Edited by Dr. Tiana U. Wilson and James J. Coughlin
Burning Books
7/2025, booklet
SKU: 659675450865
The Justice for Geraldine Pointer and Martin Sostre campaign hosted a Freedom Summer School over the course of six weeks from June to August of 2025. In collaboration with the Black Buffalo Syllabus Collective, co-facilitators Dr. Tiana U. Wilson and James Coughlin utilized resources from the #BuffaloSyllabus to introduce students to important concepts and themes related to the historical, social, political, and economic landscape of Black Buffalo. Topics included residential segregation and gentrification, food apartheid and environmental racism, mass incarceration, and the Black Radical Tradition in Buffalo. Given that the Buffalo Public School District does not require or prioritize local
Black history, arts, or culture, the Geraldine and Martin Freedom Summer School sought to substantially contribute to the public memory and knowledge of Black residents’ experiences. One of our primary goals was to produce a resource guide for students and locals interested in learning more about the different community empowerment groups and social justice advocates around the city. This collective Zine project features some of the conversations between our Freedom School participants and community partners.
Within these pages, readers will get a glimpse into the activist scene in Black Buffalo and
community leaders’ vision of Black liberation. May this zine be a tool for building solidarity across movements and carrying the revolutionary and abolitionist spirit of those who came before us, those who are still with us, and generations to come.
Acknowledgements:
It takes a village to launch a Freedom School. We are indebted to the Center for Engaged Scholarship for generously funding our project. Much appreciation for our planning committee’s assistance with the “behind the scenes” work of organizing. This includes Alicia Quebral, Dr. Jarrett Drake, Mama Dennice Barr, and last but not least, our community elder who is no longer with us, Sandy Shevack. Much gratitude to Leslie James Pickering of Burning Books for his unwavering support of our efforts. Special shoutout to the Merriweather Library, Open Buffalo, Urban Christian Ministries, Apollo Media Center, Ariq Neloy, Matthew Austin, Melissa Hubbard, Dr. J Coley, and Dr. Majadi Baruti. Thank you to our students, participants, and community partners for embarking on this creative endeavor.
To Ms. Geraldine Pointer, we thank you for your sacrifices to the movement and will continue to organize in your namesake.
*Program funding made possible through the Center for Engaged Scholarship & program content is in collaboration with the #BuffaloSyllabus