Racism in Buffalo (Amherst, Cheektowaga, West Seneca: middle-class, neighborhoods, school districts)

[Canerican]

The other day I was listening the radio, and they were discussing racism in a certain city in Texas (I don't remember which). A caller who claimed to be Hispanic said that the only two cities where he felt alot of racism were El Paso and Buffalo (he said has been to every major US city because he is a trucker).

So is there alot of racism in Buffalo? I personally have indeed seen it. I have actually heard the n-word used quite a few times, not usually directly at a black person, but usually someone referring to a black person. I have also been called, "a typical honky," by someone at my work.

I have also heard that Buffalo ranks very highly in the most racist cities. It tends to be in the top 10 whenever they do these lists, along with Boston, Flint, and a few other North Eastern, and Rust Belt cities. (None in the South, to my surprise). I honestly think that it has alot to do with affirmative action giving less qualified people jobs, especially when more qualified people need to work too. There is ALOT of affirmative action in the city and county jobs, it is not a meritocracy. When people see a certain race getting ahead solely because of the color of their skin, they tend to be irrational, and hate the entire race, not the dumb policies.

So, your opinions, is there more than an average amount of racism in Buffalo?

[truemuck]

Maybe, it is one of the few places I know where the word Polak is used a lot. Although, I know a lot of Polish people who used that term when they're joking around.
Maybe, we just have a different sense of humor than people in other areas? At a previous job, one of my best friends, (that I still keep in touch with) there was from West Seneca and there were a number of people there who couldn't stand us. So who knows?

[UpstaterInBklyn]

Buffalo, along with other Northeastern and Rust Belt cities, is very segregated, which DOES NOT mean racist, but segregation tends to lead people to act out of ignorance and misunderstanding, because they don't interact much with people of other races and have the opportunity to experience shared values.

Those lists of Northeastern cities you are referring to might be referring to segregation, not racism. Integration tends to increase with prosperity and economic growth, allowing people of color to rise into the middle class in greater numbers.

It seems to me - and this purely anecdotal - that Buffalo has a small African-American middle-class population compared to a lot of other cities, probably due to the general bad state of the local economy for so many years.

Surprisingly, the American cities that have large proportions of African-American middle class are in the South - Atlanta and Memphis in particular. It is no accident that they are also growing, more prosperous regions.

[Canerican]

Great post Upstater.

But one thing, a few of these polls that I have read spoke not on of segregation (which is undoubtable in places like Buffalo (Cheektowaga), Cleveland (Parma), and Pittsburgh (Coreapolis)) but of actual racism, like racist words being directed at one, and "institutionalized racism."

I really wish that Buffalo's black population could be more successful, it would be good for everyone.

[gera1488]

Originally Posted by Canerican

Great post Upstater.
I really wish that Buffalo's black population could be more successful, it would be good for everyone.

So if i understand what you state clearly, it is because the black population is less successful that they are the object to segregation/racism?!
What about the portion of white folks that are unsuccessful? Why aren't they object of segregation as well? I completely disagree with this statement Canerican! Segregation and racism exist and has existed for centuries in every country of the world! Blaming a socio-cultural group of the population for the high rate of racism in the city is not acceptable

[Canerican]

Originally Posted by gera1488

So if i understand what you state clearly, it is because the black population is less successful that they are the object to segregation/racism?!

Yes that is what I am saying, and I am right. And it isn't blacks only, it can be whites, or whatever demographic group. If you are poor, you simply can't go anywhere you want, you will end up being somewhat self-segregated.

I find it strange that someone WHO DOESN'T EVEN live in Buffalo (and who never has, and has only lived in America for a short while) is lecturing me on racism... I've seen some weird things before...

Let me give some advice, when you move here, don't tell us how our country/city works or should work, you will get the cold shoulder pretty quick. I am not saying it to be rude at all, I'm saying it for your benefit.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by UpstaterInBklyn

Buffalo, along with other Northeastern and Rust Belt cities, is very segregated, which DOES NOT mean racist, but segregation tends to lead people to act out of ignorance and misunderstanding, because they don't interact much with people of other races and have the opportunity to experience shared values.

Those lists of Northeastern cities you are referring to might be referring to segregation, not racism. Integration tends to increase with prosperity and economic growth, allowing people of color to rise into the middle class in greater numbers.

It seems to me - and this purely anecdotal - that Buffalo has a small African-American middle-class population compared to a lot of other cities, probably due to the general bad state of the local economy for so many years.

Surprisingly, the American cities that have large proportions of African-American middle class are in the South - Atlanta and Memphis in particular. It is no accident that they are also growing, more prosperous regions.

Very good points and I think it is more separation versus segregation which involves the law.

I think that most of the Black middle class in Buffalo lives either in some of the nicer urban neighborhoods like North Buffalo and Elmwood or they live in Amherst, Cheektowaga and sprinkled throughout the suburbs. I would say that Amherst, Sweet Home, Williamsville and maybe Cheektowaga and Kenmore have said people in higher concentrations, relatively speaking, in those suburban school districts.

Here is some interesting information on the Black community in Buffalo: http://wings.buffalo.edu/academic/de...o-2-25-96.html

http://www.buffaloah.com/h/af/index.html

[JustinH]

Plenty of "reverse racism" is going on here in Buffalo.

People are picked for higher positions, promotions, or new jobs because they are non-white.

I've seen it at two major corporations that I have worked for in the Buffalo area, so don't tell me it isn't happening.

Then take a look at the scholarships, and grants going on for higher education. My girlfriend is going for her master's at UB, and some of the scholarships are so blatantly racist its unreal. African American this, Hispanic that, American Eskimo this, and on and on.

Being a white person is sometimes harder as well.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

Originally Posted by gera1488

So if i understand what you state clearly, it is because the black population is less successful that they are the object to segregation/racism?!
What about the portion of white folks that are unsuccessful? Why aren't they object of segregation as well? I completely disagree with this statement Canerican! Segregation and racism exist and has existed for centuries in every country of the world! Blaming a socio-cultural group of the population for the high rate of racism in the city is not acceptable

You are also inferring that segregation and racism are synonymous. They are not. I made this quite clear in my post.

To say that a population is "segregated" means that people of different races live in different areas. No more, no less. Public policy that promotes or institutionalizes segregation has been illegal for decades, but segregation remains as a socio-economic phenomenon caused by a variety of factors including the overall economic climate and the types of housing available. Racism is the human activity of discrimination or prejudice based on race.

[mikesuicide]

Affirmative action was created because the white majority couldn't handle the responsiblity of fair hiring practices. I would suggest any white person out there licking their wounds about not being hired sit down for 20 minutes and read up on the subject then go blame their grandparents for putting them down this road.
Buffalo does have a 'wink and a nod' good ole boy mentality still around. It was worse years ago. If we were the most racist city we probably wouldn't have a black mayor.
If you were part of a race who had been treated subhuman, you might have a valid arguement about the jobs. You can't expect an entire race of people who have been behind the eight ball for 400 + years suddenly get their @$%* together because you as a majority decide its time. Slavery might have been outlawed with Lincoln but Rosa Parks was around much more recently. "Its hard to be white" is about as racist of a statement that I've ever heard. Just remember even in the most tolerated cities a white citizen is just a haircut, shave and a suit from a full time job, where a black man might not be so lucky.