Throughout this month and beyond, the Buffalo Bills are proud to honor Black History in our city. Discover more about the Bills’ supported initiatives and how you can participate.
Buffalo Fashion Runway – Black Carpet
Buffalo Fashion Runway, organized by Eman Wajed, Chad Williams, Cain McDermott, Rodney Chatmon, and Dan Abbotoy, will hold a Black Carpet event to celebrate a diverse group of creatives in the Buffalo area. Local professional models and prominent Black figures will showcase pieces created by local designers, with local artists performing to create an evening full of art that is 100% made in Buffalo. Before the show, guests can take pictures on the black carpet and explore clothing, visual art, and food vendors.
“We wanted to highlight Black fashion and culture in Buffalo specifically,” said Wajed. “I’m thrilled about the opportunities that the designers, models, photographers, and musical artists will have after this event. I’m happy to see everyone come together to celebrate fashion, culture, and put on a premiere event for the city.”
Models will also wear Williams and McDermott’s custom Buffalo 10 jersey, created to commemorate the victims of the May 14, 2022 shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets.
“Come to support the Buffalo creative community, the Buffalo fashion community, and the Buffalo community. Even if you’re not interested in fashion, creativity, and arts, the experience you’ll have at the Black Carpet event will be like a red carpet or Met Gala experience,” said Wajed.
The Black Carpet event will be held on February 24 at 5 p.m. at the Northland Workforce Training Center located at 683 Northland Ave. and will run until roughly 9 p.m.
Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club Event
Zeneta Everhart, who was elected to the Buffalo Common Council in November, responded to the tragedy of the 10 Black people murdered by a white supremacist at a Tops Friendly Markers supermarket in the East Side of Buffalo by starting Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club. Everhart believes that education is the most important factor in preventing racist ideologies from becoming ingrained in the next generation.
“Education is the key to preventing racism. We started the book club to educate people, especially children, about diversity, inclusion, acceptance, and the history of Black people in America,” said Everhart.
Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club has gifted tens of thousands of books to community centers, schools, and local organizations in the greater Buffalo area. In February, Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club will partner with the Buffalo Bills to distribute books to children at Hamlin Park School, inviting local Black authors to read their books featuring stories of Black heroes and the importance of diversity.
“I wanted the emphasis to be on our local Black authors because they’re doing the work and making sure that representation is seen,” said Everhart.
Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club can be found on Instagram and Facebook or reached at zenetasbooklist@gmail.com. Donations are always appreciated, and books for children can be purchased on the Book Club’s Amazon Wish List.
According to Everhart, our children have a lot to teach us about the kind of people we should strive to be. She believes that providing children with books they are excited to read can help break down the prejudices of their parents and show them that Black children are just like them.
Broadway Market is hosting Black History Month every Saturday in February from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with support from the Buffalo Bills Foundation. Customers who make purchases from Black-owned businesses at the market will receive a $25 gift certificate to use at participating Black-owned businesses. Live music will also be available for patrons to enjoy while they shop.
Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals is holding a “Join Week” from Feb. 4-11 with events for current and prospective members to grow as professionals and be self-advocates. The week is geared toward empowering and advocating for 21 to 40-year-olds in their professional development, with the theme of the week being Young Professionals’ Renaissance. One of the events during the week is “Headshots and Handshakes,” where young professionals can take headshots and get assistance with resumes and networking tips. The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Buffalo Urban League facility located at 15 Genesee St.
