Afro-American Historical Society Hosts 18th Annual MLK Program

The Afro-American Historical Society will remember and celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy this year by hosting their 18th annual program with keynote speaker, Dr. Douglas L. Hoston Jr. leading a presentation on John Henryism in Black America.

Dr. Hoston, a graduate of the University of Buffalo’s doctoral program and professor at Buffalo State College, will offer a presentation on John Henryism in Black America. The program will be held on Sunday, January 15 at 3 p.m. at The History Museum, 1 Museum CT in Buffalo, NY.

According to Dr. Hoston, “chronic stress leads to hypertension, depression, and anxiety that needs to be examined to improve the well-being of college students.” His research focuses on helping Black and Brown students utilize John Henryism (a coping strategy for African Americans) to overcome perceived racial strife within a learning environment through prolonged tenacious work and determination.

The 43rd Annual Community Event Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The 43rd Annual Celebration of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held Thursday, Jan. 12 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue. The Hon. Clifford Bell will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the program which features Poet Laurate Jillian Hanesworth and performances by We All Storytellers and the Students from the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call (716)858-8900.

Embarrassed

It was called the perfect storm. When it was over at least 40 people perished either in, or as a result of, the Christmas blizzard.

I can recall my first perfect storm, the Blizzard of 77. I was 10 years old when it hit. The storm shut the city down for days. Forty-five years later what have we learned? NOTHING!

I know one thing, we were lied to every year about the city’s so-called snow emergency plans.

In the wake of the 2022 blizzard Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz called the city’s response to the storm “embarrassing.” Was Poloncarz correct? In my opinion - Yes!

And for those who attempted to play the “race card” as a result of Poloncarz comments in reference to the mayor, please put the card back in your pocket!

On YouTube a former rapper mentioned the young lady Anndel Taylor, who died in her car trying to get home. He also asked a very important question, one that I have brought up in my facebook live post - where is all this federal money that was allocated to Buffalo? Second, what is the federal money that’s coming into the city thanks to President Biden, going to be spent on?

The rapper asked another very good question - after all the snow storms that Buffalo gets year after year, why do we not have the necessary up dated equipment to rescue people and move vehicles and equipment in snow removal and other emergency operations?

Meanwhile Poloncarz found himself having to apologize for some of the comments he made (the mayor referred to his comments as “hysterics”), but he was absolutely correct in reference to this city's leader dropping the ball and the embarrassing reality that the City of Buffalo is always the last to be cleared out in any snow storm. In the suburbs I have personally seen highlifts with huge snowblowers attached to them clearing the major roads. Why doesn't Buffalo have anything remotely similar? Where is all the federal monies allocated to Buffalo over the years during these snow storms?

The state, county and city should always have emergency teams formed and a command center. Also the city police should have equipment that the state police has. There should be two snow mobiles in every police district, there should be emergency teams trained to search and rescue people in distress in vehicles and homes.

This perfect storm brought out the good and the bad in the so-called "City of Good Neighbors." People came out to help those stranded and offered shelter to those caught out in this storm. People came out and ignored the travel band to do welfare checks on our elderly and sick and shut in. People were delivered life giving essentials such as food and water and some were given hot meals.

The bad also reared its ugly head during the mist of the storm, LOOTING, which took place throughout the entire city, not just the East and West sides. The North and South sides also were looted. However the consequences of this looting is going to cost the Black community dearly. It’s been been confirmed that the Aldi's located on Broadway will not be reopening. The Save-A-Lot Market on Genesee St. is said to be not re-opening as well.

I look for a brighter future for the Black community but only if we continue to fight for what we are entitled. Let us demand that they spend more money for people services such as updating the fire departments and purchasing more snow rescue and snow removal equipment. The police do not need any more equipment to garrison the community.

Since the County was responsible for the initiative to get a large part of the city open, we should take County Executive Poloncarz up on suggesting that with more capabilities, and working with the state, they would better find a way to get through these storms quicker by taking over operations if need be.

Sounds like a plan that should be considered. I'm Just Saying...