To celebrate and honor Black History Month, the Buffalo Bills are partnering with several local organizations to support and sponsor events throughout the month of February.
One of the events taking place this month is Buffalo Fashion Runway's Black Carpet II. It's BFR's second annual Black Carpet event on Saturday, February 15, which is a spectacular evening dedicated to honoring Black History Month by celebrating resilience, creativity and influence of Black fashion through the ages.
Chad Williams, one of Buffalo Fashion Runway's co-founders, hopes the night showcases what Black excellence is all about.
"It's a celebration of Black excellence in a great fashion, amplifying the resilience instilled in us since birth" Williams said. "We're born with our backs against the wall, with people doubting our potential. But rising above those expectations and achieving greatness—that is what Black excellence means to me."
Black Carpet II will spotlight contemporary designs, talent and the richness of Black culture, while paying tribute to the trailblazing journey of Black fashion. The night will also highlight and celebrate 10 distinguished Black Icons, who are influential leaders across various fields in Buffalo with special awards, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the community.
"Bringing it back this year, we've grown as people, we've grown as a brand and we just wanted to keep the celebration of Black History and Black excellence going in the month of February," Williams said. "With this one, we're having it at the Connecticut Street Armory. It is a bigger venue, so that means we'll have more people, more designers to celebrate Black excellence in a grand way."
The Buffalo Fashion Runway crew wanted to host an event like this during Black History Month to honor Black culture's impact on our world.
"We want to celebrate it through fashion and the arts," Williams explained. "Art is the best form of expression and expression is the best way of making known your thoughts and feelings. It's the celebration of people coming together to recognize what Black people have done for the world. We feel like being able to do that in the month of February in Buffalo for Buffalo is historical."
Buffalo Fashion Runway does far more than host shows. They are an organization that wants to lift up their community in as many ways as possible. They host several events throughout the year and do lots of work with kids. For example, the group has partnered with The Foundry and South Park High School in the past to teach courses on entrepreneurship and garment creation.
"Buffalo Fashion Runway stands for the people," Williams said. "For Buffalo by Buffalo. Everything that we do is geared towards making Buffalo a better Buffalo. We do it to help different designers, models, entrepreneurs and creatives in general find their way."
To be a part of an iconic evening and to help Buffalo Fashion Runway grow, tickets can be purchased here.
From the runway to the bookstore, the Bills have also partnered with Zeneta & Zaire's Book Club for the third annual Black History Month Story Hour. Children from Nanny's Nook Daycare on Jefferson Avenue will participate in a reading hour with Zeneta and take home books that feature stories about Black history, heroes and diversity.
"The annual story hour is important because first there are so many books that are under attack and are added to the banned books list," Zeneta Everhart said. "We have to always ask ourselves, why do they not want us to read those books? It is my opinion that within those pages are the secrets to success.
"Those who came before us left roadmaps on creating a legacy and how not to repeat the mistakes of the past. All we have to do is read. Second, it is important that children are introduced to reading as early as possible. This helps them develop as well as introduces them to the importance of education. Education is our superpower."
Everhart is also a Council Woman for the Masten District of Buffalo. She champions reading for young Black minds because of how it can unlock opportunities and potential.
Zeneta & Zaire's Book Club is dedicated to teaching children about diversity and inclusion through the power of books and education. By collecting and distributing books that focus on these themes, they show Black children that they can be main characters – in books, life, careers and our communities.
"I want children to see themselves as doctors, lawyers, judges, astronauts, Presidents, architects, engineers, teachers and more," Everhart said. "I want them to understand that no matter their circumstance they can achieve anything. I also want them to see examples of love, healthy interactions, and the love of family in books. Children need examples of greatness, success, hard times, triumphs, love and joy. And the best place to get that if it is not right in front of you is in a book."
Zeneta & Zaire believe that putting books about legendary African Americans who have been trailblazers in history in the hands of children of all races and identities will open a window to the diversity that exists within our world. In addition to partnering with story hour, children will receive a copy of Bills cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram's book, 'The Lil Player that Could.'
"Ja'Marcus is such a gift to our community," Everhart said. "The players are not just players, they're people too who live in the real world. They understand the need to have them as a part of the community that they play for. To be able to partner with the Bills on this initiative that promotes diversity and acceptance has been amazing. They help on so many different initiatives in the community including food access, youth programming, sports programming, the arts and so many others."
The Bills are also doing a gift card giveaway in honor of Black History Month. The Bills Foundation will give gift cards to several Black-owned local businesses like Ike and BG's, Loud House Buffalo, Bratts Hill, Crenshaw's Chicken and Waffles, Nikki's Chocolates, Unapologetic Coffee, Zawaldi Books, The Cellar, Rejuvinex Spa and Alana Adetola Arts Photography.
Click here for a chance to enter to win.
Buffalo is also celebrating the month by showcasing the several businesses that are owned by our current Black players. To learn about those businesses, click here.
