POSSIBILITIES FOR ALL OF US... CLAUDINE: AEVERY
YEAR, PEOPLE MAKE
RESOLUTIONS FOR THE
NEW YEAR
BUT THEY JUST DON'T
SEEM TO FOLLOW
THROUGH...
SO ON COMMUNITY...
WE HOPE TO INSPIRE
YOU TO FOLLOW
THROUGH.">
"SHOW OPEN"
"I'M CLAUDINE EWING.
AND I'M PETE GALLIVAN.
TODAY... WE ARE TAKING
YOU
YOU INSIDE THE NIAGARA FALLS UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD HERITAGE
CENTER...
A PLACE THAT
CELEBRATES NEW
STARTS FOR SO MANY
ENSLAVED PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT A NEW
YEAR IS ALL ABOUT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO
BACK INTO THE PAST A
LITTLE LATER IN THE
SHOW.
BUT FIRST... THE STORY
OF A YOUNG MAN... WHO
FOUND A NEW
PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE...
THROUGH THE GAME OF
GOLF.
GOLF.
"NATS
"NATS OF
"NATS OF GOLFING " GOLF MAY BE A GAME OF INCHES, BUT WHAT
JIM HORNE TEACHES
HIS STUDENTS IS A
LONG DRIVE OF FAR
BEYOND THE FARWAY.
"I'VE COME A LONG WAY
THROUGH GOLF. BUT IT
WAS MORE THE
DISCIPLINE THAT HE
TAUGHT ME"
JAMES BLACKWELL
BEGAN TAKING LESSON
WHEN HE WAS FIVE
FROM THIS U-B
BASKETBALL GREAT
TURNED GOLF LOVER
AND INSTRUCTOR.
JIM HAS BEEN OPENING
UP THE LINKS TO
MOSTLY INNER-CITY
KIDS, WHO MIGHT NOT
EVER HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY SINCE
1997.
HE HAS TAUGHT MORE
THAN 500 STUDENTS
WITH MORE THAN 10 OF
THEM PLAYING
COLLEGIATELY
INCLUDING JAMES WHO
PLAYED ON AND NOW
COACHES AT BALL
STATE
"WHAT DID IT TEACH YOU
ABOUT LIFE?
I MEAN PRETTY MUCH
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS,
IT'S UP AND IT'S DOWN. I
MEAN I'M 24-YEARS-OLD
AND WHEN I WAS
YOUNGER, I USED TO
GET REALLY UPSET IF I
DIDN'T PERFORM WELL.
AND HORNE AND MY
FATHER AND THE GROUP
OF GUYS THAT I HAD
AROUND ME, THEY
WOULD COME IN AND BE
LIKE TIS ALL A PART OF
IT. SO HOW CAN YOU
BOUNCE BACK"
"IT TEACHES YOU
DISCIPLINE AND IT
TEACHES YOU
FORTITUDE AND IT
TEACHES YOU HOW TO
BE AGGRESSIVE AND
WHEN YOU GET
KNOCKED DOWN IT
TEACHES YOU HOW TO
GET BACK UP AND DO IT
AGAIN. "
AND THE FOUNDATION
GOT A BIT OF A
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
FROM THE WEST HERR
AUTO GROUP THIS
YEAR. A FIVE-
THOUSAND GRANT TO
HELP THEM CONTINUE
TO BREAK DOWN
BARRIERS,
STEREOTYPES, AND
GIVE KIDS A NEW PATH
TO THEIR FUTURE.
"TO SEE THESE KIDS
OUT HERE GETTING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPAND THEIR
HORIZONS AND
SOMETHING THEY WILL
USE LATER IN LIFE WITH
JIM'S TEACHING HERE IS
JUST MAKES YOUR
HOLIDAY"
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
IS SOMETHING THAT
INSPIRES OTHERS TO
DO THE SAME.
"I'VE TRIED TO PAY IT
FORWARD. HE'S DONE
THIS FOR DECADES OF
PAYING IT FORWARD AND
SO HE'S A GOOD ROLE
MODEL AND THE STAFF
THAT HE HAS AROUND
HIM IS ALSO PAYING IT
FORWARD. YOU KIND OF
GROW UP IN THAT
ENVIRONMENT WHERE
PAYING IT FORWARD IS
THE ONLY WAY"
"CLAUDINE: COMING UP
WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY ON
NIAGARA STREET WE'RE
AT LMF...LA MOVEMENT
FITNESS. HEY LALA."
"LALA: IT'S EASY, IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
HARD, FOCUSING ON
SINGLE THINGS, SMALL
THINGS TO DO EVERY
SINGLE MONTH."
"LALA: LET'S GO
...SINGLES AND
DOUBLES"
DOUBLES"
"PETE:
"PETE: WELCOME BACK TO COMMUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING
YOU INTO THE CENTER
IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING
TO TALK ABOUT NEW
YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
THE NEW YEAR MEANS
TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHY A LOT
OF GYMS ARE PACKED...
AT LEAST FOR THE TIME
BEING.
CLAUDINE: AND YOU'RE
RIGHT... GOING TO THE
GYM HOWEVER CAN BE
QUITE A CHORE... NOT
EVERYBODY LIKES TO
GO TO THE GYM.
SO I FOUND A PLACE
WHERE, IT'S NOT ABOUT
THE GYM, IT'S ABOUT
HAVING A LITTLE
RHYTHM WORKING
OUT... LET'S GO INSIDE.
THIS IS A FITNESS
CLASS WITH A LITTLE MMM...
"NATS TO DANCE "
YOU ALREADY GET THE
POINT.....THIS IS A WAY
TO CHANGE FOR THE
BETTER BY MOVING....
"LALA WOODS: DANCE IS
UNIVERSAL FOR MOST
PEOPLE. WHETHER YOU
HAVE TWO LEFT FEET
OR YOU HAVE IT LL
TOGETHER, YOU CAN
GET YOUR HEART RATE
UP, HAVE FUN AND KEEP
MOVING."
LALA WOODS STARTED
LA'MOVEMENT FITNESS
IN 2013 AS SHE
STRUGGLED WITH
WEIGHT LOSS GOALS
AND TRYING TO STAY
MOTIVATED....
"LALA: ABOUT 8-YEARS
AGO WITH MY PERSONAL
JOURNEY, I WAS OVER
200 POUNDS I WAS
TIRED ALL THE TIME I
WAS LIVING THE ADULT
LIFE WORKING LONG
HOURS,
HOURS, STAYING UP LATE, NOT GETTING ENOUGH REST."
SO SHE RECONNECTED
WITH DANCE...
"LALA: EVERYONE WAS
ASKING WHAT DID YOU
DO, HOW DID YOU DO IT
AND I'M LIKE I JUST GOT
UP
UP AND
UP AND GOT ACTIVE." THE MOTTO FOR THE BUSINESS...
"LALA: GET UP, GET
ACTIVE OR GUGA AS THE
KIDS LIKE TO SAY.
"
IT MAY BE A SECRET
BUFFALO MOVEMENT
WITH A MISSION THAT
IS, WELL, LET'S JUST
SAY....IT'S MOVING.
"CLAUDINE: WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT 2019, A
WHOLE NEW YEAR,
PEOPLE ARE LIKE I WANT
A WHOLE NEW YOU,
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
LALA: THE BEST THING IS
TO START NOW.
SUMMER BODIES
BECAUSE EVERYBODY
WANTS TO LOOK GOOD
IN THE SUMMER, THE
GOOD THING ABOUT
BUFFALO IT'S
GENERALLY COLD HERE
MORE TIMES THAN NOT
AND SUMMER BODIES
ARE MADE IN THE
WINTER SO WE HAVE 9
LONG MONTHS TO GET
IT TOGETHER."
SO LALA THOUGHT SHE
PUT ME TO WORK
WHILE AT WORK IN A
SKIRT....
CHECK IT OUT.
"DANCING AND WORKING
OUT
OUT WITH
OUT WITH LALA " "DANCING WITH LALA" "CE: ARE YOU KIDDING
ME.DANCING "
ME.DANCING "
"WRAP
"WRAP UP
"WRAP UP " FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME.
"LALA: THINGS THAT YOU
CAN MEASURE THINGS
THAT YOU KEEP TRACK
OF SO THAT YOU CAN
HAVE THA SUCCESS."
"LALA: THE STRUGGLE
THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS
THERE
THERE IS
THERE IS AN IDEA AS TO WHAT FITNESS LOOKS LIKE, WHAT IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE,
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO
GO TO GYM, YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO DO THIS
AND THAT'S NOT
NECESSARILY THE CASE,
YOU JUST NEED TO GET
YOUR HEART RATE UP
AND GET ACTIVE."
LA'MOVEMENT HAS
DIFFERENT STYLES OF
DANCE CLASSES
"LALA: WE DO HEEL
CLASSES, WE DO HIP-
HOP SO ANYTHING YOU
CAN THINK OF AFRICAN-
AFRO BEATS SO A
BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
STYLES TO DANCE MAKE
IT FUN, GET UP AND GET
ACTIVE."
THE GYM ISN'T ALWAYS
RIGHT FOR EVERYONE...
"LALA: THE REASON WHY
I STRUGGLED WITH MY
WEIGHT LOSS IS
BECAUSE AS AN
AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMAN THAT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT WAS
PRESENT GROWING UP."
HEALTHY EATING AND
WORKING OUT ARE
IMPORTANT
"LALA: THAT'S
SOMETHING WE'RE VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT
CHANGING FOR BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE TO
REALLY EDUCATE THEM
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
WE ARE PREVALENT TO
DYING FROM HEART
DISEASE AND A LOT OF
THINGS THAT CAN BE
PREVENTED FROM
SIMPLE EXERCISE AND
EATING BETTER. "
AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S
CREATED EXERCISES
THAT WORK FOR ALL....
"LALA: WE MAY DO A
TWERK CLASS FOR
WOMEN OR A HEELS
CLASS FOR WOMEN
WHICH ALSO PROMOTES
CONFIDENCE."
"LALA: THE FLIP SIDE IS
THEY ARE ACTUALLY
WORKING OUT AND
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW
IT.
IT. SO
IT. SO THEY COME IN THEIR HEELS YOU'RE WORKING YOUR CALF,
CORE,BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT YOU NEED TO
STAND UP AND REALLY
EXECUTE ANYTHING IN
HEELS."
YOU MAY FIND A LIVE DJ
"DJ HANDS: I'M UP HERE
I'M DANCING AND
ENJOYING THE MUSIC AS
WELL I ACTUALLY COME
DOWN AND DANCE WITH
THEM AS WELL TO
MOTIVATE THEM TO
PUSH THEM BECAUSE IT
CAN BECOME TIRESOME
AT TIMES. CE: OKAY,
YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING
MUSIC, BUT I DON'T SEE
ANY SWEAT? DJ: IF YOU
ZOOM IN "
"LALA: AND SO AT THE
END THEY ARE LIKE, I
JUST HAD A WORKOUT
THIS WAS ACTUALLY A
WORKOUT AND THEY
FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT"
"LALA: SO FOR 2019, WE
JUST WANT TO REACH
MORE PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY, REALLY
EXPANDING PEOPLE'S
KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT
TAKES TO LIVE A
HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.
THERE ARE SO MANY
MYTHS OUT THERE,
PEOPLE MAKE IT SO
TOUGH AND ITS'S EASY
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
HARD, FOCUSING ON
THOSE SINGLE THINGS,
SMALL THINGS TO DO
EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
FIND AN ACTIVITY THAT
YOU LOVE, COME DANCE
WITH US."
PARTNERSHIPS WOITH
BUSINESSES, SILENT
DANCE FITNESS,
KAROKEE DANCE
FITNESS AND SHE'S
TAKEN HER PROGRAM
INTO THE SCHOOLS.
"LALA: IT'S AN
ALTERNATIVE WAY TO
GET THE PARENTS
INVOLVED SO THE GOOD
THING IN THE
COMMUNITY ISTHAT
WE'RE TALKING TO THE
KIDS AND WE'RE
TALKING TO THE
PARENTS AND WE'RE
BRINGING IT ALL FULL
CIRCLE. "
MAKING FITNESS FUN!
"CLAP, CLAP YOU MADE
IT! "
IT! "
IT! " "SAY IT'S ALRIGHT, BABY
IT'S ALRIGHT, BABY IT'S ALRIGHT, YEAH, YEAH,
YEAH, BABY IT'S
ALRIGHT"
THIS WESTERN NEW
YORK SINGER WILL
CERTAINLY MAKE YOU
FEEL ALRIGHT...
AND INSPIRE YOU TO
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS
THIS NEW YEAR.... NO
MATTER WHAT
CHALLENGES YOU MAY
FACE.
THAT'S NEXT ON
COMMUNITY.
"HEEEYYYY, HEEEEY,
OOOO, OOOO, HEY, HEY,
OH, OH, HEY, HEY, OH,
OH SAY IT'S ALRIGHT. "
"PETE:
"PETE: WELL, WELCOME BACK TO COMMUNITY... AND WE'RE JUST
MOMENTS AWAY FROM
TAKING A TOUR OF THIS
GREAT FACILITY.
BUT YOU KNOW THE
NEW YEAR IS ALSO A
TIME TO LOOK BACK AND
TO REFLECT... ON A LOT
OF THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE'VE ALREADY
OVERCOME.
EXACTLY, THERE'S A
WOMAN IN NIAGARA
FALLS... SHE HAS BEEN
SINGING FOR YEARS...
FACED SO MANY
CHALLENGES.. BUT SHE
HAS A NEW SONG."
"MARSHA
"MARSHA SINGS A SONG SHE WROTE WHO KNOWS IF I AM WRONG
OR
OR IF
OR IF I'M
OR IF I'M RIGHT, TELL ME WHAT AM I TO DO." MARSHA MCWILSON
HAS BEEN SINGING
SINCE AGE 6.
"MARSHA: WHEN YOU
CAME TO MY HOUSE IT
WAS A FULL REALITY
SHOW BEFORE REALITY
SHOWS EXISTED. "
YOU'VE PROBABLY
SEEN HER ALL AROUND
WESTERN NEW YORK
SINGING AT
FUNCTIONS....AND
MCWILSON IS NOT JUST
A SINGER, BUT A
SONGWRITER.
SONGWRITER.
"A
"A NEW
"A NEW DAWN, WE ARE BUFFALO STRONG" SHE'S ALSO HAD SOME
ACTING ROLES AND
SHE'S A MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKER.
SPEAKER. BUT IT'S HER SINGING, EVEN IN NURSING
HOMES THAT TOUCHES
HEARTS.
"WE ARE BUFFALO
STRONG. "
"MARSHA: A 96 YEAR
OLD MAN CAME TO ME
AND HE SAID I AM A WAR
VET."
"MARSHA: AND YOU
KNOW, YOU REALLY
REALLY TOUCHED MY
HEART WITH SINGING"
SHE EVEN GOES INTO
SCHOOLS....
"MARSHA: IF I KNOW I'VE
GOT TO SING TO YOU, I'M
GOING TO GO FIND OUT
WHAT YOU LIKE
"SHE'S A GIRL WITH A
DIAMOND RING. YOU
KNOW SHE CAN SHAKE
HER THING. "
"AND IF I FIND OUT WHAT
YOU LIKE, YOU'RE IN
TROUBLE BECAUSE I'M
GETTING READY TO GET
IN YOUR HEART HONEY. "
THE WIFE AND MOTHER
OF TWO SONS JUST
WANTS HER SINGING
CAREER TO TAKE OFF...
"MARSHA: WHEN I SEE
SOMEONE LOW, AND
THEN I CAN JUST ALL OF
SUDDENT LOOK AT THEM
AND SAY YOU KNOW
WHAT SMILE! SMILE,
BECAUSE GUESS WHAT
THERE IS A BRIGHT
SUNSHINE IN THE
WORLD OUT THERE AND
IF I CAN PUT THAT INTO
MUSIC AND I CAN SAY IF
YOU'RE
YOU'RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR HANDS. IF YOU'RE
HAPPY AND YOU KNOW
IT CLAP YOUR HANDS."
SHE SINGS TO BRING
HAPPINESS TO PEOPLE
IT HAPPENED ON THE
TOM JOYNER
FANTASTIC VOYAGE
CRUISE WHICH IS
STAR-STUDDED.
"MARSHA: GUESS WHAT,
A LITTLE GIRL FROM
NIAGARA FALLS HAS
BEEN DOING THAT
CRUISE WHICH IS A
MIRACLE IT'S REALLY
NOT HEARD OF
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A
MAJOR RECORD DEAL."
"NATS"
SHE SANG BACKUP
ONCE FOR MICHAEL
BUBLE.
SHIRLEY CASEAR...AND
BB KING'S DAUGHTER
AT THE BLUE'S FEST IN
NIAGARA
NIAGARA FALLS. "NATS" "CE: WHAT DO YOU
WANT? MARSHA: WHAT
DO I REALLY WANT, I
WANT TO HAVE A
CAREER IN DOING WHAT
I LOVE TO DO AND THAT
IS, THAT IS UPLIFTING
AND
AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE." MCWILSON IS
RELEASING A NEW
SINGLE CALLED
HALFTIME.
"MARSHA: THAT MEANS
WHEN YOU ARE 50, BABY
IT IS UP TO YOU TO WIN
THIS GAME, YOU'VE
WORKED FOR
EVERYONE ELSE 50
YEARS AGO NOW THE
OTHER 50 SHOULD BE
FOR YOU. LOVE
YOURSELF, TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF BECAUSE
GUESS WHAT, IT'S
HALFTIME."
"MARSHA: I'M REAL.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT
YOU GET, I'M NOT FAKE,
I'M NOT PHONY"
"MARSHA: I'M
PASSIONATE AT WHAT I
DO. I LOVE PEOPLE."
"SINGING: I NEED A
BALANCE TO HOLD ME
UP SO THAT I WON'T
FALL! "
FALL! "
FALL! " THEY SAY YOU CAN'T
KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING...
UNTIL YOU KNOW
WHERE
WHERE YOU'VE BEEN... "SA: EVERYDAY PEOPLE HAVE A STORY TO TELL
AND THAT STORY IS
SOMETHING THAT CAN
BE USED TO EMPOWER
PRESENT DAY FREEDOM
SEEKERS IN TERMS OF
ADDRESSING A LOT OF
THE MODERN DAY
INJUSTICES THAT WE
STILL SEE TODAY."
.
WE TAKE A STEP BACK
INTO WESTERN NEW
YORK'S RICH HISTORY...
OF PROVIDING A PATH
TO FREEDOM FOR SO
MANY... JUST AHEAD ON
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY.
"PETE:
"PETE: ONE STEP TO
FREEDOM.
FREEDOM. CLAUDINE: HOW SWEET THAT IS. PETE: YEAH, NO
KIDDING, WE'RE HERE AT
THE NIAGARA FALLS
UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD HERITAGE
CENTER. THE LAST STOP
IS THE FREEDOM
GALLERY AND IT REALLY
KIND OF KNOCKS HOME
THE IDEA THAT
FREEDOM ISN'T JUST
THIS BIG CONCEPT, IT'S
ABOUT PEOPLE.
CLAUDINE: LOOK AT
SOME OF THE SIGNS,
LET US NOT DRINK OF
HATRED TO SATISFY OUR
THIRST FOR FREEDOM.
THAT SAYS A LOT. PETE:
OH WITHOUT A DOUBT
AND
AND YOU
AND YOU KNOW WHO ELSE SAYS A LOT THIS GUY. SALADIN ALLAH.
CE: LET'S GO MEET HIM.
OH, IS THAT YOU? SA:
THAT'S MY MORE
ATTRACTIVE TWIN RIGHT
THERE."
"CE: YOU HAVE QUITE A
STORY TO TELL, YOU
ARE A DESCENDENT OF
A
A FREEDOM
A FREEDOM FIGHTER. SA: ABSOLUTELY. CE: TALK TO ME. SA: JOSIAH
HENSON, ARE YOU
FAMILIAR WITH THE
BOOK UNCLE TOM'S
CABIN. OH YEAH.
HARRIET BEECHER
STOWE THAT WROTE
THE BOOK, SHE USED
MY GREAT-GREAT-GREAT
GRANDFATHER JOSIAH
HENSON AS THE
NARRATIVE BEHIND
UNCLE TOM. PETE: WOW,
GET OUT. SA:
ABSOLUTELY."
"PETE: IN THIS DAY AND
AGE, UNCLE TOM HAS
GOT A NEGATIVE
CONTEXT TO IT AND
THAT COULDN'T BE
ANYTHING FURTHER
FROM THE TRUTH. SA:
ABSOLUTELY, HE WAS A
LEADER OF A BLACK
MILITIA DURING A
REBELLION IN 1837, HE
ESTABLISHED THE DAWN
SETTLEMENT A WHOLE
COMMUNITY OF
FREEDOM SEEKERS
WHO ARRIVED ON THE
CANADIAN SIDE. HE
WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
CONSTRUCTING BRITISH
AMERICAN INSTITUTE,
SO HE DID A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
UNCLE TOM WOULDN'T
BE CREDITED WITH
DOING."
"SA: HE REMAINED
ENSLAVED FOR 41
YEARS OF HIS LIFE. HE
ACTUALLY STRIVED TO
BUY HIS MANUMISSION
PAPERS AT ONE POINT
BUT HIS ENSLAVER
TRICKED HIM INTO NOT
ALLOWING HIM TO BUY
HIS ACTUAL FREEDOM AT
ONE POINT HE REALIZED
HIS ENSLAVER WAS
HAVING PROBLEM
MANAGING HIS
PLANTATION AND HE
ACTUALLY SOLD HIM
DOWN THE RIVER
LITERALLY TO HIS
BROTHERS PLANTATION
IN KENTUCKY AND IT
WAS AT THAT POINT
THAT HE DECIDED AT
THE AGE OF 41 YEARS
OLD TO LEAVE
ENSLAVEMENT AND HE
WALKED OVER 500 MILES
FROM KENTUCKY,
CROSSED OVER TO
FORT ERIE AND
ESTABLISHED HIMSELF
IN A PLACE CALLED
LITTLE AFRICA AT THE
TIME. THE JOURNEY
TOOK
TOOK OVER
TOOK OVER A MONTH, AND THAT'S WHAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN
UNDERSTAND. IT WASN'T
LIKE IF A PERSON WAS
ENSLAVED IN THE
SOUTH THEY JUMPED IN
A TESLA AND DROVE TO
FREEDOM."
"SA: JOSIAH HENSON,
TWO OF HIS CHILDREN
WERE SO SMALL HE HAD
TO CARRY THEM IN A
KNAPSACK ON HIS BACK
THE ENTIRE JOURNEY."
"SA: OFTENTIMES YOU
HAVE EVERYDAY PEOPLE
DOING VERY NOTABLE
THINGS AND
OFTENTIMES THEIR
STORIES MAY BE SO
ENRAPTURED WITH
TRAUMA THAT THEY MAY
NOT SHARE THAT WITH
THE NEXT GENERATION."
"SA: THOSE STORIES
ARE JUST AS EQUALLY
IMPORTANT AS STORIES
OF FREEDOM BECAUSE
IT SHOWS YOU THE
SENSE OF RESILIENCE
AND THE INFINITE
POTENTIAL THAT A
PERSON POSSESS TO BE
ABLE TO OVERCOME
CERTAIN OBSTACLES IN
THEIR LIFE."
"SA: MY GRANDMOTHER
WAS BORN IN ST.
CATHERINES. SHE MOVE
INTO NIAGARA FALLS, NY.
MY FATHER WAS BORN
AND I'M ONE OF MY
FATHER'S CHILDREN. CE:
HOW DOES IT ALL MAKE
YOU FEEL AND YOU'RE IN
A FREEDOM GALLERY."
"SA: EVERYDAY PEOPLE
HAVE A STORY TO TELL
AND THAT STORY IS
SOMETHING THAT CAN
BE
BE USED
BE USED TO EMPOWER PRESENT DAY FREEDOM SEEKERS IN TERMS OF
ADDRESSING A LOT OF
THE MODERN DAY
INJUSTICES THAT WE
STILL SEE TODAY."
"SA: WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE FREEDOM GALLERY,
YOU SEE PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES.
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES,
AGES, GENDERS AND
THEY ALL HAVE A STORY
TO SHARE AND THE
COMMON THEME IS
FREEDOM."
"MADE A BREAK WITH
NATS FROM A DISPLAY"
"THESE QUOTES THAT
YOU SEE ON THE RED
ARROWS
ARROWS THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBIT " "THESE ARE MODERN
QUOTATIONS."
"CHRISTINE: THE
STORIES THAT TELL ARE
OF SURPRISING HEROES
ON THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD WHO EITHER
LIVED IN NIAGARA FALLS,
WORKED OR PASSED
THROUGH NIAGARA
FALLS CROSSING ONE
MORE RIVER TO GET TO
CANADA."
"PETE: THE SUSPENSION
BRIDGE WAS A MAJOR
PLAYER IN NIAGARA
FALLS."
"CHRISTINE: THIS IS THE
BRIDGE THAT HARRIET
TUBMAN CROSSED AD
OTHER FREEDOM
SEEKERS. IT WAS IN A
LOCATION WHERE THE
WHIRLPOOL BRIDGE IS."
"PETE: WHEN YOU SEE
THIS ILLUSTRATION AND
THE STEPS PEOPLE HAD
TO TAKE. THE BRIDGE IS
ONE THING, SCALING
THAT GORGE, GETTING
DOWN TO THE RIVER
AND MAKING YOUR WAY
IN A ROW BOAT ACROSS
THE MIGHTY NIAGARA."
"CHRISTINE: YOU MIGHT
HAVE BEEN RUNNING
FOR YOUR LIFE
BECAUSE YOU WERE
ACTUALLY BEING
ACTUALLY BEING
PURSUED
PURSUED FLY DOWN THESE STEPS AND ROW YOURSELF ACROSS.
WHERE THE MAID OF
THE MIST IS TODAY THAT
IS THE LOCATION OF
WHERE THESE
ROWBOATS WOULD
CROSS BACK AND
FORTH. "
"CHRISTINE: THE
CATARACT HOUSE AND
THE WAIT STAFF THAT
WORKED HERE ARE THE
HEROES OF OUR
STORIES. THIS IS A
CENTER OF
UNDERGROUND
ACTIVITY. THE WAITERS
WERE SECRET AGENTS.
THE WAIT STAFF AT THE
CATARACT HOTEL WERE
ALL AFRICAN AMERICANS
AND MANY OF THEM
HAD BEEN BORN INTO
SLAVERY BUT WERE
NOW LIVING AND
WORKING HERE IN
FREEDOM. BY DAY THEY
WERE WORKING IN THE
DINING ROOM BUT
BEHIND THE SCENES
THEY WERE ESCORTING
FREEDOM SEEKERS
ACROSS THE RIVER INTO
CANADA."
"PETE: WE TALK ABOUT
FREEDOM SEEKERS, BUT
THIS IS ALSO A
CELEBRATION OF FOLKS
WHO HELPED THOSE
FREEDOM SEEKERS
FIND THE FREEDOM
THEY WERE SEEKING.
CHRISTINE: AND IN OUR
STORIES THOSE
HELPERS WERE BLACK
MEN HERE AT THE
CATARACT HOUSE
HOTEL. OFTENTIMES WE
THINK OF ABOLITIONISTS
AS WHITE QUAKERS AND
THAT CERTAINLY IS
TRUE, BUT HERE IN
NIAGARA FALLS THAT
STORY WAS MUCH
LARGER."
"PETE: PICKING UP A
SOUVENEIR. CLAUDINE:
WHY NOT. THIS WAS
QUITE A TOUR, AND JUST
HEARING THE STORIES
AND BEING ABLE TO
SPEAK WITH A
DESCENDANT OF A
FREEDOM FIGHTER, YOU
JUST DON'T GET THAT
ANYWHERE ELSE. PETE:
WITHOUT A DOUBT.
WHAT A WAY TO MARK
NEW STARTS. BY THE
WAY WE WANT TO HEAR
YOUR STORIES. SEND IT
TO US AT WGRZ.COM
BUT FOR NOW IN THE
IMMORTAL WORDS OF
HARRIET TUBMAN,
CLAUDINE; CHECK IT
OUT. WE OUT, SEE YOU
NEXT TIME ON
COMMUNITY."
COMMUNITY."