So, will our distinguished Mayor authorize a similiar Buffalo Police Department (and other surrounding municipalities) response to this "celebration" as he did with the Canisius College Spring Fest? Me thinks not...
So, will our distinguished Mayor authorize a similiar Buffalo Police Department (and other surrounding municipalities) response to this "celebration" as he did with the Canisius College Spring Fest? Me thinks not...
In that area of town, you would think they would! Lordy, I would hate for it to get dark before I was outa there.
Are we going to have random shootings at the event this year? Think we should have extra police here just in case. Seems to be a part of this event for who knows how many years in a row now.
I find it pathetic that this site and its constituents can't recognize that good things happen in the city outside of the elmwood and allentown areas! Believe it or not, comments like what is stated above are what help lead to the already growing racial problems in this city. I am ashamed of the people that make rude comments to celebrate different heritage than thier own...regardless if they are being sarcastic or not. I live in allentown and will be attending this event, not only to support my friends, but also to taste some really good food. I am proud to be a daily part of the youth of this city, and at least I can see that the future of this city isn't nearly as biased as the people who comment on here. I am appauled and disgusted at some of these comments, and the assumption that any gathering of other cultures warrants extra police involvement and protection. Ironically, I am much more scared of white people than I am of African Americans. I hope that one day...the people of this site can venture out and see things other than themselves...you may be surprised and like what you see. peace!:)
I love it that the first four post show the level of stupidity that resides on BuffaloRising. In fact, you bunch of losers, this white, Elmwood Village resident is actually considering going to Juneteenth this year. I've never been, sounds great (I love drumming), figure I'd experience something new...the same goes for the Grease Pole festival on the West Side. But some of your comments are WAY out of line.
I wonder if "buffgayguy" likes it when people make comments negative about gaypride events last weekend? I'm sure he doesn't, and if he has a heart, knows what it feels like when people make generalizations about a sect of people. YOu would think, pending that you are gay, that you would be proud of different culutres celebrating what makes them what they are. I am gay, and get offended and try to educate others on differnet wlaks of life...it is the only thing we can do to ensure tolerance for the future. If you have nothing good to say...perhaps your mother should have told you not to say anything at all. I feel sorry for your upbringing and lack of education.
Here's one more voice to say SHAME ON YOU, MBHXAM, BUFFGAYGUY, GDC, AND HEATHERSMILE! Your attitudes are so old school, reflecting the dark ages of American thought and culture. Wake up! Juneteenth is a time of pride for all Americans of every hue and ethnicity. Look around you! The days of the great racial divide are, for the most part, gone and you are four are just remnants of ignorance.
For what it's worth, I was holding my breath when I posted this, hoping that the comments would not go the wrong way.
This event is planned by people who would like very much to erase the thick black line some people still draw between African Americans and Caucasians. It's meant to be a celebration of freedom, as Mr. Brown states, and it's also an educational experience with plenty of entertainment thrown in.
There are a group of students at the Charter School for Applied Technology--African American and Caucasian--monitoring this site, and it hurts to know that they will read what is here and feel a deep sense of sadness that other people don't understand what they know. They live what we all need to work toward, and that is a feeling of unity amidst obvious differences of history and skin color.
This event and this post were intended to uphold the goal of unity. I think we need some more feedback here from those of you who get it.
CSAT crew, this is simply what surfaced. Don't think you're reading the majority opinion here.
It is very sad that in this day and age we still have all this polarization in the City Of Buffalo..... In my very humble opinion, the only way the city will ever excell is to overcome all these divisions, it really has held Buffalo back from being a world class city. As a Buffalo native now living in the south I pray that Buffalo can get it together.....
Here's one more voice to say SHAME ON YOU, MBHXAM, BUFFGAYGUY, GDC, AND HEATHERSMILE!
Having long attended the Junteenth Festival in Bflo, I am embarassed here in Mpls to read such bigoted statements in what is still listed by the US Census as one of the most segregated US metro areas. The world is watching & such comments badly bruise efforts to revive Bflo's great potential.
Juneteenth is a wonderful place to take children to educate them about the cultural richness of the black community in Buffalo.
Dick Kern (in Mpls)
Oh man...I was waiting for someone to pull the race card...Shocking it took so long. What part about my statement is "bigoted"? It never fails that just about anytime some sort of discussion is held regarding something dealing with the african american community, the minute someone says anything even somewhat negative, the race card follows quickly behind it...so lame!
White Allentown guy. Attending Juneteeth this year. Went last year and the year before that.
I'm a foodie. They have good food at this festival. Found the rest enjoyable. Nice people.
Why don't you go to this festival. Then judge.
Thanks Elena for your vision, as well as the planning team of this event....I'm sure the students at CSAT know this isn't the majority...and they, the future, do know what others can only envision...they live it everyday! By no means, will the posts of a few ignorant people get them down. They can rise above this, and prove that Buffalo's segregation label is just that...a label, which can be changed. As I work with them, and the hoards of youth after them, I can only help to at least educate and liberate the stigmas of society for a few and watch it grow exponentially.
I think at least mbxham should be given a pass on this. It seems to me that his comment was intended to point to the fact that the police force out for the CC Quad party was silly and a poor use of resources. I think he makes a good point actually. Are we going to roll out the swat team for every event and festival this summer? Is this weekends Art Festival going to see armored vehicles and officers in camo? Although I get why people are upset by the comment I find no racist undertones in his statement.
I also don't see why heathersmiles post is considered racist either. Thats the first coherent post I've read from her and probably the least inflammatory.
I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I personally do not believe in wasting seconds out of my day trying to change the mindset of people who just don't get it. I also most certainly do not pull the race card. The main point I want to make is that I am the Multicultural Sales Manager for the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. I work daily to sell and promote this region as a convention and tourism destination. I reach out to multicultural organizations around the country to get them to bring their events here and guess what? They do! Juneteenth is one of the many festivals my clients are excited to experience when visiting our city. I've learned to rarely read the comments posted on this site anymore. I prefer to live my life on a positive note and regardless of any childish comments, I love the city of Buffalo and all the people and events that help make this city what it is.
I don't necessarily think that either of thier comments were racist either, but it is wierd how you can sense a feeling of sarcasm in your comments inrelation to this article. HOw about the only comments beig posted should relate to the positives that this festival has...does there even have to be a mention of police intervention? I must have missed in the article where they were mentioned. I think the only comments needed are for the positives of the festival...and the really good authentic jerk chicken that will be there. lets focus on that, and forget about the negative connotations that are associated with police presence.
I totally agree that some of the comments were out of line, and I applaud the rest who spoke up to try to counter them. As an outside observer, though, I have to say that the very first comment struck me as not necessarily racist but pointing out the possibility of reverse racism... the fact that apparently police forces were brought out in excess for the Canisius College Spring Fest, and if the same actions are not taken for this celebration that would indeed be discrimination. I'm not familiar with the history of the Spring Fest or why the Mayor felt the need for this kind of extra security, so don't jump down my throat--I'm simply saying that from that comment, that is what I think the writer was trying to say. I'm also not familiar with the history of this festival in the past few years; were there in fact shootings? If so, then a higher level of security should be expected and demanded, by our entire community regardless of race, so that we can all feel safe and celebrate together instead of avoiding out of fear and perpetuating the segregation of our city.
In tackling such complex issues we all need to keep in mind that there ARE differences instead of pretending they don't exist. Celebrate the positive ones. Address the negative ones--such as violence & crime--so efforts can focus on eliminating (or at least reducing) them. Nothing will ever be resolved if we all look the other way and point the finger at those who openly voice their concerns. And some people need to learn how to do so with some tact...
in any case, I am a white woman who lives in the Elmwood/Allentown area, and I am planning on going to the festival for the first time--for no reasons other than that I didn't really know about it until now. If this festival is trying to promote cross-city mingling and integration of all our citizens, perhaps there should be a little more advertising in areas other than where it will take place--or have I just missed it?
p.s. ECB I'm holding my breath now too!
According to at least one news source, "Some have suggested the cost and manpower allocated at Canisius sets a precedent for police to now employ similar measures at much larger events such as the Allentown Art Festival, Juneteenth Festival, Taste of Buffalo, Italian Festival and the Greased Pole Festival.
In recent years, two of those events -- Juneteenth and the Greased Pole festivals -- were marred by violence that included shootings and stabbings."
Here's a link to the article: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1642410/
If the part of that quote regarding violence that included shootings and stabbings is true, then perhaps some of the comments above are not so unfounded. I have to say, "if they're true" because I honestly don't remember hearing about this in past years. Nevertheless, that's the perception. Maybe we should be addressing those issues and trying to correct the problems, rather than pretending they don't exist.
No sarcasm intended ebony. I think Juneteenth is a great festival and until this post I didn't know the origins of it. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom from what I understand of the article and one of those freedoms is speech. And whether we like it or not people are free to post whatever they like negative or positive about this and any other post. No need to be overly sensitive to the first post. And like I said its a good point on a larger issue. I don't think its a negative reflection on the festival itself.
Anyways, I hope this years festival is a wonderful celebration of freedom and culture and "what Amreica is" Good luck to the event coordinators and enjoy to all those attending.
There are security concerns at every large event, any police chief will tell you that, hopefully they'll have sufficient security present at this event. I haven't been to Juneteenth in a few years, but they are always alot of fun ( Good food, entertainment,vendors market). And a great place to go to see people you haven't seen in years.
Freedom? Whose freedom? I can tell you all that the black community isn't free. Bogged down with violence, lack of respect, and the love of all things material and of course there's that damn racism thing that still exists. And we won't never forgive the white race for what Vanilla Ice did to our music.
1. Race isn't a card. It isn't some kind of trick that people play. It's real and it has real effects. The sooner we retire "playing the race card" from common usage, the sooner we can get down to the task of reversing those effects.
2. The mayor called in that ridiculous police response to the Canisius party because he lives two blocks away.
3. White, West Side, gone before but not going this year.
Colin, you're right in that race shouldn't be a card. It is real and has real effects--unfortunately sometimes it is used as that, and, as mbhxam said, any kind of negative comments ever made regarding a community that may be primarily populated by African Americans automatically gets torn apart by accusations of racial prejudice. I said above, (as ToughInTheStreets did) that the comment about the police presence did not seem racist to me, but just look at the immediate outcry simply because of that mention of security in a black neighborhood.
Which is certainly not to say it should never be brought up--but when we start to do it at every turn as a knee-jerk reaction to anything that MIGHT be offensive to anyone, we're not only belittling the issue, we're censoring ourselves for fear of being misunderstood and attacked, and actually solidifying the biases that already exist... the boy who cried wolf. The same thing goes for any fight for equality: the last thing we want is for aspects of real problems to become so overplayed in the minutia that no one listens to the valid complaints anymore. Which only makes the cycle continue... so let's keep our eye on the ball, you know?
I find ECB's viewpoint to be condescending and insulting toward the CSAT students:
There are a group of students at the Charter School for Applied Technology--African American and Caucasian--monitoring this site, and it hurts to know that they will read what is here and feel a deep sense of sadness that other people don't understand what they know. ... CSAT crew, this is simply what surfaced. Don't think you're reading the majority opinion here.
If the students are considered mature enough to benefit educationally(?) by "monitoring" a blog like Buffalo Rising, then there's no need for them to be coddled or shielded from seeing a broad diversity of opinions and attitudes.
The CSAT students are perfectly capable of learning to put differing views into perspective and context, all as part of appreciating the value of free speech and open debate. In fact, instead of just monitoring, the students who want to do so should be allowed to register as users and comment either way on this topic or any topic on Buffalo Rising.
AtwaterLouse....I feel that the word "monitoring" doesn't need to be used in " " nor does your use of the word educationally. These students check this site regularly...as there has been an article in the past by ECB mentioning the positves of promoting diversity and tolerance that these kids are promotoing on a dialy basis. The article featured them....hence they check the site regularly. Please check your facts before making assumptions on what is educational about checking a blog and what is not. As for free speech, they are not debating the right to have or participate in free speech...in fact "monitoring" (as you so elegantly used in " ") a blog such as this, if anything, is promoting their knowledge and acceptance of different opinions. However, they also have the right to be uspet over some of the connotations regarding some of the original comments. As for being coddles or shielded, please try to walk in thier shoes before assuming you know what they know. Perhaps it is disheartening for them to try and change and make a positive step when people clearly aren't completely ready for this...perhaps they have been mislead a bit into the nature of some of the readership on here...who knows. As for commenting...read the ones from Ebony....maybe you would be able to catch on. Collective minds have already been commenting...don't always assume to know what you don't!
Sure, there are times when people seem to claim racism is at play when it's convenient for them and when the claim seems unsupported by the facts. Three things about that, though:
1. There's a big difference between saying "that claim is unwarranted" and saying "don't play the race card." The former is rational and recognizes the possibility that race may be at play, while the latter trivializes the whole concept. We can get rid of one without losing the other.
2. The perception of both race and racism is wildly subjective. There's no consensus about what these terms mean, either in academic circles or on the street. An objective basis for judgment is hard to find. Add to that the fact that everyone has a different lived experience, and it gets real hard to tell someone that their perception of racism is false.
3. Finally, that perception IS reality for that person, no matter what anyone else thinks about it. And the rest of us have to live with the effects of that perception -- whatever they may be -- regardless of what we think of it. It seems to me, then, that the effort to not offend people is less a knee-jerk reaction than a recognition that there are a whole lot of realities out there for us to navigate if we want to get along successfully.
ebonylove - It is you who are stating assumptions about what I'm assuming. I assumed none of the things you assumed I did.
Which are the comments from Ebony? In some other article? I'll be happy to read the, as you suggest, but I don't see them here. If my thought that they should comment is already happening, that's good to hear. I never said they weren't already.
I disagree with AtwaterLouse, I don't think ECB was being condescending nor insulting to the students at the Charter School Of Apllied Technology. I think she's correct in her observation of the students there. I have a 13 year old nephew that attends school there, and her discription describes him to a t. I am very encouraged by this sense of unity that this younger generation has. They are growing up in a more multicultural, multiethnic society and are therefore more excepting of cultural differences than previous generations were. We can all learn alot from them.
Regarding being upset or disheartened by comments one reads or anywhere or hears in real life, that's the price of open debate.
Quite possibly HeatherSmiles was upset or disheartened when Kern's comment called her out by name (in capital letters) as shamefully bigoted for her simply saying ''Anyone from the Elmwood crowd heading to this parade?" in the fourth comment here.
If we could ensure nobody ever got upset or disheartened while still having free and open speech, then of course I'd want it so. But it's impossible to do both.
Marcia - I just think your 13 year old nephew can see everything here and learn how to sort it all out. That's why I found it condescending to imply that he should see only positive comments.
I basically agree with what you're saying, Colin. This is a deep and very complex issue that I don't think anyone can completely grasp in its entirety. What bothered me about your previous comment that "race is not a card" is that it totally dismissed any valid complaint that unfortunately, sometimes it is. I understand what you were trying to say and I agree with that as well--as I said, race shouldn't be a card. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that it never is.
If we all try our hardest to filter through all the mess and identify what these reactions are, where they may be coming from, and if there is in fact any possibility of racial prejudices (in ourselves and in others) before making accusations, I think that would be a huge step in the right direction. Not to mention that would allow for more open and constructive discussion on the topic. The more we are all aware of the smoke & mirrors the better we can see through to the real problem and work towards resolving it.
@ AtwaterLouse I get your point... Of course we can't shield our youth from negativity on this blog or in life for that matter. I just think that ECB meant that sometimes commentors can be not just negative but ignorant as well. Ignorance can be very embarrassing, I beleive that's what she meant when she said that she was holding her breath when she posted this article.
Marcia - I understand what you're saying too, but we all can be ignorant and embarrassing about different things at times. To me the more important a topic is, all the more benefit to freedom of expressing diverse opinions even at the risk of showing those qualities.
If CSAT students also regularly read or monitor the Challenger newspaper (which I think is as good an idea as them monitoring Buffalo Rising), they'll often see columns and editorials that are much more stark about E Side crime than are comments 1 to 4 of this thread which caused a few overboard reactions.
If anything about this is worth holding breath over, it'd be the overreactions, political correctness, and the idea that it's ok for some people to say some things but if others say essentially the same thing then it's attacked as being bigoted. I don't think those concepts promote true unity, only superficial.
What did your nephew and his classmates think about the comments here in total? Does he think the open discussion even if sometimes uncomfortable is a positive thing, or does he think people should be very cautious about sharing unpopular opinions? Curious what are their views on the bigger picture.
The point I'm trying to make here is that this generation of young people have a totally different outlook on race, and culture than previous generations ever had. Thank goodness for that. Oh and by the way my 13 yr old nephew has been performing in the Juneteenth parade every year since he was 6yrs old. And he reads the Challenger regularly.
Excellent, sounds like he's getting a good range of views. He'll find comments 1 and 4 here mild by comparison to what he reads from several Challenger columnists in their rightful outrage. If I quoted directly from some of those and posted it on BR, there'd a lot of complaints from people who breath-hold or scream bigotry even in what Heather wrote for example. It's sometimes strong stuff and very open about discussing violent crime.
I'm not arguing with anything you wrote. Don't mean it to sound that way.
@ AtwaterLouse I don't feel that you are arguing, quite the contrary I think this dialogue has been very cathartic. I still firmly agree with ECB's comment about the students.....They live what we all need to work toward, and that is a feeling of unity amidst obvious differences of history and skin color.....
My comment above was never meant to be racist or to imply that people should not attend Juneteenth. I go every year, but can never get my hypocritical friends to go with me. Shame on me, I guess.
I can see how oversensitivity has killed any chance of open discourse and humor in America. It is really sad that a sarcastic comment could be taken so far out of context and blown out of proportion in the way it was here.
Then again, it looks like it lead so some very open and honest dialog from Colin, Atwater, Light of the moon, and Marcia.
ACTIVIST - You should be ASHAMED OF YOURSELF for making such quick judgments about people you don't know. You automatically assume that I am racist because I made a reference to Elmwood and Juneteenth in the same post. You better check yourself first before you jump to conclusions again, it sounds like you have some unresolved issues to deal with.
The comments were not racist...they were set to imply Byron Brown's awful choice of sending swat teams out to a college party and wastting $40000 in the process. That was what the comments were in reference to...lighten up people...if it was a white guy festival and comments like this were being made then people wouldnt freak out nearly as much. I am not white so dont even try to play a card on me. The simple fact is that countless groups and races create parades and celebrations celebrating who they are and what they have become. But as soon as somebody makes a comment they respond with, "just because i am _____ doesnt mean im any different than you". I dont go aroudn having a brown kid in med school parade!....if you are having parades to celebrate your individuality and culture you have to accept that there are infact going to be people that see you as exactly that....
Off to another topic (Gays in Buffalo) I find it ironic that we just celebrated Gay Pride last weekend and we are still being harrased by people right in the streets of downtown Buffalo. I went to Thursday at the Square last night with some friends and just minding our own business when at least 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS at different sections just felt like they had to scream out FAGS at us....Did we do anything to start this? NO...funny, How I just moved here from NYC and the entire time I lived there NOT ONCE was I EVER degrated by complete strangers in the street for simply being myself, I come back to this town thinking it has finally changed (just alittle) and 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS of people destroy my entire experience of being back here. I'm thinking of moving back to NYC where different is norm and noone gives a f*(*@ what and who you are.
Off to another topic (Gays in Buffalo) I find it ironic that we just celebrated Gay Pride last weekend and we are still being harrased by people right in the streets of downtown Buffalo. I went to Thursday at the Square last night with some friends and just minding our own business when at least 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS at different sections just felt like they had to scream out FAGS at us....Did we do anything to start this? NO...funny, How I just moved here from NYC and the entire time I lived there NOT ONCE was I EVER degrated by complete strangers in the street for simply being myself, I come back to this town thinking it has finally changed (just alittle) and 5 DIFFERENT GROUPS of people destroy my entire experience of being back here. I'm thinking of moving back to NYC where different is norm and noone gives a f*(*@ what and who you are.
GDC that's awful. It's a shame that a handful of people can do something so hateful and give you the impression that that is what our city is full of. I really hope you don't let those ignorant few ruin your whole Buffalo experience.
What were the groups, do you know? I've noticed in the past few years the religious groups in the square with their unfounded judgements and signs have gotten downright mean. Signs like "ask me why you're going to hell" and similar accusations of everyone but them being sinners--it was almost enough to make me not want to come, it made me so mad. How dare they presume that we're all terrible people?? Instead of boycotting Thursday at the Square, I actually designed my own little pamphlet to give to such groups... ;)
The way I see it, I know what's right for me and I live a good life. Hypocrites and other narrow-minded people with too much time on their hands will maybe someday see the light... if not they'll just continue to live their small, hate-filled existence and be miserable. That has nothing to do with me, so I'm not going to let it bother me.
My family and I go to Juneteenth almost every year. It's way more kid friendly than Allentown's art gig and the food is better as well! A few years ago we were able to attend the Universoul Circus--it was one of the best times we've had. I doubt we'll make it this year, but don't think we won't try.
Lightofthemoon, The people who out shouted names to us out of nowhere were mostly teenagers in the area, the religious people didn't shout anything to us because the crowd in the area were already shouting at them. We were harrased by groups starting at Chippewa Street all the way into the Sqaure by people just walking by. Is it because we walk different or speak different that upsets people around here?
Lightofthemoon, The people who out shouted names to us out of nowhere were mostly teenagers in the area, the religious people didn't shout anything to us because the crowd in the area were already shouting at them. We were harrased by groups starting at Chippewa Street all the way into the Sqaure by people just walking by. Is it because we walk different or speak different that upsets people around here?
its just teenagers being stupid young immature teenagers...they'll grow up and realize what the world is really like when they go to college....dont let them get to you
It's just a fact that they must have been raised to hate us, it's only when I'm in Buffalo do I see and get treated so old school in public by people. If these kids were in NYC where I just moved from, they would see life differently and not shout such hated words to total strangers. I was so tempted to throw objects and start punching the next person to shout FAG or FAGET at me or someone I was with, but I know THAT would be wrong.
GDC you realize there is gay bashing in NYC but people there tend to be beaten and killed. You may not have seen it but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen a lot more than here.
Just to bring it back to Juneteenth, sure occasionally violence might break out but that happens anywhere theres large number of people drinking. I happen to see someone STABBED at the Fair before, does anyone even think it's not safe there? of course not.
Don't let a few bad apples ruin the bunch.
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