• "The departure of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton from the U.S. Senate has opened up possibilities for blacks in Illinois and New York. In Illinois, the attention has focused on Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who some African Americans in Chicago are pushing to replace Obama and continue a tradition of black representation from the Land of Lincoln. … In New York, the attention has turned to a previously little known African American mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown, who because of his location upstate, his support from other mayors and his race, may have a good shot of becoming the Empire State's first black senator just a year after David Paterson became its first black governor. Paterson, of course, will make the selection."

HMMMMMMMMM "[Buffalo, New York's] Juneteenth Festival drew a smaller crowd to Martin Luther King Park on Sunday, but still entertained festival-goers with a variety of events and activities celebrating African-American heritage and culture. … In addition to traditional events like the parade, this year’s festival included a re-enactment of a slave auction that took place throughout the two days. The actors stayed in character after the performance to answer questions from the crowd. … Debra Johnson, who has attended the festival nearly every year, said she couldn’t attend the re-enactment. 'Emotionally, I wasn’t ready for it,' Johnson said, adding that it was different to read and hear about such auctions then it was to actually see it."