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Buffalo is viewed as one of the most segregated cities in America. If one were to take a map of the city as it stands today and split it into four sections, it would be easy to identify which ethnic groups lived there. North Buffalo has been known as the predominantly Italian side with its own “Little Italy” running along Hertel Avenue. Many of the Italian families in North Buffalo had roots in the lower Westside, however, with the influx of newer immigration groups and better opportunities for second and third-generation Italian families, many families moved to the northern suburbs of North Buffalo.  The Westside is predominantly Latino, with Puerto Ricans making up most of that group followed by a scattering of Italian families left over after the Italian exodus. South Buffalo is the blue-collar-working-poor Irish part of town. Many of South Buffalo’s residents had ties to the steel and flour mills that dominated the industrial past of the city. The Eastside was a predominantly Polish section of the city, however over the years like the Westside, other groups moved in and made it their own. Although there are still many Polish families and influences in this part of town, with the name of parishes that still have Polish flavor, Buffalo’s Eastside is known as the black or African American part of town. Unfortunately, this section of town is perhaps the largest and yet arguably the poorest, due in part to many decisions made in the past which left the Eastside a forgotten piece of the Buffalo puzzle. The City of Lights Years before the 1901 Pan American Exposition took place within the city limits; Buffalo had already enjoyed growth due to its importance in the shipping industry.  Set some eighty-eight years after Buffalo was burned to the ground by the British during the War of 1812, the Pan-American Exposition was a celebration of the city and the area. At the time of the Pan American Exposition, the city of Buffalo had a population of 350,000 people, making it the 8th largest city in the United States.  Thousands of people from all over the world made their way to Buffalo during the seven-month-long Exposition. Many came to see Nikola Tesla give electrical demonstrations using electrical power fed from Niagara Falls which gave the city of Buffalo its nickname, The City of Lights.  Many others flocked to the city to see musical performances at the Temple of Music. The Pan-American Exposition was planned to take place years before, but due to the onset of the Spanish American War; those plans were put on hold. Following the war, as the United States further began to put its imprint on Spain’s former Latin American territories such as Cuba and Puerto Rico, the Pan American Exposition became a symbol of Pan Americanism, and the city of Buffalo became a national symbol of pride. To be continued in next month’s column. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports A BITTERSWEET NIGHT, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF “GITANAA July 6, 2023/No Comments On Saturday, June 24th, my wife and I joined a few friends and enjoyed a night of live Latin music Read More MAKING A MARK ON OUR YOUTH June 6, 2023/No Comments During my column last month, I wrote about having the opportunity to visit my childhood school, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy, Read More IT STARTS WITH A BOOK May 12, 2023/No Comments IT STARTS WITH A BOOK On Friday, April 29th, I will have attended the 13th Annual Dia del Ninos y Read More Load More End of Content.

A LOOK BACK INTO BUFFALO’S HISTORY I’m a firm believer in looking into the past to shape one’s future. As a media professional and history buff, and one who holds degrees in both subjects, I’ve always been fascinated with reading history, researching, and documenting it for future generations. Many years ago, I wrote a research paper on Buffalo’s history, specifically how it failed in urban renewal efforts, and while thinking of this month’s column, I thought it would be a great opportunity to look back and share my writing over the next few months. With that said, here is the first part: Failures in Urban Renewal:  Buffalo Politics 1900 to 1989  Over the years, throughout America’s Rust Belt region, where steel factories once stood and American industry strived, urban decay and poverty have seen a rise. In cities such as Detroit, Flint, Gary, Indiana, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, there has recently been a steady decline in population and jobs. Buffalo, New York is one such city, and the presence of urban decay and the remnants of abandonment are visible if one were to take a tour throughout much of the city’s East Side. Throughout its history, Buffalo New York has been known by many names that gave a great representation of what the city had to offer. Whether it was the City of Lights, the City of Good Neighbors, or the Queen City, Buffalo has always prided itself in identifying the positive aspects of its rich and vast history. Buffalo, New York is a city rich in history and influence, not only in the prosperity of the State of New York but also in its importance to the American landscape, given its location on the Great Lakes. During the early part of the 1900s, Buffalo was a growing city with a bright future, however by the 1950s, the city reached its plateau, and the loss of industry and population would follow over the next fifty years.  Over the last century, starting in the early 1900s, Buffalo’s neighborhoods have seen several changes and renewal projects which haven’t always positively shaped the city. Political, racial, and social discrimination and bias have played many roles in the shaping of Buffalo throughout the twentieth century, and these influences have forever shaped the city’s identity, especially if one looked at the way Buffalo’s African American community was created and treated throughout the last century. From the early years of the Pan-American Exposition, the American Negro exhibits displayed black men and women living in shacks and villages as a representation of the AfricaAmericansan, to the creation of urban public housing and the riots which shocked the city in 1967, the African American community in Buffalo has a rich and sad history tied to many failures connected to city planning and political influence… — to be continued in next month’s issue. Read More From This Writer All Post Business Culture Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Our Community Peace People Sports A LOOK BACK INTO BUFFALO’S HISTORY August 18, 2022/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More RETHINKING THE FOOD WE EAT July 18, 2022/No Comments RETHINKING THE FOOD WE EAT At the time of writing this article, I can accurately claim that I am an Read More TWO PUNKS WITH GUNS June 18, 2022/No Comments TWO PUNKS WITH GUNS Just as I was gearing up to write this month’s column that was to be dedicated Read More Load More End of Content.