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Photo by Eric Tichy
About three dozen people attended a community forum Tuesday at Love Elementary School in Jamestown on pervasive racism and discrimination. The gathering was the culmination of meetings after two people dressed in blackface costumes last October.
JAMESTOWN — When word got out last Halloween that two people had dressed in blackface costumes at parties in Frewsburg, Tom Nelson quickly changed his lesson plan that day.
As a history teacher at Frewsburg Central School, Nelson thought it was appropriate to address the costumes and their connection to racism.
“When this happened, this hurt,” said Nelson, who also serves as a Chautauqua County legislator representing a portion of Jamestown. “This is what I’ve been teaching to try to stop. This is what I’ve worked for.”
Nelson was among several elected officials, both city representatives and county, who on Tuesday attended what turned into a panel discussion on pervasive racism in the community. The hour and a half long forum at Love Elementary School was the culmination of several meetings among local leaders after the blackface incident last October.
More than three dozen people attended the community meeting.
“We feel like this is the tip of the iceberg to address this issue,” said the Rev. Uvie Stewart Jr., who also chairs the city’s Human Rights Commission.
In addition to Nelson, those in attendance included Isaiah Rashad II, vice chairman of the Human Rights Commission and candidate for an at-large seat on the Jamestown City Council; county Legislator Billy Torres; Legislator Susan Parker; City Councilwoman Regina Brackman; City Councilman Andrew Faulkner; City Councilman Randy Daversa; and county Legislator Dave Wilfong.
A three-page letter was read aloud regarding the Halloween party as well as the racism and discrimination occurring in the community.
“We believe, and have evidence to show, that the blackface incident in Chautauqua County represents a much deeper problem,” the letter states. “Both anecdotal evidence and data show that racism and discrimination against African American and Black citizens occurs in education, employment and health care.”
The group, which includes local church leaders, stated that Black students are “subjected to repeated incidences of racial bullying and discriminatory disciplinary practices.” Stewart said there have been discussions with school officials, and he’s encouraged that concerns are being taken seriously.
Discussion also touched on hiring practices.
“African American and Black job candidates are sometimes completely excluded from job searches or not extended the same opportunity for hiring and advancement as their white counterparts,” the group said in its three-page letter.
As for preventative health services, the group believes African American and Black citizens are less likely to receive quality care. They cited a 2019 New York State Health Equity Report that showed “worse health outcomes” among Blacks for a variety of conditions including hospitalization for diabetes, lung cancer and coronary heart disease.
“We believe that racism is alive in this county, alive at a time when the importance of embracing diversity is acknowledged and well accepted,” the group said. “Racism affects our schools, jobs and environment.”
Concerns over the Halloween party — in which two people dressed as Black lawn jockeys — were noted in a separate letter sent to every county legislator, mayor and town supervisor in the county. The letter also was sent to County Executive PJ Wendel and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office as well as both local state representatives.
“We believe that it is the duty of our elected public officials to openly declare that this behavior will not be tolerated,” the letter reads. “We ask that you inform our county, state and nation that we, the residents of Chautauqua County, stand against this long-standing caricature of African Americans.”
Wilfong, who went to Love Elementary School as a student, said he knows that “hatred” does exist. After discussing the issue of racism with the Rev. Leecroft Clarke, Wilfong said he’s working on a motion to be read aloud during an upcoming county Legislature meeting.
Wilfong encouraged everyone to watch the legislature meeting, which will be streamed on YouTube.
The issue of diversity training was raised during Tuesday’s meeting. Parker said county officials are required to complete courses online. “I took some training on non-discrimination, but what’s being spoken up here is that, to a certain extent, those things are very helpful but are they really working?” Parker said.
The group’s goal is to have elected officials across the county both acknowledge and denounce racism. The legislators in attendance Tuesday plan to meet with Wendel by the end of next week to establish a countywide “task force” to identify problems in the community and what can be done to address them.
“There’s nothing wrong with putting together a group of people to take a look at a certain problem,” Wilfong said. “I’d join that committee if that’s what you’re going to put forward. To try to get the administrative end behind this I think we’d have to meet with PJ. I can’t imagine he would be against it.”
Wendel said he was not invited to Tuesday’s meeting but is “always willing” to meet with individuals, groups or other officials pertaining to the county.
“As County Executive, I’m open to speaking with members of the Chautauqua County Legislature, and/or other stakeholders, who have launched a committee to investigate and address racism within Chautauqua County,” Wendel said in a statement.
Clarke believes a task force can establish a “clear cut” initiative to “look at ways in which we can begin to diffuse this racism and discrimination in this county.”
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