A FRICAN A MERICAN
H ERITAGE G UIDE
THE
HISTORY
THE
SOUNDS
THE
CULTURE
A frican A merican Buffalo A Quilt of American Experience Buffalo is an heirloom quilt stitched with the tenacity and triumph of the African American spirit. The city was a final stop on the freedom train north from slavery and the Jim Crow South. In its heyday, Buffalo represented hope and self-empowerment for Black Americans, and a better life for generations to come. The weight and wonder of this rich legacy flows in blues riffs and jazz notes through the city. Black frontiersman Joseph Hodges was one of Buffalo’s earliest non-white settlers. Local griots oral historians - know that Underground Railroad conductor Harriet “Mother Moses” Tubman led bands of runaways through the Niagara region. Abolitionist William Wells Brown lived on Pine Street in Buffalo and helped fugitives cross the water into Canada Harriet Tubman when he worked for the Lake Erie Steamship Co. Frederick Douglass spoke to a full sanctuary at the Michigan Street Baptist Church. In 1905, W.E.B. DuBois, with other black leaders, planned the Niagara Movement and Booker T. Washington addressed crowds in Buffalo. Mary B. Talbert campaigned for anti-lynching legislation from her home on Michigan Avenue. Buffalo is where jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong jammed with local musicians at the Colored Musicians Club. Writer Ishmael Reed and pop R&B icon Rick James hail from Buffalo.“Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin (and her sisters) sang in a Buffalo church choir where her father served as a pastor. Buffalo is where the late Grover Washington Jr. cultivated the smooth in his sax. Cleveland Witherspoon invented the electronic car starter here. The vibrations of the African American experience are palpable in Buffalo. Catch the rhythm and realize the whole American story Grover Washington Jr. is right here.
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B lack B uffalo H istory A Last Stop Before Freedom
Frederick Douglass
Underground Railroad river crossing re-enactment
they crossed the border into Canada. In 1997, the Michigan Street Baptist Church became an official historic site when New York State Governor George Pataki signed the New York Freedom Trail Program Act at the church. In Broderick Park, on the Niagara
In 1816, there were 16 Black residents (nine listed as slaves) included among a Buffalo population of 400. By 1828, that number had grown to a community of about 60 who, shortly thereafter, organized the Vine Street African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Michigan Street Baptist Church. Along with the Colored Presbyterian Church and St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, these churches became the cornerstones of activity dedicated to building a free life in the urban North. At the beginning of the Civil War, the African American population in Buffalo numbered about 500; most were fugitive slaves or their descendants. Proximity to Canada – and to points West – made the city an important Underground Railroad station. Buffalo was pivotal in abolitionist and turn-of-the-century “race relations” movements. In 1843, the high point of the National Negro Convention, hosted by the Vine Street AME Church, was a debate between statesman and Rochester publisher Frederick Douglass and minister Henry Highland Garnett on whether or not the institution of slavery should be overthrown by force. In 1845, the congregation of the Michigan Street Baptist Church erected its own building at 511 Michigan Avenue. It still stands as the oldest property in the region built and continually owned by African Americans. During the peak of Underground Railroad activity, the church harbored tired runaways before
Proximity to Canada made Buffalo an important Underground Railroad station. The city was pivotal in abolitionist and turn-of-the-century “race relations” movements. River at the foot of Ferry Street, a plaque marks where other runaways crossed treacherous water to salvation. At the turn of the 20th century, Black people flooded into the city from Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia, from Tennessee and the Carolinas. During this first wave of the Great Migration, they found plentiful work in the steel mills and factories and as domestics. And nearly as soon as they arrived, they founded businesses, established services and organized social groups to support their segregated communities. There were Black-owned hotels, nightclubs, funeral parlors, cleaners, drug stores and restaurants in Buffalo. The city was home to nine Black newspapers, of which The Buffalo Criterion, founded during this period, is still a vital source of community information. Already established were a grocery cooperative, a
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Negro Businessman’s League, an American Colored Worker’s League and the Michigan Avenue YMCA, which was built in 1926 by a Black architect named John R. Brent. Buffalo also emerged as a place where African Americans gathered to chart their collective future. In 1905, it was the site of the first meeting of the Niagara Convention. In 1920, Dr. Theodore Kaakaza, a South African physician; Cornelius White, a window washer; Alfred Boykin, a grocer; and Arthur Lewis, publisher of the Buffalo American newspaper formed a local branch of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. During the time that UNIA Local No. 79 was active, Marcus Garvey made a number of visits. During the second wave of the Great Migration, beginning from about 1940, new masses of African Americans fled Jim Crow and flowed into the Queen City. As families relocated and sent back for other family members and friends, the Black population grew to 75,000. As the population increased, the network of support for life in the urban
North increased in proportion. The evolution of this network – defined by a strong sense of family, faith and cultural tradition – forms the heartbeat of the present-day city. Buffalo is more than 37 percent African American and nearly 50 percent people of color. During the summer, almost every glorious weekend in Buffalo offers a celebration of African American culture and heritage. Each December the African American community comes together in one of the few collective weeklong Kwanzaa celebrations in the country. Within Buffalo’s African American community, there is a genteel glow of Southern/African tradition and American wisdom. The light fills its clubs and churches and celebrations of self-love carried from grandmothers and generations past. Strong ancestral spirits hold the soul of the Buffalo legacy safe - with steady and persevering pride.
X MARY BURNETT TALBERT Z Mary Burnett Talbert was one of the most committed, versatile and tireless champions of social and political reform for race relations, anti-lynching and women’s rights. Born in Ohio in 1866, she graduated from Oberlin College before moving to Little Rock, Arkansas to teach. When she arrived in Buffalo in 1891 - as the bride of prominent real estate broker William H. Talbert - she already had earned distinction as the first Black high school principal in the state of Arkansas. In 1899, as a member of the Michigan Street Baptist Church, Talbert helped found the Phyllis Wheatley Club, the city’s first affiliate of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACWC). She also played a pivotal role in the advent of the Niagara Movement. In 1905, she opened her Michigan Avenue home to W.E.B. DuBois and 27 others for a secret planning meeting of the famous civil rights summit. By 1910 Talbert was lecturing nationally and internationally. In 1916 she became president of the NACWC, and during her two terms was instrumental in the restoration of the Frederick Douglass Home in Anacostia, Maryland. She also was president, vice president and director of the NAACP, and as chairman of its AntiLynching Committee lobbied nationally for passage of the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill. During World War I, she assisted with war loan drives, and became a Red Cross nurse with the American expeditionary forces in France. A year before her death in 1922, Talbert became the first African American woman to receive the prestigious NAACP Spingarn Award. She rests today in Forest Lawn Cemetery and Garden Mausoleum.
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X FREEDOM CROSSING Z The Niagara River was often the last crossing for people escaping slavery in the United States. From the early 1800s until the end of the Civil War in 1865, thousands of people passed through Western New York as they traveled to freedom in Canada. The Underground Railroad, a secret network of people who assisted those escaping slavery by providing money, food, clothing and temporary shelter, made the journey possible. The dramatic and heart-rending stories of the people who risked their lives for freedom, as well as the lasting heritage of their ancestors, can now be experienced at Freedom Crossing, the new Regional Underground Railroad Interpretive Center, on the campus of Niagara University in nearby Lewiston. Freedom Crossing tells the story of the Underground Railroad in Buffalo Niagara through historic photographs, artifacts, stories, audio stations, and art. Brochures and maps are available to Underground Railroad sites throughout the area such as the Michigan Street Baptist Church and Murphy Orchards. Freedom Crossing, located inside the Castellani Art Museum, is part of the New York State Heritage Trails initiative. The interpretive center is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.freedomcrossingniagara.com or call 716-286-8293.
MY BUFFALO RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON When I came home to Buffalo after receiving my college education, it was then I saw that Buffalo has amazing architecture - if you just stop and take the time to notice it. Many great architects - like Frank Lloyd Wright - built homes in Buffalo. You can find any style from a Cape Cod to a California bungalow to great mansions made with marble imported from Italy. It’s important that these buildings are preserved so that visitors can come to Buffalo and appreciate its architecture. When I visit Buffalo, now, I always point out my favorite buildings to my wife - especially places like the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Lafayette Square buildings and the huge wooden homes lining Humboldt Parkway. Buffalo has great opportunities to enjoy nature in places like Chestnut Ridge Park and Como Park; the hills and streams surrounding the area are beautiful. And Buffalo is in a great location. I like its proximity to places like Darien Lake, Niagara Falls and Toronto. And I have to admit: Buffalo’s snow is a highlight. I love it! Tony Award-winning actor and screenwriter Ruben Santiago-Hudson premiered his life story as told in “Lackawanna Blues” at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. He appeared with Halle Berry on the ABC-TV movie “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and on Broadway in August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean”.
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A C ulture ; F estivals From
jazz to jump-up to soul-stirring Gospel,
in Buffalo there’s a celebration to appeal to every generation, and every personal interest. The city is
convenient to get to,
affordable to visit and only 20 minutes away from the magnificent Niagara Falls, making it an ideal location for a family reunion or group meeting.
Juneteenth Festival
soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas with news of the Emancipation Proclamation. Today the annual Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo is among the largest in the nation. The two-day celebration of family, culture and tradition draws more than 100 vendors from Canada and the Eastern seaboard, and often features Universoul Circus, the country’s only African American owned and operated circus. Other festival events include the annual 5K Mile Run and Juneteenth Festival Parade, main stage and cultural performances by local and regional groups, a basketball competition, food court, job fair, book fair - and much more.
X M A RCH Z Harriet Tubman Holiday Celebration Langston Hughes Institute 25 High Street, Buffalo 716-881-3266
An annual affair that gives the community time to reflect on the contributions of Harriet Tubman while ultimately trying to achieve the goal of attaining a national holiday for her. If successful, she would be the first female and the second African American so honored. On March 10th, the date of her death, members of the community sing, dance, recite poetry and perform dramatizations at the institute in commemoration.
X JULY Z
X JUNE Z
Queen City Jazz Festival
Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo
Colored Musicians Club 145 Broadway, Buffalo 716-855-9383 / www.coloredmusiciansclub.org
Martin Luther King Jr. Park Best Street and Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-891-8801
This one day outdoor event hosts live local, national and international jazz perfomers.
Since 1975, Buffalonians have celebrated the historic day in June 1865 when Union
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Buffalo Book Fair
Masten District Jazz Festival
X JULY Z Buffalo Book Fair
Steps of the Buffalo Science Museum 1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo 716-886-1548 or 716-228-5307
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo 716-881-6066 / www.hbfb.org
Four consecutive Sunday afternoons celebrating the American institution of jazz with old school, new generation and “Buffalo Cool” jazz. Alumni include Toronto’s Nick “The Brownman” Ali, Serious Young Musicians, Maggie Brown (daughter of legendary Oscar Brown Jr.) and many more. Presented by bassist James “Pappy” Martin under the auspices of the African American Cultural Center, Inc.
An outdoor family event that promotes the love of reading and literacy. Activities include readings, book signings, interactive children activities, seminars, panel discussions, a variety of vendors and the opportunity to meet and greet celebrity authors.The nationally known fair is customized for Buffalo, highlighting the city’s diverse community and rich cultural and historical experience. It also features Chalk Walk murals on the street.
Gospelfest Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion Best Street and Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo 716-855-1569 or 716-886-1782
Jefferson Avenue Renaissance Arts Festival Jefferson Avenue between East Utica Street and East Ferry Street, Buffalo 716-882-7594 or 716-883-4367, ext. 11
Each summer, a host of church choirs from Buffalo and surrounding communities come together to make a joyful noise under the sun! The two-day event traditionally includes sermonettes by local pastors, vendors, and performances by local and regional Gospel artists.
A celebration of community and creativity founded by a group of civic-minded women with a vision for economic development and reinvigoration of Buffalo’s East Side.The two-day block party starts with a parade and showcases visual artists from Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. (Sculptures by Valeria Cray-Dihaan, a founder of the event, are a part of the permanent collection of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.) The event also features vendors, food, cultural exhibits, entertainment by local performers and children’s activities.
Harriet Tubman Annual Retreat Bus Excursion from Buffalo to Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, NY 716-884-5436
A celebration of Harriet Tubman’s life, commitment, courage and sacrifice.This family-oriented event leaves Buffalo and
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travels to Tubman’s home in Auburn, New York – with videotaped history lessons along the way.The Auburn visit includes a tour of the home and a ceremony at the gravesite of “Mother Moses,”as well as interactive history exhibits tracing African American history from Ancient Africa through the Escape to Freedom.The tour chronicles the history of the Underground Railroad in Western New York.
vending market, health pavilion, hair and fashion show, and the Great Lakes State Baptist Convention Basketball Tournament Championship Games.
X AUGUST Z Pine Grill Jazz Reunion Martin Luther King Jr. Park Best Street and Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-884-3620 or 716-884-2013 www.africancultural.org
Taking It to the Streets Rally Weekend
During the ‘50s and ‘60s, the Pine Grill Nightclub was the jazz hot spot in the City of Buffalo. Jazz icons graced its stage and people from all walks of life met there. Everyone knew it was the place to be and be seen. Eventually, the Pine Grill Nightclub closed its doors and was demolished. Its reign, however, became a Buffalo legend. So, for two weekends each August since 1989, the African American Cultural Center presents the Pine Grill Jazz Reunion to honor the local, national and international artists who carry the legacy of jazz forward.The free concerts celebrate the legacy of jazz. From year to year, the Pine Grill Jazz Reunion is a highly anticipated Buffalo summer tradition that draws together thousands of Buffalonians, past and present, and attracts new visitors, to bring alive old memories and make new ones under the Buffalo summer sky.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Buffalo 716-891-4760 / www.cdacts.com
2-day open air event, with Gospel singing, preaching, free non-perishable food, clothing give-away, free pony rides, zoomobile, drill, step, drama teams, vendors, rides, health fair, youth and senior activities, free Bibles, recording artists, radio DJ appearance, Underground Railroad tours and family reunions African American Family Festival Celebration 1364 Centre Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 716-285-2920
This “family reunion” style celebration of cultural history and African American achievement attracts thousands annually. Traditional events include a talent show,
Buffalo Karibana International Parade & Festival
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X AUGUST Z
features a grand parade, a “Taste of the Island” party with Caribbean food, live music, and vendors; cultural, health and educational exhibits, a late night Boat Fiesta aboard the Miss Buffalo II and a late night party on the waterfront.
Buffalo Karibana International Parade and Festival Delaware Avenue at Niagara Square, Buffalo 716-836-2853 / www.buffalokaribana.org
This three-day sister celebration to Toronto’s famous Caribana Festival includes a colorful parade, marketplace of Caribbean food, arts and crafts; soca, reggae and calypso entertainment and a fireworks display over Buffalo’s City Hall.
X OCTOBER Z Black Capital Network Economic Empowerment Conference and Expo 716-881-6066 / www.thebcn.com
This conference is an economic summit emphasizing the importance of economic development, financial literacy, selfempowerment and the revitalization of urban communities. The conference features national and local presenters, business forums and vendor opportunities.
Buffalo Caribbean Islands Festival LaSalle Park, Buffalo / 716-432-0476
The Buffalo Caribbean Islands Festival is an authentic Caribbean carnival presented by Buffalo’s Caribbean Islands Organization, De Mas Camp and the Jamaican and American Association of Buffalo. The three-day event
MY BUFFALO ANDREW DAN-JUMBO “I’ve been to 40 plus cities with my job as a carpenter on The Learning Channel’s ‘While You Were Out.’ To this day, everyone that was on the Buffalo trip says that it was the most fun they’ve had on any trip. I was the tour guide for the Buffalo show’s production crew. I took them on a historical tour of the city, around the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and up Delaware Avenue to show them the mansions. I noted that, by percentage, Buffalo officially has more of the original mansions from its past standing than any other city in the country. Buffalo has such grand avenues and Delaware is just one of them. Look at the mansions on West Ferry, Tudor Place and Cleveland Avenue. I also showed them the Darwin Martin House, because I have closely followed the progress of the restoration project. My visitors were in awe of the spectacular housing. They had no idea what Buffalo looked like, with its beautiful gardens, parks and huge trees that form canopies of greenery over the avenues. So many places don’t have this in the heart of the city. They had no idea what to expect and they were very impressed. The crew enjoyed a Whirlpool Jet Boat tour and I showed them where I jet ski on the lower Niagara River. We were served dinner at the Riverside Inn overlooking the water and watched a beautiful sunset. I selected Tsunami on Kenmore Avenue for Pacific Rim food and Saigon Café for Thai food. If only our schedule would have permitted us to visit the Theatre District. It would have been the icing on the cake.” Born in Nigeria and raised in Shoreham, England, Buffalo resident Andrew Dan-Jumbo’s carpentry skills are featured on TLC’s “While You Were Out.” People Magazine selected him as one of the year’s “50 Most Beautiful People”.
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Karenga has been a part of the collective celebration in Buffalo, which is among only a few of its kind in the country.“First Night Kwanzaa” (Umoja/Unity -December 26), is a much-anticipated event traditionally held at the Langston Hughes Institute Center for Cultural History and Arts Education. It is a spiritually uplifting evening filled with African drumming, libations to the ancestors, children reciting the Nguzo Saba and families joining together to celebrate their heritage.
X DECEMBER Z Buffalo Kwanzaa Celebration Various community locations 716-892-8515
The Buffalo Kwanzaa Celebration is held at a different community center and church each of the seven nights of the Nguzo Saba (seven principles of Kwanzaa). It allows people in all areas of the community the chance to participate in the ceremony. Each year, since 1981, Kwanzaa founder Maulana
T S poken W ord C ircuit Buffalo has an impressive and progressive
open mic
circuit, and has earned a reputation for def regional and bi-national slam fests. If you’re an aspiring poet or veteran wordsmith, bring your best lines and sign in at one of these venues. Just Buffalo Literary Center
X READINGS Z Em Tea Coffee Cup Café
617 Main Street, Suite 201, Buffalo 716-832-5400 / www.justbuffalo.org
80 Oakgrove Avenue at Hughes Street, Buffalo / 716-884-1444
At Just Buffalo, our longest standing commitment has been to the community of writers who practice the literary arts. We support writers by providing venues in which they can present, discuss, publish, and improve their work. The Center has hosted readings by Ishmael Reed, Grover Washington, Jr. and Buffalonian Lucille Clifton, among others.
Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
X ADDITIONAL VENUES Z Gallery 51 567-569 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-332-6821
The Poetik High Every 2nd and 4th Friday, 7 pm Baby Voices - bring your favorite book Every 2nd Saturday, 11:30 am
Lucille Clifton at Just Buffalo Literary Center
Njozi Poetry Regional Slams (with cash prizes) Spoken Word Workshops Featured periodically throughout the year. For a schedule, contact ngault.njozimagazine@juno.com
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C ultural I nstitutions Buffalo is among the few northern urban centers able to boast of two long-standing African American
cultural institutions and two African American theater companies.
Buffalo City Ballet Co.
Paul Robeson Theatre
African American Cultural Center, Inc.
Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center
350 Masten Avenue, Buffalo 716-884-2013 / www.africancultural.org
350 Masten Avenue, Buffalo 716-884-2013 www.paulrobesontheatre.com
Founded in 1956, the African American Cultural Center, Inc.is a not for profit multipurpose cultural arts performance and education agency dedicated to the development of urban Buffalo to its highest potential.The organization serves as a protectorate of the African American experience, a promoter of diversity education, a stronghold of cultural heritage, and a champion of African American youth in the City of Buffalo.
The Paul Robeson Theatre is the oldest African American theatre in Buffalo Niagara. Founded in 1968 - and named for the multi-talented Harlem Renaissance actor and scholar Paul Busti Robeson it remains dedicated to nurturing and showcasing the artistic talents of African American playwrights, directors, actors, and stage technicians.
The African American Cultural Center program includes: • AACC Dance and Drum Performance Company • Pine Grill Jazz Reunion • Jumpin’ Jambalaya Summer Program • AACC Cultural Enrichment Program • Educational Directives for After School
Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 9 pm Friday - Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm Closed Sunday* * During PRT Productions, the Box Office opens at 3 pm on Sunday
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Langston Hughes Institute Center for Cultural History and Arts Education 25 High Street, Buffalo / 716-881-3266 / www.africancultural.org/LangstonHughes.php
The Langston Hughes Institute Center for Cultural History and Arts Education is a non-profit organization that has been a catalyst for the development, preservation and promotion of African American heritage in the City of Buffalo since 1968. Its gallery features the work of Buffalo and regional African American artists. The facility is a central gathering place for cultural and community events, including the much anticipated annual “First Night Kwanzaa” (Umoja) celebration. Tuesday - Friday, 10 am - 4 pm / Saturday, 11 am - 4 pm
African American heritage art exhibit at the Langston Hughes Institute
Ujima Company, Inc.
Muhammad School of Music
545 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716- 883-0380 / www.ujimatheatre.org
(housed in Langston Hughes Institute at 25 High Street, Buffalo) / 716-856-4877
Ujima Company, Inc. is a professional theatre company dedicated to the development and presentation of work by African-American and other Third World artists. Of all the theatre companies in Buffalo, Ujima supports the longest-standing acting ensemble. It is among the most heralded and awarded arts organizations in the region.
Muhammad School of Music was founded in 2000 by violinist Henri Muhammad to cultivate and refine the creative essence of all youth, in particular black and minority youth, through the study of classical music. Along with the traditional classical masters such as Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart, students study spiritual and contemporary pieces, as well as musical works from other cultures of the world. The curriculum also features lessons on the historical connection of the violin to Africa. The young musicians of Muhammad School of Music have performed with Bill Cosby at Kleinhan’s Music Hall in Buffalo, at the Summer Music Tour 2001 in Chicago, and at the Million Family March in Washington D.C. in 2000.
Buffalo City Ballet Co. Inc. Tri-Main Building, Suite 351 2495 Main Street, Buffalo 716-833-1243 www.buffalocityballet.com
Buffalo City Ballet Co, Inc. was established in 1972 as Buffalo Inner City Ballet to provide young people of color with opportunities to develop skills in classical dance, including ballet, tap and jazz. Its founding mission is to identify and refine talents through instruction and public performance.
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H istoric S ites & L andmarks The African American experience as it relates to
Buffalo
is as broad, deep and symbolic as the Niagara River that
Underground Railroad passengers crossed to freedom in Canada. Throughout the city and Buffalo Niagara region, historic safe houses, land markers, scenic locations and cultural institutions give testimony to this history and its relationship to the
America that exists today.
Michigan Street Baptisit Church
Colored Musicians Club
Michigan Street Baptist Church
Colored Musicians Club 145 Broadway, Buffalo / 716-855-9383 www.coloredmusiciansclub.org
511 Michigan Avenue, Buffalo 716-847-6015
The Colored Musicians Club was established as Local No. 533 in 1917 and chartered in 1935. The Union Hall is still located at 145 Broadway. During the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, any musician that visited Buffalo had to check in with the Colored Musicians Club. Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald are among the jazz legends who jammed there. In 1999, the Colored Musicians Club was designated a historic preservation site. Currently, the Club promotes research and the preservation of jazz in Buffalo. Members offer free jazz lessons to community youth, and hold a jam session at the club on Sunday evenings.
The Michigan Street Baptist Church has been a central part of the history and culture of the African American community in Buffalo for more than 150 years. It is one of the oldest properties in Buffalo Niagara continuously owned, operated and occupied by African Americans. The building was erected in 1845 by its African American congregation, and became a legendary Underground Railroad station, providing final sanctuary for hundreds of freedom seekers before they crossed the border to freedom in Canada. It was a central meeting place for abolitionists and later for anti-lynching activists during the early 1900s. Over the years, Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown, W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington, among other great historical figures, have graced its sanctuary.
Open rehearsals Monday - Thursdays, 8 - 10 pm. Sunday Night Performance 8 pm followed by Jam Session from 9:30 until ?
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Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society 25 Nottingham Court at Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-873-9644 / www.bechs.org
This National Historic Landmark was built in 1901 during the Pan-American Exposition and now houses the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. The research library includes a large repository of genealogical information and the museum features exhibits and an extensive collection of artifacts, manuscripts, books and photographs that chronicle the development of the Niagara Frontier. Forest Lawn Cemetery 1411 Delaware Avenue at Delavan, Buffalo 716-885-1600 / www.forest-lawn.com
Featuring the final resting sites of several famous African Americans, the cemetery includes the gravesites of Mary B. Talbert, Reverend J. Edward Nash, President Millard Fillmore and Seneca Nation orator Red Jacket. Nash House
Broderick Park
36 Nash Street, Buffalo 716-856-4490 / nashhouse@verizon.net
Foot of Ferry Street, Buffalo
Located at the foot of Ferry Street on the scenic Niagara River, a plaque in the park pays tribute to the men and women who crossed the water from that point to freedom in Canada.
The former residence of Rev. J. Edward Nash, the pastor of the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church. Many of Rev. Nash’s sermons and letters that are a crucial part of Buffalo’s African-American community history were written here and are on display for viewing.
The jazz cats at the Colored Musicians Club are always happy to have an audience at one of their rehearsals Monday through Thursday starting at about 8 pm. There’s also a live performance in the club each Sunday at 8 pm - followed by an old fashioned jam session at 9:30. A small donation at the door is appreciated.
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F ood F or t S oul Southern soul food, to satisfying Jamaican roti to exquisite Pacific Rim cuisine and sinful homemade four-layer chocolate cake, From genuine
Buffalo offers dining from throughout the diaspora of the
African American experience.
4-H Tip Top Health Food Store
Destini’s Take-Out T 900 Main Street, Buffalo 716-845-5555
3221 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo 716-862-4549
Monday - Thursday, 11 am - 11pm Friday, 11 am - 12 am Saturday, 12 pm - 12 am Sunday, 1 pm - 10 pm
Sunday - Thursday, 12 pm - 5 pm Friday, 10 am - 1 pm Albert Young and Sons Cakes, Inc.
Doctor Bird’s Caribbean Corner V
1661 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo 716-838-2640
842 E. Delevan Avenue, Buffalo 716-892-7454
Tuesday-Friday, 9 am - 6 pm Saturday, 9 am - 12 pm
Monday - Thursday, 10:30 am - 10 pm Friday - Saturday, 10:30 am - 11 pm
The Café at Masten & Eaton F 230 Masten Avenue, Buffalo 716-883-2311
Doctor Bird’s Caribbean Rasta-Rant V
Southern cuisine Monday - Thursday, 12 pm - 10 pm Friday and Saturday, 12 pm - 12 am Sunday, 1 pm - 6 pm
3104 Main Street, Buffalo 716-837-6426
The Caribbean Experience VT
Donnie’s Smokehouse F
Monday - Thursday, 11 am - 9:45 pm Friday - Saturday, 10:30 am - 11 pm 883 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo 716-884-2191
2897 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo 716-838-5131
Barbecue Wednesday - Friday, 11 am - 7 pm Saturday, 12 pm - 7 pm
Monday - Thursday, 12 pm - 10 pm Friday and Saturday, 12 pm - 4 am Sunday, 2:30 - 10 pm
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Em Tea Coffee Cup Cafe F
Palm Tree Caribbean Restaurant F
80 Oakgrove Avenue at Hughes Street, Buffalo 716-884-1444
69 Allen Street, Buffalo 716-886-5501
Coffee,tea,smoothies,light fare,pastries and desserts.Open mic poetry Tuesday,6:30 - 9 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 7 am - 6 pm Tuesday, 7 am - 9 pm Sunday, 9 am - 2 pm
Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 10 pm Friday - Saturday, 9 am - 11 pm Pandora’s Sports Bar & Restaurant F 2261 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-803-1335
Gigi’s Restaurant F 257 E. Ferry Street, Buffalo 716-883-1438
Sunday - Wednesday, 4 pm - 1 am Thursday, 2 pm - 1 am Friday, 11 am - 4 am Saturday, 4 pm - 4 am
Old-fashioned soul food Monday - Sunday, 6 am - midnight Ingram Brothers Catering
Somali Star T
110 Fox Street, Buffalo 716-308-6780
195 Grant Street, Buffalo 716-602-8989
Old-fashioned soul food Monday - Sunday, 6 am - midnight
African cuisine Monday - Saturday, 11 am - 7 pm
Mattie’s Restaurant F 1412 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-597-0755
Soul food specialties, featuring “the Best Breakfast in Town” Monday - Thursday, 7 am - 7 pm Friday - Saturday, 7 am - 8 pm Sunday, 7 am - 5 pm
F Family Friendly V Vegetarian Friendly T Take-Out only X THE NIAGARA MOVEMENT Z
The Niagara Movement began when scholar W.E.B. DuBois called for opposition to Booker T. Washington’s position that African Americans accommodate segregation and accept legalized white supremacy. (Washington was founder and president of the all-Black Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, and at that time regarded as the nation’s official Negro spokesperson.) DuBois, the first African American to earn a doctoral degree from Harvard, recruited a group of well-educated Black professionals he called “The Talented Tenth.” He urged this group to create a formal platform for equal rights. A summit was planned for Buffalo in July of 1905. When DuBois couldn’t reserve hotel space in the city the first Niagara Movement meeting was held in the Erie Beach Hotel in Fort Erie, Ontario. The Declaration of Principles authored by DuBois as a result of this meeting became the basis for the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
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S hopping S tops Black Buffalonians have deep roots as
entrepreneurs and
shopkeepers. Today, African American owned businesses in the Queen City offer everything from women’s wear, men’s fashions and phat urban threads, to eclectic collectibles to rich ancestral clothing and cloth, jewelry, art, oils & incense. Mr. G’s Fashions
CLOTHING & X ACCESSORIES Z
199 Allen Street, Buffalo 716-882-0424
Be You Tiful
Monday, Friday, Saturday, 10 am - 7 pm Tuesday, 11 am - 6:30 pm Wednesday - Thursday, 10 am - 6:30 pm
513 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-887-2400
Monday - Wednesday, 11 am - 6 pm Thursday - Saturday, 11 am - 7 pm
New Era Cap
Eleanor’s
160 Delware Avenue, Buffalo 716-604-9000
1434 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo 716-837-3493
Sunday-Saturday, 9 am-6 pm
Monday - Saturday, 11 am - 7 pm
United Men’s Fashion
The House of Randolph
3082 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo 716-837-0100
70 Allen Street, Buffalo 716-885-5327
Tuesday - Saturday, 11:30 am - 6 pm
Monday - Wednesday, 10 am - 6:45 pm Thursday - Friday, 10 am- 7:45 pm Saturday, 10 am - 5:15 pm
LaBelle Mode, Inc.
Walden Galleria Mall
1258 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga 716-895-1234
One Walden Galleria, Cheektowaga 716-681 1903 / www.waldengalleria.com
Monday-Friday, 11 am - 6 pm (year-round) Saturday, 11 am - 6 pm (Sept. 1 - mid June)
Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 9:30 pm Sunday, 11 am - 6 pm
Lifestyle Street Gear
AFRICAN/ X AFROCENTRIC Z
3405 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo 716-831-1007
Monday, 10 am - 10 pm Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 11 pm Sunday, 11 am - 10 pm
African Styles 168 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-603-7571
1340 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-896-5210
Senegalese clothing, African / Afro-Centric jewelry, art, and accessories Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 7 pm
Monday - Friday, 11 am - 7 pm
Afrika / Bead-It
Jazzy Shoes
Prime Outlets Niagara Falls USA 2064 Military Road, Niagara Falls 716-297-5638
Look Great Fashions
3135 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo 716-835-7690
Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 9 pm Sunday, 11 am - 6 pm
Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 6 pm Friday - Saturday, 10 am - 7 pm
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Allen Street Connection 93 Allen Street, Buffalo / 716-884-9481
X REV. J.EDWARD NASH
Handcrafted silver; Afro-centric clothing and accessories Monday - Saturday, 11 am - 6 pm
AND THE NASH HOUSE Z
Tall, distinguished and diplomatic, Reverend Jesse Edward Nash provided spiritual and civil rights leadership in Buffalo for more than half a century. The son of freed slaves; he arrived in the city from Virginia in 1892, at age 24, to take the pulpit of the prominent Michigan Street Baptist Church. During his 60 years as pastor there, Rev. Nash helped to plan and implement the Niagara Movement and hosted both W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington, among other African American leaders, at his church. He also was a catalyst for the formation of Buffalo branches of the National Urban League and the NAACP. In 1999, members of the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation opened the house at 36 Nash Street where Rev. Nash formerly lived with his family. The opening led to the discovery of a remarkable collection of his personal papers and mementos that had connections to historic civil rights leaders and the civil rights movement. The collection included correspondence between Nash and Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Sr., his old classmate and nationally noted pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church during the early 20th century. The Nash House has been restored by the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit coalition whose mission is to preserve and restore the historic sites along Buffalo’s Michigan Street corridor. The house includes a public museum on the upper floor, and research and office space on the lower level. The historic Nash Papers are also available for viewing by historians, researchers and visitors.
Flight 104 102 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-882 1925
Clothing, art, jewelry Monday - Saturday, 11:30 am - 6 pm
GIFT/SPECIALTY X SHOPS Z Doris Records 286 E. Ferry Street, Buffalo 716-883-2410
Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 10 pm Fraternally Yours 2460 Main Street, Buffalo 716-837-6360
Gifts and cards Tuesday - Saturday, 11:30 am - 4:30 pm Gallery 51 567-569 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-332-6821
Cards, stationery, home decor and jewelry Tuesday, Wednesday, 11 am - 5 pm Thursday, Friday, 11 am - 7 pm Saturday, 12 pm - 6 pm Harold’s Curiosity Shoppe 85 Allen Street, Buffalo 716-362-2552
Rare antiques and collectibles Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 9 am - 5 pm Thursday, 9 am - 7 pm Saturday, 9 am - 5 pm Sunday, 12 pm - 4:30 pm Talking Leaves Books 3158 Main Street, Buffalo 716-837-8554 / www.tleavesbooks.com
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm Wednesday - Thursday, 10 am - 8 pm Talking Leaves Books 951 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-884-9524 / www.tleavesbooks.com
Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 9 pm Friday, 10 am - 10 pm Saturday, 10 am - 8 pm Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm
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H ouses ; W orship From its earliest African American community, Buffalo churches have
spiritual faith, and harnessed the social and political strength needed to build a free life in the urban North. Today, houses of worship of all denominations and faiths populate the city. Their leadership still provides, in addition to spiritual sanctuary, an array of programs and services that forged the
address the needs of the African American community.
St. Luke AME Zion
Mt. Olive Baptist
X BAPTIST Z
Mt. Olive Baptist
Antioch Baptist
701 E. Delavan Avenue, Buffalo 716-895-7494
1327 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-895-0198
Sunday worship at 7:45 and 10:45 am
Sunday worship at 10:30 am
New Hope Baptist
Calvary Baptist
543 Richmond Avenue, Buffalo 716-883-0821
1184 Genesee Street, Buffalo 716-895-3642
Sunday worship at 10:30 am
Sunday worship at 7:30 and 10 am
New Zion Baptist
First Shiloh Baptist
318 High Street, Buffalo 716-883-2250
15 Pine Street, Buffalo 716-847-1774 or 716-847-6555
Sunday worship at 10 am
Sunday worship at 10 am and 5 pm
Friendship Baptist
St. John Baptist
402 Clinton Street, Buffalo 716-847-1020
184 Goodell Street, Buffalo 716-852-4504
Sunday worship at 9:45 am
Sunday worship at 10 am
Humboldt Parkway Baptist
True Bethel Baptist
790 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo 716-896-4363
907 E. Ferry Street, Buffalo 716-895-8222
Worship services Tuesday-Friday at 11 am
Sunday worship at 7:45 and 9 am
Macedonia Baptist
True Bethel Baptist
237 E. North Street, Buffalo 716-886-3489
Sunday worship at 11 am
472 Swan Street, Buffalo
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J.W. Loguen AME Zion
X APOSTOLIC Z
210 Southampton Street, Buffalo 716-882-5557
Apostolic Rock Temple 1198 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo 716-883-3989
Sunday worship at 11 am
Sunday worship at 11 am
St. Luke AME Zion 314 E. Ferry Street, Buffalo 716-883-0961
Greater Emmanuel Temple Church
Sunday worship at 11 am
151-161 Richmond Ave. Buffalo 716-882-2700
Walls Memorial AME Zion
Sunday worship at 11 am
455 Glenwood Avenue, Buffalo 716-886-6527
Greater Refuge Temple
Sunday worship at 11 am
943 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo 716-886-2199
X LUTHERAN Z
X AME & AME ZION Z
Resurrection Lutheran 3 Doat Street, Buffalo 716-892-2489
Bethel AME 1525 Michigan Avenue, Buffalo 716-886-1650
X NON-DENOMINATIONAL Z
Durham Memorial AME Zion
New Mount Ararat Temple-Prayer
174 East Eagle Street at Michigan, Buffalo 716-856-4943 845-0298
983 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo 716-885-7755
Sunday worship at 11 am
MY BUFFALO ISHMAEL REED “My parents came to Buffalo with nothing, with less than $25 in their pocket, but through hard work and discipline they were able to raise themselves up, educate their children and lead a middle class life. Although I attended Buffalo public schools, I didn’t learn about Buffalo until I left. I didn’t begin to explore the richness of Buffalo’s history until I left. I wasn’t aware of the significance of Buffalo’s architecture until I left. Nor was I familiar with the importance of Buffalo’s black history and culture. In connection with a novel I wrote, which includes scenes from 19th Century Buffalo, I found out about historical figures like William Wells Brown, the anti-slavery lecturer and Underground Railroad conductor from Buffalo who wrote the first novel by an African American man. Frederick Douglass and Booker T.Washington were also visitors. I now realize how significant the Michigan Street Baptist Church was as a hideout on the Underground Railroad. St.Luke’s church, which is now Durham Memorial is also a historical site that deserves landmark status.The Colored Musicians Club was a mecca for visiting jazz musicians. This is where Milt Jackson discovered local jazz great Wade Legge. I’ve learned about Louise Blanchard Bethune, the first woman architect in the United States, who designed the Lafayette Hotel. I’m always learning when I come back to Buffalo for the Book Fair.When I come back, I’ll stop at Gigi’s on East Ferry for some great soul food and great atmosphere. I love that place. Buffalo’s historic waterfront is also worth a visit.” Ishmael Reed is the author of nine novels, six plays, one opera libretto, seven books of poetry, and six books of essays, and he is the editor of numerous anthologies and magazines. His most recently published poetry collection, New and Collected Poems, 1964-2006, was listed as one of the four best books of poetry published in 2006 by The New York Times Book Review.
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X CATHOLIC Z
SEVENTH DAY X ADVENTIST Z
St. Martin De Porres 555 Northampton Street, Buffalo 716-883-7729
Emmanuel Temple 300 Adams Street , Buffalo 716-853-9055
X INDEPENDENT Z
CHURCH OF GOD X IN CHRIST Z
Bethesda Full Gospel World Harvest International 1365 Main Street, Buffalo 716-884-3607
Good Samaritan C.O.G.I.C. 265 Leroy Avenue, Buffalo 716-833-5388
Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m
Sunday worship at 11 am
Elim Christian Fellowship
Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C.
22-25 Central Park, Buffalo 832-7698
572 Clinton Street, Buffalo 716-855 2031
Sunday worship at 7 am
Sunday worship at 11:30 am
X MUSLIM Z
Maranatha C.O.G.I.C.
Masjid Nu’man
1280 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-892-2508
1373 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-892-1332
Pentecostal Temple C.O.G.I.C.
Muhammad Mosque #23
618 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo 716-852-5502
5 Walden Avenue, Buffalo 716-893-6003
Sunday worship at 8 am 11 am
Meetings on Sunday at 2 pm Wednesday and Friday at 7:30 pm
MY BUFFALO VIRGINIA DeBERRY “There are so many unexpected things to do in Buffalo. After I’ve been home for a visit and mention that I’ve been to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery - which is the coolest place to go on a Sunday afternoon, by the way - people are always surprised.‘You have an art museum in Buffalo?’ they say. Well, yes, a world class art museum. And a great symphony orchestra. And a wonderful zoo. Our City Hall is pretty spectacular too. There are great performing arts venues in Buffalo as well: Shea’s Buffalo, Studio Arena Theatre. People know we have a football team and a hockey team and chicken wings-and snow, but they are always surprised to hear we have so much culture. Recently, on a trip home for Mother’s Day my mother and sister and I went to the Museum of Science to see a production of Mi’ Nonno Galileo. Students from Bennett Park Montessori had written and performed an Italian language opera. What a wonderful and delightful moment that was. It was the most charming thing I had done in Buffalo in 20 years. One of the songs had a line that said ‘To be what you can be, you have to dream beyond what you can see.’ It renewed my faith in schools, that they can be innovative and creative and challenge children. That was a special and uniquely Buffalo experience and reminded me once again, ‘Buffalo is just not what so many people think it is’.” Virgina DeBerry is a product of the Buffalo Public Schools, a graduate of the University at Buffalo and a former Buffalo English teacher. She is the co-author (with Donna Grant) of Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made, Far From the Tree, Better Than I Know Myself, and Exposures. Their latest novel, Gotta Keep on Tryin’ the long awaited sequel to Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made will be released in January 2008.
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T N ight S cene night scene reflects a diverse array of entertainment options. Here are some top spots for an evening out on the town. Buffalo’s
Fountain Blue Lounge
La Luna
943 Kensington Avenue, Buffalo 716-836-8846
52 West Chippewa Street, Buffalo 716-855-1292
Urban adult, R&B Sunday - Thursday, 4 pm - 2 am Friday - Saturday, 4 pm - 4 am
Latin, salsa, merengue, reggae Dancing, bar, food Friday - Sunday, 7 pm - 4 am
Humboldt Inn
Lee’s Lounge
487 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo 716-884-6430
1261 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716-893-9077
Urban adult Dancing, bar, live jazz on Sundays Monday - Sunday 12 pm - 4 am
Urban adult, R&B Monday-Sunday 10:30 am - 4 am The New Golden Nugget
Jazzy’s
2046 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 716- 834-3967
2227 Genesee Street, Buffalo 716-895-4471
Urban adult, jazz, R&B, oldies Dancing, bar, food Monday - Thursday, 4 pm - 10 pm Friday - Sunday, 4 pm - 2 am
Urban adult, nightclub, dancing, food Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, 6 pm - ? Thursday-Saturday, 6 pm - 4 am
X THE COLORED MUSICIANS CLUB Z
Because of its central location - and role as a railroad hub – Buffalo became a popular stop for touring musicians. In 1917, in response to being shut out of the white musicians’ Local No.43, the city’s Black musicians organized Local No. 533 (Colored Musicians Club) and established its Union Hall at 145 Broadway. Members and officers were installed in early 1918, but the Colored Musicians Club was not chartered until July 31, 1935. During the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, any musician that came through Buffalo had to check in with the Colored Musicians Club. Jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald are among the many that graced its stage. And Buffalo legends played with the greats: Wade Legge played piano with Dizzy; George Holt played trumpet and saxophone with Lenny Lewis, Cozy Cole and Jimmy Lunceford; and Albert Riding played trumpet with Billy Eckstein and Count Basie. The Colored Musicians Club stands today in its original location - complete with peep hole and corner bandstand. In 1999, it was designated an historic preservation site. Its members are still among the most talented and versatile musicians anywhere. They give free jazz lessons to community youth and hold weekly Sunday night jam sessions.
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I tineraries City Of Good Neighbors: A Buffalo Day Trip The city of Buffalo offers its guests a mix of heritage, cultural and entertainment options. Begin your tour with breakfast at b Mattie’s Restaurant, (1412 Fillmore Avenue). After breakfast, proceed south on Fillmore Avenue and turn right on North Hampton Street where you will arrive at the c Buffalo Museum of Science (1020 Humboldt Parkway). For more than 140 years, the Buffalo Museum of Science has provided learning experiences for its visitors by showcasing scientific collections and national traveling exhibits. From the museum, turn right onto West Parade Street. Turn right onto Best Street. Turn left onto Route 33 West. Exit at Goodell Street. Turn left on Michigan Avenue/Harriet Tubman Way and look for the d Michigan Street Baptist Church (511 Michigan Avenue). Built in 1845, it is the oldest structure in Western New York that was built for and continuously occupied by African Americans. It was a legendary rest stop on the Underground Railroad. It was also a meeting place for 19th Century abolitionists. Next, take Michigan Avenue, turning right onto Broadway and then right onto Nash Street. Arrive at e The Nash House (36 Nash Street). Reverend J. Edward Nash, Sr. was the pastor of the Michigan Street Baptist Church from 1892-1953. Reverend Nash’s statewide and national reputation allowed him to host national civil rights leaders like Booker T. Washington and many others. A wealth of speeches, notes and letters have been preserved highlighting Buffalo Niagara’s importance to the nation’s civil rights movement. From the Nash House proceed south on Nash Street.Turn right onto William Street. Turn left onto Michigan Avenue until you arrive at the f Buffalo Transportation/ Pierce-Arrow Museum (236 Michigan Avenue).Visitors will steer their way through a myriad of impeccable Pierce-Arrow and
Thomas Flyer vintage cars. Return north on Michigan Avenue.Turn left onto Goodell Street.Turn right onto Main Street.Turn left onto Allen Street for lunch at the g Palm Tree Caribbean Restaurant (69 Allen Street) or another of the many restaurants in the neighborhood. Within walking distance are h El Museo (91 Allen Street) and an assortment of specialty boutiques. El Museo is dedicated to the exhibition of art by Latin, Caribbean, African American and other artists of color. After a tour of the shops, turn right on Elmwood Avenue and arrive at i Albright-Knox Art Gallery (1285 Elmwood Avenue).The Albright-Knox enjoys a worldwide reputation as an outstanding center of modern art. Or, enjoy an afternoon at the j Buffalo
Buffalo Transportation/Pierce-Arrow Museum
Zoo (300 Parkside Avenue). Continue north on Elmwood Avenue past the Albright-Knox and turn right onto Nottingham Terrace.Turn right onto Amherst Street and right again on Parkside Avenue. Enter the Zoo parking lot at Jewett Parkway. For dinner try any of the great number of restaurants on nearby Hertel Avenue. Greek coffee shops, Italian restaurants, pizza and chicken wings can all be found along this friendly neighborhood strip.
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Queen City Of The Lakes: A Buffalo Day II
Start the day off with breakfast at
Fuhrman Boulevard). This 264-acre habitat features walking trails, a 75-acre freshwater cattail marsh and attracts over 200 species of birds annually. Departing from Tifft, go right onto Ohio Street, then left on Fuhrmann Blvd. Take Route 5 West to Ridge Road Exit.Turn left on Ridge Road.Then make a left on South Park Avenue and arrive at i Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (2655 South Park Avenue).Take a stroll through the most intact Frederick Law Olmsted landscape and arboretum in the country. Exotic horticultural treasures from different climates can be found in the Victorian tri-
b Gigi’s Restaurant (257 E. Ferry Street). After a soulful feast, go west on Ferry Street until you arrive at c Broderick Park. Slaves gathered here to cross the Niagara River to freedom in Canada. Continue on to Erie Basin Marina Gardens and the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park. Leaving Broderick Park, turn right onto Niagara Street into downtown Buffalo. Turn right onto South Elmwood Avenue. Cross Church Street to the Lower Terrace and turn right on Erie Street. Walk the d Erie Basin Marina Gardens, which have the distinction of being one of 25 AllAmerican Rose Selection test gardens in the United States. Specialty annual flowers include over 200 worldwide varieties. Stroll along the beautiful banks of the Buffalo River and visit the e Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. It is the largest inland naval park of its kind in the United States and home to the guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock (which houses an African American Soldiers exhibit), the destroyer USS The Sullivans and submarine, USS Croaker. The f Buffalo Harbor Cruises are docked nearby. Narrated tours and dining cruises will take you onto Lake Erie and the Black Rock Canal where you can view Buffalo’s lovely skyline and the 1833 Lighthouse. Lunch or a snack is available at g The Hatch in the middle of the rose garden. From the Marina, make your way to Tifft Nature Preserve, one of the largest urban nature preserves in the United States. From Erie Street turn left onto Bingham Street (directly under highway overpass). Turn left at Church Street, followed by another left onto 190 South. Bear right towards Route 5/Lackawanna. Exit at Tifft Street/Fuhrman Boulevard. Turn left onto Tifft Street. Make an immediate left onto Ohio Street. Arrive at h Tifft Nature Preserve (1200
Our Lady of Victory Basilica and National Shrine
domed conservatory, one of only two crystal palaces left designed by Lord & Burnham in an Olmsted-designed park. A short walk away, you’ll find j Our Lady of Victory Basilica and National Shrine (2760 South Park Avenue). This Roman Catholic church is an exquisite combination of Italian Renaissance and French Baroque styles. You’ll be amazed by this architectural masterpiece. For dinner try the Caribbean fare at nearby 1) Curly’s Bar and Grill (647 Ridge Road).
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You’ll Fall For The Falls: Niagara Lewiston Itinerary III After breakfast at the b Towne Restaurant (186 Allen Street) you’ll be ready for a day of fun in Niagara Falls. Start on Allen Street and turn left on Elmwood Avenue. Turn right onto Church Street and immediately onto the New York State Thruway/I-190 North towards Niagara Falls. Proceed to the Robert Moses Parkway North/Buffalo Ave. Exit. Continue towards Niagara Reservation State Park entrance. Proceed to the Visitor Center and purchase tickets to one of the world’s great tourist attractions, c The Maid of the Mist. This world famous cruise will take you to the very heart of the thundering Horseshoe Falls. It’s a fantastic journey through crashing water and alongside massive rocks. Next, visit the d Cave of the Winds. You’ll take an elevator to the base of the American Falls, where you’ll be led by a tour guide on a series of twisting and turning trails and catwalks that will bring you a mere ten feet from the billowing
Maid of the Mist
South Fifth. Turn left onto Cayuga Street and look for the e First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston (505 Cayuga Street). The church gave shelter to runaway slaves and conducted them to freedom in Canada. Today, an Underground Railroad sculpture stands in the front of the church. Take some time to reflect on the tales of the people who risked their lives for freedom and the lasting heritage of their ancestors at f Freedom Crossing, the new Regional Underground Railroad Interpretive Center located inside the Castellani Art Museum on the Niagara University Campus. View contemporary works that possess themes of slavery, personal and political freedom, spiritual values and racism. For some afternoon excitement, take a ride on the g Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours (115 S. Water Street). Going back towards South Fifth, turn left on Center Street and drive to the end of the street. Turn left on South Water Street and look for the Jet Boat dock. Passengers six and up will enjoy an hour-long whitewater adventure through the Niagara Gorge. To end your day, take a tour of h Murphy’s Orchards, a historic safe house on the Underground Railroad that remains virtually unchanged from the mid-1800s. Follow Center Street until it becomes Ridge Road. Turn left on Ewings Road, make another left on McKee Road before turning right on West Creek Road. Make a left on Ide Road, then turn right on McClew Road to arrive at Murphy’s Orchard (2402 McClew Road). The barn that harbored slaves in its secret hideaway still offers a profound experience for a visitor.
Cave of the Winds
torrents of the Bridal Veil Falls. Feel the rushing water looming above, dousing you with a generous spray as you face the thundering Falls head-on. Rainbows are visible day and night. Have lunch at one of the assortment of eateries in the Park before departing for historic Lewiston. From Niagara Street, turn left onto Rainbow Blvd. North and continue onto Robert Moses Parkway North. Exit at Lewiston/Artpark. Turn left on Center Street before taking a left onto
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Follow The North Star: A Day Trip To Canada Start your day with breakfast at b EM Tea Coffee Cup Café (80 Oakgrove Avenue), then onward to the Peace Bridge and Canada. Follow East Delavan to Main Street. Go right onto Main until you reach Humboldt Parkway. Take a left and merge onto Route 198/Scajaquada Expressway. Follow the 198 to the New York State Thruway/I-190 South. Follow the signs to the Peace Bridge. After a toll and Customs check, make an immediate right onto Goderich Street and go two blocks to Queen Street. Turn right and proceed three blocks to the Niagara Parkway, one of the world’s great scenic drives. Stop at c Mahoney Doll’s House Gallery (657 Niagara Boulevard). Its basement is said to have a tunnel used by the Underground Railroad for smuggling slaves escaping from the United States. Continue on to the St. Catherines Museum. Return to the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) via Goderich Street and
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
States into Canada via the Niagara. Next, visit e Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church (92 Geneva Street). Through its association with Harriet Tubman, Salem Chapel played an important role in the abolitionist movement in Canada. Visit the lovely village of Niagaraon-the-Lake via the QEW South and Route 55. Spend the afternoon visiting wineries and enjoying the specialty shops, or see a production at the internationallyacclaimed Shaw Festival. Shaw offers a dazzling variety of live theatre, from George Bernard Shaw to Oscar Wilde. f Niagara-on-the-Lake is a beautifully preserved 19th century village that is worthy of a visit based on its rich atmosphere. There are several wineries close by that offer free tours. There are also many excellent restaurants for lunch or dinner. Return to Fort Erie and the Peace Bridge via the scenic Niagara Parkway. This lovely stretch of road will take you through the charming village of Queenston, past the extraordinary g Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, the Butterfly Conservatory, and into downtown Niagara Falls, Ontario. Stop and walk through Queen Victoria Park and along the edge of the Niagara Gorge before heading south along the Parkway. Follow the signs to the Peace Bridge and back to Buffalo.
Butterfly Conservatory
proceed toward Toronto. Exit at Route 89 Glendale Avenue. Turn right on Glendale. Go left on York Avenue. Follow York, then make a right on Route 55/Niagara Stone Road. At the first left, turn onto Steward Road/Route 86. Make a left on Carlton Street. Take Carlton past bridge to Welland Avenue. Arrive at d St. Catherines Museum (1932 Welland Canals Parkway). The Follow the North Star exhibit chronicles the story of slaves who fled the United
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F amily R eunion & G roup E vent P lanner
Underground Railroad tour led by Kevin Cottrell of Motherland Connextions
Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau
X MEDIA Z The Challenger
716-852-0511 or 888-228-3369 www.visitbuffaloniagara.com
The Buffalo Niagara CVB offers a variety of FREE services to help you plan your next convention, meeting or event in Buffalo, from arranging site inspections, coordinating press coverage to finding hotel rooms and meeting space. Motherland Connextions
1377 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo 716-897-0442
Al-Nisa Banks, Publisher and Editor The Buffalo Criterion 625 William Street, Buffalo 716-882-9570 / www.buffalocriterion.com
Frances Merriweather, Editor
716-282-1028 www.motherlandconnextions.com
WUFO 1080 AM
Underground Railroad tours and excursions. Kevin Cottrell, Founder and Station Master
Gospel / 716-834-1080
WWWS 1400 AM
Tradition Keepers Black Storytellers of Western New York 716-834-8438 or 716-858-7153
Classic Soul, R&B / 716-843-0600
WBLK 93.7 FM Hip Hop / 716-852-9393
COMMUNITY X ORGANIZATIONS Z
Karima Amin and Sharon Holley, Master Storytellers
Buffalo Urban League
Mo’ Better Buffalo 716-884-3620 /www.mobetterbuffalo.com
716-854-7625 / www.buffalourban.org
The MBB Project (Mo’ Better Buffalo Cultural Arts Collective) offers a menu of diversity education/performance showcases presented by a (collective) of cultural arts institutions and organizations, and small retail businesses of color.“Edutainment” packages include dance (African and Classical), music (Jazz and Classical), storytelling and theater components designed to meet your group’s needs.
NAACP
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716-884-7242 / www.apollo3.com/naacp
Prince Hall Masons 716-603-1456
Southern Christian Leadership Conference 716-855-3928
Buffalo Quarters Historical Society
ORGANIZATIONAL X RESOURCES Z
716-834-2584
Association for the Study of Classical African Civilization (ASCAC)
Lillion Batchelor, Founder and President Harriet Tubman 300s
176 Texas Street, Buffalo / 716- 896-1430
716-688-6377
Bro. Modell Gault
Crystal Barton, President
Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier
National Black MBA Association, Inc Western New York Chapter
716-834-4982 / www.aahanf.org
585-234-4412 / www.wnyblackmba.org
Dr. Felix Armfield, President
The association fosters and enhances job performance among members by offering networking opportunities, professional workshops, and seminars.
Black Capital Network PO Box 234, Buffalo 716-881-6066 / www.thebcn.com
Parker Trent Public Relations
Provides public relations, marketing and technology to support business advancement.
142 N. Pearl Street, Buffalo 716-667-2557
Buffalo Genealogical Society of the African Diaspora
Provides public relations, marketing and technology to support business advancement.
rndavis@yahoo.com
Uncrowned Queens
Robert Davis, Coordinator
www.wings.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens
African American Women Community Builders of Western New York
X UNCROWNED QUEENS Z The Uncrowned Queens Institute is devoted to promoting and preserving the stories of African American leaders and community builders for future generations. The name, Uncrowned Queens, was derived from a poem by Drusilla Dunjee Houston: America’s Uncrowned Queens. Written in 1917 to honor African American Women, this poem conveys the essence of the Uncrowned Queens Project: acknowledging the contributions and accomplishments of hundreds of unsung heroines. The Institute creates a legacy of African American women’s excellence by profiling the leadership of African American women throughout the century. This legacy of excellence is maintained through the Uncrowned Queens award winning techno-pedia– a unique and dynamic multimedia resource at www.uncrownedqueens.com The one of a kind media collection of women’s stories is accessible both nationally and internationally and provides the opportunity for participants to update their stories as new data is retrieved from family histories. Co-Founders Peggy Brooks-Bertram, Dr. P.H., Ph.D. and Barbara A. Seals Nevergold, Ph.D. established the project in 1999. They have initiated numerous projects as a part of the Uncrowned Queens Institute, highlighting both oral history and educational curricula along with the production of a television program titled Uncrowned Queens: Illuminations in addition to the introduction of the Uncrowned Kings Project, celebrating the community building of African American men.
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X REFERENCES Z Strangers in the Land of Paradise Lillian Serece Williams, Indiana University Press, 1999
Western New York Heritage Volume 5, Number 4, winter 2004
The African Village Directory of Buffalo, NY (2002 Edition) Compiled by Sonya J. Rice
The Challenger Al-Nisa Banks, Publisher and Editor 108 Sycamore Avenue 716-897-0442
African American Experience in Western New York Sharon Holley, Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier
The Buffalo Criterion Frances Merriweather, Editor 625 William Street 716-882-9570
African Americans and the Rise of Buffalo’s Post-Industrial City, 1940 to Present - Vol. I: An Introduction to a Research Project Henry Louis Taylor Jr., 1990
Uncrowned Queens African American Women Community Builders of Western New York www.wings.buffalo.edu/uncrowned queens
Buffalo’s Blacks - Talking Proud Eva M. Noles, 1986
X DISCLAIMER Z The Buffalo Niagara African American Heritage Guide offers a sampling of cultural events and activities, as well as business and personal services and resources in Buffalo and is not intended to be a complete listing. The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau (Buffalo Niagara CVB) makes no representation, warranties, recommendations, endorsements, or guarantees regarding the vendors, enterprises or services listed in or referred to herein. The Buffalo Niagara CVB is not responsible for errors, omissions and information, which may no longer be applicable because of the time element. The materials in this publication may not be reproduced without written permission by the Buffalo Niagara CVB.
X ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Z Text and information compiled by outside the box “communications strength for the global nation”, 716-884-3620. We would also like to thank the following community consultants: Al-Nisa Banks, Publisher and Editor, The Challenger; Sharon Holley, Extension Services Administrator, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library / Co-Founder, Tradition Keepers - Black Storytellers of Western New York; and Enid Wright, Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. Board of Trustees. Special thanks to Kevin Cottrell, Founder/Station-master, Motherland Connextions; Agnes Bain, Executive Director, African American Cultural Center, Inc.; Jennifer Parker, President, Black Capital Network; Carlanda Meadors, El Davis and Buffalo historian Eva Doyle. Printed in cooperation with funding from the County of Erie and M&T Bank.
X PHOTOGRAPHY Z Photography courtesy of Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, African American Cultural Center, Angel Art Ltd., George Arthur, Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, Buffalo Inner City Ballet Co., Cass Clarke, The Challenger, Colored Musicians Club, David Gordon, Lewiston Council on the Arts, Simba Mlee, Motherland Connextions, Niagara Parks and Judson Price.
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