This is a special 2-part report. In this piece, we look at possible solutions to the racial equity challenges in Buffalo; and where those solutions should come from. Our earlier reporting touchedon what racism looks like in WNY.
Black, Brown and Indigenous leaders in Buffalo are looking to government to solve the problems of poor access to jobs, and overall community segregation, according to a WBFO survey.
As part of our Racial Equity project, WBFO surveyed over 130 BIPOC community leaders and found the number one problem was lack of jobs and equal economic opportunity. Generalized segregation and prejudice and the need for better housing round out the top three items cited most often.
For most, discrimination was something they have had to deal withat least once in the past week (approx. 26 percent). For others it was a daily or monthly occurrence (20 percent each).
And a little over a quarter of those surveyed believe local government is best suited to solve these problems. While community organizations and individuals were toward the bottom of the list—government was singled out most often as being best equipped to make a difference on racial equity.
Taken together, state, federal and local governments were easily in the majority, with almost 49 percent of respondents putting the responsibility for change on them.
One respondent -who wished not to be identified publicly- was particularly blunt saying local government should "find a soul".
Another respondent replied that within the City of Buffalo, significant areas are being “largely ignored” by city government and redevelopment projects are going to the same developers who are looking “only to increase their income over what is truly needed” in a neighborhood.
A Tale of Two Cities
It possible to drive the entirety of a main thoroughfare in the City of Buffalo, say East Delavan Ave. in the Langfield neighborhood, west to Niagara Street and pass through several different neighborhoods of several different socio-economic conditions, said another.
East Buffalo resident Sherry Sherrill said the stark contrast from neighborhood to neighborhood in the city is proof that more can be done to help Buffalo's underserved communities.
“On one hand, persons might say, well, the city is undergoing a profound Renaissance," she said. "That would be an absolutely correct assessment.
"Another individual living perhaps on the east side of the city might say racism is at an all-time high. Lack of investment disinvestment, in fact, and opportunities do not abound for persons that reside within my zip code.”
So what does that leave local government to do?
Survey respondents offered some solutions. But beyond just saying that government has a large role, consensus on any single solution isn't there.
"There is no silver bullet. Change comes through collective actions," one wrote.
Another suggested there needs to be more minority owned companies having direct and small contracts for big development jobs—not just working as sub-contractors.
While government- broadly defined at the state, local and federal level- was singled out most often as the agency of change, survey participants most often suggested specific solutions that business could undertake.
Business leaders in the private sector need to ask themselves how they are committed to creating a more equitable workforce, one said, citing the region's success with family-owned businesses, yet another person said.
But lacking access, connections and mentorship many potential employees of color are often locked out of the ability to showcase their merit.
“We need to have paradigm shift," Thomas Beauford, President and CEO of The Buffalo Urban League said in an earlier interview that showed the needs and solutions are not a new addition to the civic dialogue. In effect, we've know what the region needs, he says.
"Break molds if you will, and really design programs and remove barrier entries and just look at if changes are not made it will just perpetuate this legacy of inequities, " Buauford said.
From her work as a consultant Sherrill said even small business owner of color lack the tools to apply for certain loans that are available.
“Are they going to have ready access to a small business working capital loan?" She said. "It's arguable. And who defines that, who determines that, who addresses that if that is in fact the case?”
But a number of respondents say there isn’t just one entity that can fix these problems and that a collaborative effort is needed between government, business concerns, education, health care providers and the community.
It’s within the community where longtime Activist Jim Anderson feels a change towards a more equitable Western New York will come from.
“Everything is a push forward to action," he said of using organizing as a tool for change.
Other similar answers:
- 'Individuals & community organizations need to help lead the way, but definitely followed up with/by businesses, schools, and government."
- " Organizing their community agitating the consciousness of awareness of issues and the need to elect & hold politicians accountable. "
- "It is really all of the above. There is no silver bullet. Change comes through collective actions. "
- "It will take a true collaboration of this entire community."
Sherrill said there is a shared obligation to continue to break down barriers of racism and bring about more equitable outcomes for the people most harmed by systemic racism.
“I think," she said. "That every single resident, every single citizen, every single visitor, every single guest or tourists, every single student every single senior, every single neighbor here in Buffalo is able to contribute to that fight and to that cause.”
Much like the protests, civil disobedience and civic education meetings which followed the killings of George Floyd in Brianna Taylor almost three years ago, Anderson believes shared pain can bring about shared action towards a more racially harmonious future in Western New York.
“The one voice that thought they were alone got a massive voice now," he said.
"They’re out there in the open where everybody can see it and they’re expressing it, and in it they’re feeling their own power and they recognize ‘we don't have to take it.
" From pain to protest to power. Now the reason I say that and why it's important for the people that I say the people are the leaders, people who are in pain say ouch and sometimes when they say ouch they say it in isolation thinking they’re only one.”
SUGGEST A SOLUTION:
A sampling of survey answers
“Keep talking about the issues
Creating in-community development using a critical social justice lens towards building a community/society that intentionally confronts the ills of racism and prejudices.
“I’m not exactly sure. Addressing the issue requires a wholesale commitment across all sectors.
“It's a webbed system of issues that all feed off each other and continue to snowball generationally. The problem is so intricate and widespread that you could really take your pick at where to start but addressing redlining and its negative impact to the upward socioeconomic mobility for many People of Color would be a good start.
“Recognize the inequalities and take direct and focused actions to address. It is not one thing or hiring one. Rather it’s creating, implementing and measuring for the long term.”
“Institutions should intentionally pursue examining the racial equity impact of their actions and policies.”
“Recruit much more intensely in communities of color for service, paraprofessional, and professional/administrative jobs, make information to civil service jobs much more accessible.”
WHAT CAN COMMUNITY GROUPS DO?
“Instead of depending on the government to solve our moral decay, the community; included but not limited to the faith-based institutions, block clubs and parents need to address the growing breakdown of the family structure
“Use a Trauma-Informed Approach to identify, define, and address issues of Historical Traumas and more culturally-tailored interventions for all communities.
“Better implicit bias education and training; better diversity education and training.”
“Racial bias education.”
WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENT DO?
“Find a soul”
“Greater enforcement of MWBE goals “
“Going to the people living in these problem areas and asking them directly what is needed.”
“Funds are needed for the local organizations to be focused and have a way to pay for social determinants of health programs needed to educate the community.”
“Aggressive code enforcement “
“Hold local and county government financially responsible for a deficient number of employees of color; Increase and invest in year round Mayor Summer Youth & Paid Service for College Student.”
“Hiring mandates that reflect the population of the city residents. Residency requirements for city contracted jobs, city, state, and county jobs. Opportunities and access to on the job training opportunities in positions that need BIPOC representation.”
“Investing Federal money in addressing the social determinants of health”
“Even though we (in Buffalo) have a Black mayor, and he has to consider the development of key areas of the city, he has largely ignored the East Side. More attention needs to be paid to the redevelopment of the East Side and not with the usual players - a handful of the same developers looking only to increase their income over what is truly needed there.”
“Allow minority companies to have direct contracts and small contracts not just be subcontractors.”
“Prepare a real strategic plan to lose our status of consistently being the third poorest city in the nation.”
“Make sure all schools have what they need for there their students to be successful.”
“Use funding to provide down payment on houses and accessible loans to people of color.”
“Prevent housing discrimination in the sale, rental and financing by enacting the original goals of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (FHA).”
“I propose a business training development incubator at the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority.”
WHAT SHOULD BUSINESS DO?
“Increased financial empowerment of individuals, including credit and budget proficiency.”
“Equity in hiring - blind eye.”
“Business needs to do a better job of sourcing and hiring qualified diverse talent.”
“Building single or double family units where they can be purchased by the residents. This will build equity in their community.”
“Government should work to incentivize businesses who are doing the right thing.”
“Leaders in the private sector need to ask themselves how they're committed to creating an equitable workforce. Our region is filled with small, family owned businesses. These firms can have anywhere from 5 to 50 employees, and those jobs are often reserved for family, and friends who have connections. Willingness to learn, family values, and loyalty are all staples of the American minority, but with no mentors or advocates with direct access to hiring, the opportunity to showcase our merit just isn't there.“
“Local firms can start by self-identifying how much of their workforce consist of people of color, or how many services and products are purchased from minority owned business. They can establish percentage goals for fulfillment, and hold themselves accountable to make a real effort in recruitment by partnering with local organizations, and agencies who have better access to these communities. If there is not a service or eligible worker prepared to handle a specific job role, how can we train a promising individual to give them that opportunity to serve in the future?”
“It’s a weird line between gentrification and diversity. There needs to be more support offered to Black People, starting at the ground level with education and resources.”
WHAT SHOULD SCHOOLS DO?
“Teach the real history including critical race theory.”
“Schools should do more to better equip students by offering real world curriculum and not the current antiquated model that’s being offered.”
“Much more diligent monitoring of school halls and classrooms to insure that there is a climate conducive to raise students' expectations.”
“Encouraging greater interest in teaching - career development in the educational system.”
“Racial bias education.”
WHAT SHOULD INDIVIDUALS DO?
Individuals need to shift their mindsets and take more accountability for their communities and advocating for them more.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE RACIAL INEQUITY THAT BUFFALO FACES IN 2022?
A sampling of comments from the WBFO survey:
Lack of Economic Opportunity:
"The inability to create wealth
"Lack of Employment/Jobs
"Economic insecurity
"Economic disparity
"Opportunities for well-paid work positions, especially in growing firms, and social access to hiring decision makers.
"Poor access to capital due past systemic inequities. Lack of minority input in city planning projects.
Inability to tap into "contracting opportunities in government for example Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority
"All the issues of Inequality are interrelated ; but economic inequity is connected to education, health , housing…"
Inequality in Education:
"High School students are allowed to perform poorly and promoted anyways and in doing so we are encouraging mediocrity"
Lack of Suitable, Available Housing:
"Most Black and people of color live in substandard housing
Criminal Justice Issues: "Systematic racism within the legal system from arrests, court, attorneys, juries... "
Societal Factors, Lack of Empathy & Public Education:
"The prevalence of modern day segregation
"The lack of inclusion of all peoples in recent efforts for racial justice. There is much more to be done while we also include Native Americans, Hispanic/Latino/a/x, and Asian & Pacific Islanders, as well as Black & African-Americans
"Not being directly involved in talks about inequity
"Racial discrimination / Prejudice. It has affected the quality of life across the human needs & rights in economic stability, housing, healthcare, education, legal/law system etc.
"Racial segregation
"Economic equity.
NOTES ON METHODOLOGY: Our racial equity initiative sent online surveys to over 130 grass-roots Black, Brown and Indigenous leaders - not including elected officials- in late February and early March.
Participants were asked:
- "What is the number one racial equity challenge that Buffalo faces in 2022?"
- "Who is best equipped to make a difference on this?"
- What solution should they pursue?"
They were also asked how recently the person had felt discriminated against and to provide a brief comment describing that. Those comments are the snapshots in our earlier report .
Eighty percent of our respondents identified as African-American or Black, approx. 12 percent as Hispanic or Latino , approx. 6 percent as native American and approx. 3 percent as other. Approx. 36 percent of our respondents were 55 to 64 years old. Twenty six percent said they were over 65, 20 percent was between 45 and 54, 15 percent was between 35 and 44, and 6 percent was 25-34.
