations in the city. . . were further poisoned during the Civil War years by the imposition of a federal draft * * * were the Irish really expected to offer their lives to free people who offered them thanks by breaking their strikes?" [pp. 92-93] There was "a lack of enthusiasm for the Union effort, particularly following the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. . . " [p. 122]
Colin,
The reason I say "loosely" is because you called South Buffalo Josh a racist without allowing him to expound his point. If he said that the once white, now minority communities of the city are entirely responsible for the physical decline of the neighborhood, then I would agree he is a racist.
But he simply commented on their decline and its relation to media coverage, and you called him a racist without asking him why he feels that way. The way you censor people is by damaging their credibility before they can explain themselves.
Of course racism inflates resentment, racism is resentment. But again, it's cylical and if you don't allow people from different groups to explain their frustration, resentment turns to hate. I agree with you that we fabricate racial flaws and qualities, but I feel the best way to reach empathy is to be honest about how you feel, and to listen to others.
Damp, please find me one city in America, or in the world for that matter, where racial or ethnic prejudice is not a problem. Buffalo is no better than anywhere else, but from my personal travels I have no reason to conclude that its worse.
150+ posts (abt 90% of which have come from the same 10 people). This is a very provocative topic so of course it was bound to get a lot of back & forth "discussions."
And, "bitch slap" from an editor? I'd say that's slightly unprofessional, no surprise that you don't post more often.
The sad truth is that realist and racist are often the same in Buffalo... I personally had more than a few relatives that considered themselves realists that after some time away from them and growing personally I look back upon as fairly racist. Far from bigots or extreme but subtly affected by race to their core perception of people and events. There is a lot of history on both sides of the fence that need some good hashing, who knows maybe even a good ole yelling match followed up with a beer to relieve stress.
The point I think this article hints at, is that there is little to no dialogue across 'main street' or 'city line' and 40 years of not talking has created a lot of misconceptions from all parties. If nothing happened but a little rational discourse about what people feel is or isn't wrong with the 'system' then it would be a win for all sides.
I'll never understand why people complain about media outlets when they have to choice to listen or watch or read. If you're going to complain about something, simply avoid it. Read a different newspaper. Watch a different channel. Don't do either. I am guilty of this myself as I listen to Schoop and the Bulldog and often hate their holier than though attitude... but I listen anyways. Why do we do this?
Really, my main point of commenting was to say that Buffalo Rising is not the outlet for this kind of thing as it really does cover all different walks of life and all different neighborhoods.
What's surprising about stories about Germans, Poles and Irish? They, along with Italians, are the largest ethnic groups in the area. In fact, German is the largest ethnic group in the USA (Irish second).
As for BR being a place where local politicians could mix, well, I have noted the strange and complete absence of local politicians on this site or any other site. I have my theories.
BR should be exactly what its owners want it to be. That’s capitalism.
Why is this post labeled "Segregation Perpetuation?", it doesn't sound to me like this is about segregation as much as bias in media. Now if Channel 2 was keeping African Americans in a separate area of the city or reporting on white only restaurants in Orchard Park, that would be a different story.
This smells of reverse racism and the victim mentality. Get over yourself already, it isn't a white conspiracy that keeps the city the way it is. The white guys in power can't organize enough to get out of their own way, what makes you think that they can perpetuate this elaborate scheme to keep the people down. Seriously, if you want to further the African American agenda, then just say so. The "segregation perpetuation" is implying something completely different and wrong.
Do you have proof of someone in the black, hispanic, or asian community pitching an idea to the Celebrate WNY producer and being rejected? I doubt it. I think you should mention it, if you do.
In order for Ch. 2 to cover something, they need to know about it. They need to know about things ongoing in all communities in order for them to do something about it.
Perry is correct that marketing people pitch ideas to the news people on a daily basis. As someone who has worked in both media and marketing, I can tell you that the news producers have many ideas thrown at them daily and it is up to individual groups, businesses or organizations to pitch ideas in order to get coverage.
I can understand the writer's anger and frustration but it appears to me that he might be directing it at the wrong people.
Colon,
You don't know me and I don't know you... agreed? Racism is usually defined as some form of hatred. Don't call me a racist. I don't hate anyone, in fact I couldn't care less about the aforementioned neighborhoods (similar to most politicians). I was simply observing (in less words) that when my family lived on the East Side, people cared about what their property looked like and had a respect for one another. Central Terminal still had windows. Since the Polish and German people have moved out, the neighborhood has deteriorated. If you're so quick to defend it, why don't you go buy some real estate there and build something nice? You obviously know it will last and you won't have to worry about it's well-being.
Your brother from another mother,
Josh
@Critt: If there's an untapped market for greeting cards for interracial couples, why not fill it?
@ECB: It's actually fantastic - every time someone challenges you in comments, you don't merely jump off the deep end, you plunge off an Acapulco cliff. How do you know what Damp's "investment" is in this community?
You may try to promote the good things happening in Buffalo, but how hurling ad hominems at a reader who challenged you is going to serve that purpose is beyond me. It's more like you spend your days trying to alienate as many people as possible, especially if you think you're better than they, as you clearly do with Damp.
I spend my days trying to promote the good things happening in Buffalo, and for all I know you're a bored night clerk at a Motel 6 in Omaha, Nebraska with a sociology degree tacked to the wall and a penchant for peeing in people's corn flakes.
George Bernard Shaw said: I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it. Ditto.
Given your puellile Omaha / sociology degree / pissing in corn flakes tirade, seems to me you're the one who's the pig.
Oink oink, piggy.
Well, first of all, thanks to your and your wife for watching Daybreak, even though you lump us in with " public organizations that perpetuate segregation need to be exposed and held accountable".
While I do plead guilty to doing segments commemorating Irish, German, and Polish holidays, I STRONGLY disagree with your contention that other ethnicities, and their celebrations, are ignored.
I can provide specific examples of shows I've done, and people I've interviewed, that celebrate Western New York's unique diversity. Hispanic? check. Middle Eastern? check. African-American? check. Asian? check.
Your very simple "solution", putting " the feel-good, celebratory stories on rotation" is utterly impractical. Are you suggesting I do as many shows on Samoan Western New Yorkers as I do on Italians? I'm obliged to do a show with a Lebanese Western New Yorker, because I did two "Polish" shows last month?
Yes, I cover ethnic events and will continue too (Hellenic Festival around the corner). Regarding my interviewees, I can honestly tell you that decisions will NEVER be made whether or not to talk to someone by their last name or the color of their skin.
One suggestion: since most of my ideas come from viewers, I look forward to YOUR suggestions for stories. Any specific people, places, or events that you feel deserve coverage?
Thanks,
Kevin O'Neill
Atwater Louse,
It's evident that you either don't watch our show, or your memory erases every morning, like that movie. Remember the seven shows I did in a row featuring great inner-city kids? Each Boys and Girls Club in the city nominates a young man or woman for "Youth of the Year". I went to SEVEN different Buffalo Boys and Girls Clubs and did a report on each nominee (all but one were minorities). Each kid got their well-deserved moment in the spotlight.
This was last month. 7 shows. O.K.?
By the way, your previous insinuation that a show from a university, an art gallery, or an historical museum is a "Caucasian" show is insulting to minorities everywhere. Is any show from an institute of learning or culture only interesting or relevant to whites? I whole-heartedly disagree. Similarly, a future show that I do with or about an exceptional WNY person of color is reason for all of us, regardless of ethnicity, to be proud of our area.
joshfromsb is simply making an accurate observation, whereas Colin is drowning in a vat of political correctness kool aid.
I was alerted to this "article" by a friend, who titled the email "why we left buffalo." (Years ago, we had an incident with Eric when he tried to sell us his band's CD, when we declined he said something to the effect of "you're rich white girls, you should support black urban musicians"-funnier later when we found out he was 1/2 white and grew up in Sweethome) I don't understand the whining and complaining-get an education, work hard, and do something about it. This "you owe it to me" attitude is old. Spill is partially correct, but if Eric is to be considered an "African American correspondent" he should be held to the same standard.
FirstTimeLongTime . . .
Did you see the Sept 07 issue of Buffalo Rising which covered first generation Buffalonians coming from Africa? Or did you happen to catch January 2008 issue which was nearly entirely devoted to South Buffalo? Or how about the March 2008 issue which was almost entirely devoted to the East Side of Buffalo including articles about War Memorial stadium, St. ann's, broadway filmore alive group, Gary White, Black Rock and the Polish heritage of the east side?
Guess not.
I'd encourage you to run through the past 100 stories posted on BR and see how many deal with Elmwood or Hertel. I'd guess it's about 15% - and surely more than 15% of the consumer commerce in the city happens on those two avenues.
Now, you could properly say that this 'post' is dreadful and incomprehensible, but you can't say that all BR does is cover Hertel and Elmwood. I mean, let's at least try and stick to the facts.
cultivate and buy localllllll....rice? Oh thats right! From the rice patties in Worthless Williamsville right? Or the other swamp land suburbs (cranberries maybe?) If you wanted to do a story on MAP just do a story on MAP.
So shouldn't your note read...We do post news that is less than positive when we think we have a source for a solution and when we just want to let people vent....
Why choose the Spitzer story? I'm sure there are people on this site that would much rather vent about the Wilson story, or the school stories, or the sabres and bills, or the Police stories or the countless other local stories that may upset or interest people. Why choose a state issue and not a local issue. Isn't it more likely we have a solution to a Buffalo issue and not a NYS issue?
I'll give you this much, you caught s*** for posting it and I'm sure you would have caught s*** for not posting it. So no you don't sound glib.
ECB,
In your editors note you say that "We do post news that is less than positive when we think we have a source for a solution." Tell me then... What is/was your source for a solution to the Eliot Spitzer scandal and the world rice shortage?
A followup: there's the saying that in Buffalo, it doesn't matter if you're Protestant, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or an atheist. You'll still grow up Catholic.
I wonder if the OP's concerns can be extended to religion. Conservative Roman Catholicism is the modal religion of the Buffalo region -- the second most Catholic metropolitan area in the US -- and all too often, it's assumed that EVERYBODY is Catholic. Minor Diocese news makes the front page of the Buffalo News, and often it's the headline article. People decry the closing of Catholic churches, but there is no such mourning for equally prominent Protestant congregations. Many beautiful churches shuttered their doors or were passed on to new congregations as racial transition changed the face of the Kensington neighborhood in the 1990s, but only St. Gerard and St. James made the news.
The Buffalo area has some 25,000 Jews -- 40,000 when college is in session -- but they're treated as something of an odd curiosity, only worthy of recognition for a few minutes during Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. As far as the growing Muslim community, well ... media coverage seems limited to the Lackawanna Six and problem delis. Buddhists, Hindus, and others: nonexistent in the eyes of many Buffalonians.
Surprisingly, the most diverse part of the region when it comes to religion is ... Amherst. The "Amherst is all upper income WASPS" meme hasn't been true since the 1970s, when a good number of Buffalo's Jews made the move from North Buffalo and Tonawanda to the 14221/14226 area, and international faculty members of the then-rapidly growing UB made their home in the town.
Buffalo is no more or less racist than many other American cities.
Buffalo was a world class industrial power in 1900. Were we less racist then? Buffalo started to decline around 1960. Did we get more racist then?
Racism is a scapegoat for our problems favored by liberals. Big government liberalism is the problem. However, too many people are making too much money from liberal policies that they can't possibly admit the truth. So they defame their city with nonsense about how we are the "most segregated city." I refuted that lie here.
http://blog.freeny.org/?p=1988
Move on.
What the hell were you thinking by posting this as an article? Are you going to have a Latino, N American, & Asian "corresondent" as well? Eric good for you noting that there's a media bias, did this revelation just come to you? I think it's journalism 101 that the story of a guy getting shot in the ass is going to take the lead over a community garden any day, & does a day go by when someone isn't getting shot or stabbed on the east side? OK BRO switch your mission & form the Buffalo Branch of the Justice League & start righting the wrongs of the world. You guys lost me as a reader with this one!
Ok Critt, here I go...
Nash House, did it. Colored Musicians Club, did it. Underground Railroad, did it several times, including Michigan Street Church and Murphy's Orchard. (don't forget awesome exhibit realted to Railroad at Castellani Museum in Niagara County) IMAGE program at Bennett, never heard of it, will pursue. 10,000 Villages, did it. African-American Cultural Center, did it. Latino Fest, did it. Caribana, did it.
Don't forget Gigi's, the Univer"soul" Circus at MLK, Phoenix windows in Buffalo (founded by African-American), True Bethel Baptist Church, Juneteenth Festival, Buffalo Inner City Ballet, local African Dance troop, McKinley High School building a House, Hutch Tech for "Pi Day", etc...
I Love the Buen Amigo idea, I will set up a show in June, you can count on it. I will call Bennett High School as well.
As for Atwater Louse, what exactly is a "Caucasian themed" show? I'm guessing you included my reports from Niagara-Wheatfield High School, Amherst Middle School, Genesee County BOCES, and U.B. as "Caucasian" shows. That's a real shame, because if you actually WATCH the reports (there is a video link), you will plainly see that there are "Non-Caucasians" in each segment.
My segments are like Western New York, wonderfully integrated!
I'll go on a little rant myself. I agree with the commenters... BRO is not the place for this. This probably should have not been published. So what if O'Neil focuses on all things Polish, etc. When the Polish lived on the East Side and the Italians lived on the West Side those neighborhoods were some of the most beautiful in the area. Now they are a disgrace... just a sad reminder of what once was. I don't blame the news outlets for not going there. Not much good news comes out of those neighborhoods. It's an unfortunate truth. That's all.
My heart fluttered after reading Kevin's response. Thanks for clearing some of the nonsense up Kevin. I didn't quite realize it at first but that was really a personal attack on him.
Speaking of nonsense, ECB not really sure what your unintelligible ramblings are meant to accomplish on here, but the fact that you publicly aired this letter reveals that you're genuinely an editorial amateur, you really should be embarrassed.
Eric, Thank you for sharing your opinions in this rant. We all see the world through our own lenses and filters that shape our perceptions. Your perception is that all news about the suburbs involves rich kids is no less misguided than someone who sees only the criminal activity in the city. There are a lot of great things happening in the city, and although I believe that the local media could do a much better job of highlighting them, they are covered in most of the media outlets. I do watch the channel 2 and channel 4 news in the mornings, and I believe that they try to offer a balance of perspectives in their human interest stories. It is important to differentiate their reporting on 'news', 'sports', 'weather' and 'human interest'. I had the opportunity to meet Chesley O'Neal (I may have spelled that incorrectly) at a fund raiser a couple of months ago and asked him why he doesn't showcase more downtown activities on his morning segments from SPOT coffee, he told me that he brings on everyone who wants to come on the show. Involvement is a two-way street, I applaud your efforts to paint a better picture of the city from the African-American perspective, and I hope it brings in greater involvement in development and progress from that community.
Well... BRO has has indeed published articles that have been just as ignorant of the minority community. (i.e. an article around fall 07 whereas an author wrote about shopping at the Niagara Street Tops to watch people of color buy toilet paper. It was a rather odd submission that gave the impression that watching Latinos and Black people shop was as entertaining as watching lions and elephants at the Buffalo Zoo.)
Why not focus on the individual rather than what "group" they belong too? Eric can only speak for himself and does not represent "every" black man in this region. I'm Black (and gay), yet, I bet I have a much different perspective on life. There is too much anger in this world already - focus on individual contributions at making this community a more desirable place to live.
Have a blessed day!
Can always count on Pundit to talk about everything but the issues. I didn’t mention Ron Paul or libertarians but to talk about race in Buffalo without talking about the political regime in Buffalo for the last 60-75 years--corporate state liberalism, would be kind of silly.
That about sums it up. I'd like to seem them publish your post as an article FirstTimeLongTime. I think that is a very valid and well thought out criticism. Thanks.
ECB - it's Saturday evening. I don't work Saturday evenings, and I wasn't defending. Nice try, though. I know you can do better than that. I've seen it.
I apologize for the length of this comment, I tried to find someone to email my comments but I was unable to find an editor.....
I have been reading Buffalo Rising Online regularly for about six to eight months now. At times I have felt proud to be from Buffalo at other times I have felt embarrassed of the tone of the magazine, but my civic pride has always brought me back to the site. That is, until today.
When I first heard of the idea of Buffalo Rising I was legitimately excited. Just look at that name, Buffalo. Rising. The ideas of a phoenix rising from the ashes are practically beating you over the head. After years of economic decline, vacant homes on the East and West sides as far as the eyes can see, and an overall poor outlook on our very own city, finally, a website devoted to resorting faith to a once proud city. Buffalo Rising Online was to be a haven for other like minded individuals in the community. A place that local politicians could go and “rub elbows” with commenters, an informal discussion place that maybe could spur some real social or economic change.
Well, I hate to put it so bluntly but BRO could not be anything further from what I had hoped. Let’s start with the name alone. I understand trying to market yourselves as an all encompassing Buffalo magazine, it is smart marketing, but the name isn’t quite applicable to the writing on the site. I am sure that this complaint has been heard many times before in your inbox but in order to be named as such you have to cover ALL OF Buffalo. In the event that you called yourselves Elmwood Rising or Hertel Rising, I would applaud you for your work. There is no better place online to find out about the on goings of what new jewelry shop has opened on Elmwood or what restaurant on Hertel has souvlaki that is to die for. In fact I have taken several of your recommendations when it comes to what new eateries to try. So for that, thank you.
With a name like Buffalo Rising should come some social responsibility though, don’t you think? My latest problem with the online edition is with the post made by local musician Eric Crittendon. My problem is not with what he had to say. In fact, I agree with most every word typed. What I have a problem with is how you had the arrogance to post it. You have perpetuated the problem more than WGRZ, WKBW and WIVB combined. Sure they may be negative tones pertaining to certain areas on local news broadcasts, but at least the entire city is covered. When was the last time the BRO wrote an article about the East Side? The only time you ever write about the West Side is concerning the MAP which is another “white” story of college graduates helping the “less fortunate”. Sadly, the truth is that Buffalo Rising is nothing more than a website written for white people to help them feel better about themselves. Though, to be fair, I am sure that within the next 10 years that “artist” will start to gentrify the East Side and there might be an article or two written about that.
I think the most disheartening part is that I primarily use the internet as my news source. I love the immediacy that blogging provides and enjoy the many different points of view from people of different backgrounds. Sadly, the most subjective writers in this town write for the Buffalo News. Believe it or not, there are other parts of the city and writers like Jay Rey or Mark Sommer are not afraid to write about real issues that confront the city. Is every article they write socially relevant? Of course not. There are puff pieces about sports here or there and local government stories as well. Thankfully though, they mix the two together. Just like you had the opportunity to do with your magazine, until you choose not to. But hey, the internet is a meritocracy and eventually there will be a website that fills this void that Buffalo Rising cannot. I suppose Stuergon’s law applies once again. It is tough to be in the top ten percent of what you do. In fact, I am quite sure that I won’t be in the top ten percent of the best written emails complaining about your hypocrisy today. No big deal though, I guess it is better to think that everything in Buffalo in honky dory and that as long as we have another successful business on Elmwood that everything is going to be a-okay. That is, as long as that business is not a Kentucky Fried Chicken.
ECB, the sum total of your "investment in this community" is very plainly laid out in your last comment. Buffalo will survive you too. As to my interest here, since you so trollishly raised that question, is simple: is this a place ready to receive that diaspora, of which I'm currently one, back to rebuild its proud heritage? I guess you don't think so since you disparage anyone who isn't sipping Starbucks in the Cobblestone while a few blocks away, someone is stealing copper wiring from the streetlights, or whatever, to support a habit or survive. Buffalo was a great city because of its people, not its buildings. Buildings get built once, people build again and again and I'm sorry I'm not building enough for you here, but if I were, you'd be the last person to hear about it.
Seriously? Thank you so much, ECB for this:
http://www.buffalorising.com/story/rice_futures
It was a phenomenal post, and the fact that you now seem to deny its premise is beyond phenomenal. I wonder what Mr. Crittenden's take is on it all?
As to the whole blog topic discussion, I'll be the first to tell you that my blog is an objectively worthless compendium of daily musings on stuff I find on teh internets or experience from day to day. The fact that people read it at all astonishes me on a daily basis.
I couldn't agree more with Eric - take for example traffic reports. You'd think by listening both on the radio and TV, that traffic congestion only really happens by Amherst's big blue water tower. As a former suburbanite, I didn't make the connection until I moved into the city. At first, I thought that maybe the local news anchors and reporters suffered from the same disconnect as me as many are former Clarence/Amherst/Williamsville neighbors but then I realized that they are much more immersed in the news events of the WNY area than the average local resident so that couldn't be an excuse.
With that said, I would love to see seqments on the good stuff that's going on in Buffalo. When living in the burbs, the only time I remember listening/seeing events in the media remotely positive was about Buffalo in Bloom, the Allentown Art Festival or the St. Patrick's Day parade. It wasn't until I moved to the west side and started experiencing this neighborhood and reading BRO that I became aware of the Puerto Rican Day Parade or the extensive community gardens that exist right here, one of which is practically outside my front door!
We all wish that we could live in a perfect world but the reality of media is that "if it bleeds, it leads." We as a community and our leadership need to make a more concerted effort to get out the good news that happens in Buffalo, both locally and nationally. I for one am certainly volunteering to become a change agent for the good!
Over 150 comments about whether or not a goofy features reporter like Kevin O'Neill properly covers minorities is pretty excellent. I don't much care for his style, but the guy covers the whole region and has highlighted all facets of the community in his near decade on the air at two channels.
If the issue is about the general tone of broadcast news reports, get over it. People like stories about crime and fires; it's the nature of television news in every market in the country. News broadcasts are pretty much the same wherever you go...top stories (crime, political scandal, fire), followed by in-depth feature report on household dangers, followed by weather with Flip Stormcruncher, Sports with Champ Jocksniffer, and a closing featurette about a student or a squirrel who can water-ski.
The ultimate irony of this article being posted on a site which could be clearly mistaken with the now infamous pop culture blog "Stuff White People Like" is even more excellent. I've always enjoyed the condescending tone of the writers here when they cover stories out of their own neighborhood..."Awww, look Elena! Those poor people on the east side like architecture too!" or "Hey, the white people at the Terminal, Market, and BFA are trying to emulate the EVA, isn't that just so super?!?".
That might just be my bias as I don't really like the editorial tenor of this site and visit but once a month or so, but hey, I get to have an opinion too.
How classy to denigrate another mid-sized U.S. city for no reason, and for a blog that brags about having out of town readers to then attack that a negative when convenient.
for all I know you're a bored night clerk at a Motel 6 in Omaha, Nebraska with a sociology degree tacked to the wall
Looking down one's nose at clerk jobs is also interesting for a blog that often promotes the idea of tourism as an economic strategy.
i think that it is quite clear from the writer's informal style in this article that he is expressing personal opinions, something that the people commenting here seem to enjoy, for themselves at least. it is frustrating to live with the regular ethnocentric media bias that exists in buffalo and so i understand the author's tone. being black in buffalo can feel like being invisible and i can only assume that the same is true for members of other ethnic groups.
I am glad to see that there will be a point person for bringing in news from the minority community. Sometime it is hard to even know where to begin because there is such a lifestyle and social divide along main street that unless you have good friends or live there, it is a tale of two cities.
I also much agree with the point about the major news outlets. There coverage of one story versus the other is the main reason I found BRO to begin with and like their coverage of positive city happenings. It isn't always just a minority versus white thing but often the line falls at the city line no matter what race is involved. Good news is almost exclusively about those events and places popular the larger regional population. Shea's, Allentown Art Festival or the Taste of Buffalo. They fill the rest of the time by talking about violence and race.
Remember the example of the west side deli that got robbed a couple months back. I attempted to watch every news station trying to see how they covered it. They all just said stuff like, "more violence on the city's west side." A shop owner shoots a would be criminal. Totally leaving out the fact of where the criminal actually came from (North Tonawanda). As soon as it is a city person doing something wrong the story changes.. "An east side man was accused of robbing.."
News is news, blood sells, but there really does need to be a little bit more consistency on how it is reported. You shouldn't arbitrarily leave out socio political information because it might hurt someones feels or change the perception of some towns / villages. No one is trying to say there isn't crime in the city we can pull out the stats and end that case real quick but the way the story is told is very divisive and perpetuates many negative emotions.
Good for Kevin for responding to this ridiculous personal attack on him. To accuse anyone of racism or the perpetuation of segregation is playing with fire and shouldn't really be done lightly.
Here, it's light as a feather.
There are loads of examples of genuine racism and segregation, yet Mr. Crittenden saves his ire for the Why Guy? On Daybreak? And the Today Show? Really?! No, I don't "dig".
I'm very heartened that BRO isn't lumped in with other "exclusionary" media outlets. Thank God for that.
"1. Josh's post appeared to blame non-whites for the poverty in certain areas of the city..."
It didn't appear that anything was explicity written that pointed a finger at anyone.
Personally I'm racist against all the trashy people in my neighborhood who hit and run my parked car, throw trash on my lawn and allow their dogs to crap on it, steal things from my shed, they don't mow their lawns or shovel their walkway, etc., etc., etc.
That's why these neighborhoods are in decline. It's not racisim it's scumbags of all colors who don't take care of their property or respect their neighbors.
Anyways, I agree with FirstTimeLongTime -- what a strange post for Elmwood Rising.
I feel the need to defend BRO a little bit here. Could and should they do more to get stories about what happens in all segments of Buffalo sure. I agree. It would be nice to find out what is happening all over. Just a couple days ago there was an article about the BBQ place on Fox Street. A while ago people complained about South Buffalo after which came a slew of articles that could have made people think it was South Buffalo Rising.
Are people in Kaisertown, Lovejoy, Riverside, Black Rock yelling over a lack of proper representation on BRO. I don't think so and they certainly aren't linking it to a race thing. Maybe the articles happen as things happen and I don't think anyone could argue with the fact that there is more development and change happening in Elmwood / Hertel than most of the city proper combined.
If there is something going on in your neighborhood why don't you email it to BRO. I am sure they would be happy to explore it. I sent something to them about a happenings on Jefferson. Without speaking up and telling your stories to someplace (like BRO or the TV news) how do you think they would get reported. The truth about BRO over the other news outlets is they would probably be more willing to listen and report on it..
Hence this article.
The race situation in Buffalo is one of the reasons why a little piece of my desire to move back dies each day.
I agree with the larger sentiment behind it, but this was an odd post. I mean, segregation is an important topic to talk about and work on, but I don't see what it has to do with the Why Guy.
Tough,
Keep it zipped, cultivate and buy local? Sometimes cautionary tales point to solutions through mere exposure.
I don't mean to sound glib, but it would be odd not to mention those things, solution or not. We wish we had the sort of power it took to cause change, but sometimes putting it out there for discussion carries a needed cathartic release if nothing else.
Even though I disagree with his opinions in this article (but agree with his facts), I do think it will be smart of BR to add Eric as a regular contributor.
Eric has offered to be the source of African-American representation for BRO. We thank Eric for stepping up.
Some different perspectives outside of the usual Elmwood-downtown-centric, Tielmanist, and boosterist mind sets will be a positive change, so why not start with Eric?
He should be asked to blog here not just as "the source of African-American representation" but on whatever topics he wants. ToughintheStreets has suggested a lot of ideas recently - why not have Eric look over those and blog here about any that interest him? Just a thought. Usually I don't make suggestions but for what it's worth I'll agree with what some others said recently that the content here would benefit from widening the focus a bit and being less repetitive.
eliot - Good point. That other city mentioning by Buffalo Rising's 'managing editor' was very favorable. They would never didn't imply any insults to Omaha, desk clerks, or sociology graduates.
for all I know you're a bored night clerk at a Motel 6 in Omaha, Nebraska with a sociology degree tacked to the wall
Not insulting. Not elitist. Buffalo Rising wouldn't throw a fit any time they see Buffalo mentioned the same way. Thanks for catching my mistake.
If Critt is actually going to be a contributing journalist in the future of the online magazine, he should work on his professionalism and his language/grammar skills. Somebody should sit him down before he gets the green light.
I also find it sad that Kevin O'Neill has entertained this nonsensical thread of nitpicking and backbiting with several very defensive rants of his own. I realize he is trying to defend his program, but it comes off as childish for someone who should be acting like a professional journalist. One well written post would have been enough.
This whole immature discussion reminds me how far behind Buffalo still is from other major metropolitan spaces in the country.
LIke I said, this thread is weaved (woven?) with gold. So far, @bizcomplete has made the most sense out of anyone. @Jim O - Christ almighty, does everything have to be about Ron Paul, liberalism, and libertarian theory? @toughinthestreets - I agree with you, too in spite of my self-righteous douchebaggery.
Hey critt,
No need to wait, the school districts being represented this week are East Aurora, Lancaster, city of Tonawanda, and Orchard Park.
Again, I spread my self out geographically, not by race. None of these districts were represented last time I did a week of great classes. During our last "sweeps week", a Buffalo city school was featured. I've includud a link.
http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=55157
I included that Buffalo school not to fulfill any quota, I included them simply because it was an awesome story.
I tried to find a video link to my Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo series but did not. That was the SEVEN consecutive shows in a row I did featuring outstanding teenagers from Buffalo. Every year, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo send a nominee from each clubhouse to the "A-KID-emy Awards". That's where the pick the "Youth of the Year".
Rather than just send a camera to the awards ceremony, me and a camera man went to each clubhouse and spent and hour and a half with each nominee, that way they all get their well-deserved time in the spotlight. For one entire week, plus two days on the next, these seven great kids (all but one a minority) were featured on Daybreak. Those reports aired in late March I believe.
Also, stay tuned in early June for my report on two Buffalo kids who are about to graduate high school without missing a single day of school in THIRTEEN years! One warning though, I do NOT know the ethnicity of the two Buffalo kids. I never asked, and I never will. I don't care. I hope whatever color they are, it's one you approve of.
See ya' in the morning!
-Kevin O'Neill
Cuzz: You got me!! I am a HUGE supporter of the WOD. I go to WOD gala events on a monthly basis. I visit high schools around the country and give speeches on the WOD.
I have little opinion one way or the other on the WOD and still don't see how it has anything to do with ANYTHING being discussed on this thread.
More JO promotion. Please JO enlighten us on the WOD Mr. Famous Paper writer. I for one am dying to hear how the WOD ties in with Kevin O'Neill and his stories.
ECB, iam sorree I hav bad reeding compreeheshun I see piksher of rice and rice fuchur titul with "shortij" in sentinse.
On substance, Eric seems correct and O'Neill seems miseading. The WGRZ web site's "Celebrate WNY" page lists the most recent 30 reports from O'Neill and his team. Link is here - see left column of that page
It doesn't look to me that any of those most recent 30 are about an African American or Hispanic theme. 29 of those 30 reports look like they're centered on Caucasian individuals, and one is about a Native American theme.
Disclaimer - I browsed the list very quick, so it's possible I didn't notice something.
On significance, does this matter? To me it doesn't matter much because I find that type of reporting to be useless nonsense anyhow. I can't imagine watching it or caring what they focus on. But for those who care about what WGRZ covers in its happy talk reports, Eric's premise looks to have basis in fact.
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