Mural Unveiled
By Michael J. Billoni
Judson Price, a 93-years-young highly respected East Side community leader, marveled as he studied Visual Artist Julia Bottoms’ latest public art mural adjacent to the William L. Gaiter Parkway in Masten Park, part of the Norfolk Avenue Block Club #1.
The colorful 14.5 foot tall by 46-foot-wide artwork, which was unveiled June 21, features Tyfani Becks, a 10- years-young fourth grader at Olmsted School 64, whose smile says it all. She is carrying a red, black, and green Pan-African flag and her white t-shirt features an excellent portrait of Mr. Gaiter with the words “William Gaiter Parkway est. 1998” around it.
“Bill Gaiter and I go back over 60 years ago,” Price said with pride as he studied the portrait of his friend. “It is so great to see his family here to celebrate this beautiful mural with us. I can tell you many stories about him and me, but I will leave you with one.
“Mr. Gaiter had called a meeting of Black leaders and community organizers at B.U.I.L.D. Academy nearly 50 years ago when he said to us, ‘What can we do to celebrate our freedom. It certainly is not the Fourth of July,’” Price added.
The Orator, Fredrick Douglas, in 1852, criticized the Fourth of July as a day that reminded enslaved people of the gross injustice and cruelty to which he was a constant victim. He said, “On July 4, we have nothing to celebrate because we were not free.”
Price said Gaiter’s challenge led them to do some research and when they returned, they settled on June 19, recognized as Juneteenth to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. Back then it was not a widely celebrated holiday and decades from becoming a national Independence Day federal holiday.
Gaiter, Price, and other community leaders such as Reverand Eugene Pierce, Gail Wells, Douglas Ruffin, and Roosevelt Warlow selected June 19, 1976, as the first Buffalo Juneteenth Celebration to be located along Jefferson Avenue. The 2025 Buffalo Juneteenth Celebration, now held in Martin Luther King Park, will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Price’s daughter presented a copy of his granddaughter, Alliah L. Agostini’s recent children’s book, “The Juneteenth Story, Celebrating The End of Slavery in the United States” to Angie Davis Leveritte, president of the Norfolk Avenue Block Club #1.
“I love doing community projects that help to beautify areas like this in the city,” Bottoms, the artist said before explaining the elements around her subject. She acknowledged a local Girl Scout troop whose answers to the question: “What freedom means to them” is painted on the wall and to the entire Gaiter family for being there.
“I grew up knowing about the legacy of William Gaiter and I am honored you are here,” she said. “A couple of the elements in the mural are a megaphone, a school bus, and coins representing the powerful work of B.U.I.L.D. Buffalo and William L. Gaiter (who also founded BUILD Academy) and those community leaders who paved the way for all of us.”
The Gaiter family, which also included his late wife Camille, were represented by their children, Adrianne (Gaiter) Spidell, twins Dr. Toni L. (Gaiter) Vazquez, Ed.D and Terri Gaiter-Sutton, Daryl, and Terrance.
“Our father “Dad” was one of the most extraordinary persons we have ever known. We were blessed with a jewel and now we know other people appreciate his greatness,” explained Dr. Toni Vazquez, Ed.D, an entrepreneur and philanthropist and co-founder of G-Health Enterprises with her husband, Dr. Raul Vazquez, MD.
She added, “Dad was kind – yet firm. He was intellectual – yet approachable. He was the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) without even knowing it. We loved his teachings and now posthumously, we can share him with our children and with community he loved so much. This is an incredibly special and joyful day for our family.”
~ M. Billoni Photo