Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Hundreds of people of all races gathered at Roswell Park's Hohn Lecture Hall for the first of the City of Buffalo's 5/14 remembrance events: the "Beyond Hate" panel discussion.
For many, this event was about remembering the 10 victims that we lost at the Tops Shooting on Jefferson, but also a day of education, understanding, and taking action in addressing the systemic racism not just happening in the city, but in the nation.
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"I think it was very important to be here in remembrance of the families that we lost right here in Buffalo," said Emmanuel Kulu. "This is not just for the black community, this is for the entire community of Buffalo. This was someone outside of our community, who came into our community to terrorize. It's important for us to come together and try to talk about solutions."
"[It's about] recognizing injustice in this small community, recognizing and understanding what hate and racism is, and finding ways as not only a community, but as human beings to eradicate this thing that divides us," said Charles Garner.
The speakers included best-selling author and professor, Dr. Ibram Kendi, Most Reverend Michael Curry of the Episcopal Church, Spelman College President Dr. Helene Gayle, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., and Mayor Byron Brown.
Joan Scafani says she takes away an important message that the world must be reminded of, given by Reverend Curry.
"Love is the answer. We've got to love one another in order to get things taken care of and straightened out the way we want them to be. First of all, we've got to be honest about it. And then we've got to love each other."
"Sometimes we can take hatred and prejudices that's projected upon us and internalize it, make it seem as though it is our own fault. That was one of the things that the one of the speakers mentioned. And I take that away with me, when I teach my kids that hatred and bigotry is not something that you should internalize if somebody's projecting it towards you," said Garner.
Another important takeaway discussed is the continued need for a better education of African American history.
"It would be great to hold more focus groups, not just in the city, but nationwide and broadcast some of these conversations. These need to be talked about more in schools and things like that. Personally, I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the race riots happened. And I wasn't taught that in school. But like the speaker did say, these are things that need to be talked about, because we're hearing only one side of it," said Brandi McMillion.
"We have to stop telling people to put away the books that call these things out," says Kulu. "These are conversations that have to keep happening. If you don't do something about miseducation, it can turn into violence. We have to allow the conversation of diversity teaching in our schools, diversity in the workplaces. We've heard about some banks, local banks even in Buffalo, that participated in redlining. So we need to know these things through education, and it needs to be put in the system of education and employment as well."
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