Behind 'Black Lives Matter' Rallies: An Up-Close Look at Daily Racism on Long Island

Racism is alive and well on Long Island.

That's a belief held by many who are coming together in a series of peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrations, organized not to promote violence or anger but instead, to focus on unity and peace — and on creating a voice for change.

This week, Patch spoke to a number of men and women who say they've experienced insidious racism throughout their lives.

A demonstration Sunday will take place by the Stop and Shop in East Hampton Village at 12:30 p.m. and is the second gathering organized by Vanessa Vascez-Corleone, 28, of Riverhead, who planned a similar peaceful demonstration last Sunday in Riverhead.

The idea for Riverhead's rally was born last week, when Vascez-Corleone said she was on Facebook, noting all the posters commenting about what was going on in the country and speaking out about the shooting deaths of two more black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, at the hands of law enforcement.

This week's rally, also organized by Donna Stovall, is focused on diversity and peace and meant to raise awareness. Stovall, who has been working together with East Hampton Village Police to plan the event, said the rallies are critical.

A second event, presented by Racial Justice East End, a "Community March & Vigil to Support Black Lives Matter" as well as Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile, will take place Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Subtle hatred

Vascez-Corleone spoke candidly about the racism she's experienced on the East End since childhood.

"I've have a lot of experiences growing up with racism. The first time I was ever called 'n-----' I was in seventh grade," she said, using the full word so many find so offensive. "I had just moved to an all-white school in Connecticut. There was this girl who didn't like me, and I couldn't understand why."

"One day we got in an argument because she was mocking me in front of other people and being sarcastic. These kids were actually asking what I was, ethnically. I told them I was African American, Hispanic and Native American, and so she said, 'So you're a spicy, bean-loving corn n-----.' That was one of my first encounters."

In daily life Vascez-Corleone said prejudice isn't always overt and can rear itself through assumptions people may have about you because of your ethnicity.

"Even now at my job, a lot of people look at my boss like he's crazy because he made a young tattooed minority female the project manager, but he believes in me, and he knows what my work ethic is," she said. "My boss is one of the first people whom I have met who is genuinely sincere and non-judgmental."

Nick Lopez, 30, who lived in Riverhead but now resides in Brentwood, said as a Latino male, he's experienced discrimination subtly throughout his life.

"I've really noticed it as I've gotten older," he said. "I used to walk on Main Street in Riverhead; white folks would see me and cross to the other side. Ladies would grip their purses a little more tightly."

When he first moved to Riverhead from the Bronx, he said he was getting to know some of the kids in his class. There was another boy with the same name who was white, he said, and when Nick showed up at a party, he said it was clear the parents had meant to invite the other young man.

"The parents kicked me out, but not abruptly," Lopez said. They made all kinds of excuses as to why I couldn't be there. That was the first time a situation affected me and I was hurt by it."

And don't even get Lopez started on the many times he said he's been pulled over by police.

"I couldn't get in a car without them pulling me over, pulling me out of the car and searching me. It happened twice when I was with my father, and that was disrespectful to my father and left me feeling violated," he recalled.

And as he's gotten older, Lopez said he became more aware of what he believes is ingrained racism in daily interactions.

"It really affects you day to day, knowing that you can't go to a job interview because at first glance, you already know they're not going to hire you," Lopez said. "It's detrimental to your self-esteem."

But rather than let the experiences turn him bitter, Lopez said he's embraced events like this weekend's demonstrations to help raise awareness.

"I've made it my goal in the community to teach minorities that we can go for the same type of opportunities, as long as we have the knowledge to do so," he said.

Horrific acts such as the most recent murder of two black men "bring out the worst in people," Lopez said; last week's peaceful gathering had "trolls hiding behind their keyboard," plastering racist comments on websites.

All lives matter

A common refrain heard among online commenters is that "all lives matter" and that Black Lives Matters protests stir the proverbial pot, bring the potential for violence and do not pay enough regard to the lives of police officers lost.

According to the Guardian, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has charged that the Black Lives Matter movement has divided America and helped to heighten tensions in regard to race relations and police brutality.

Of the term Black Lives Matter, the report said Trump told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, “I think it’s certainly, it’s very divisive, and I think they’re hurting themselves. The first time I heard it I said ‘You have to be kidding.' I think it’s a very, very, very divisive term. There’s no question about it.”

Jeff DiLandro of East Quogue, who is white, weighed in: "Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ loves all people equally. All lives matter."

Bill Wright of Greenport, also a white man, added, "Black Lives Matter is certainly controversial, to say the least. All lives matter, but this organization takes things too far, without a doubt."

Black Lives Matter event participants respond

Yes, said Lopez, "all lives matter. It's like saying all houses matter, but the fire department is going to go to the house that's on fire."

He added that Trump's growing popularity has fanned the flames of divide and anger. "As soon as Trump started running for president, he began spinning hateful rhetoric, to build a wall because Mexicans are no good. Muslims are no good."

It starts with young voices

Long Island NAACP President Lucius Ware said Friday that the Black Lives Matter rallies are essential, largely because so many involved are young. "All successful social movements happened with young people," he said.

He added that he has "no doubt that racism, dangerous racism" is alive and flourishing today.

Ware has long spoken out about law enforcement on the East End, questioning taser practices and asking why, when officers are trained so well on how to use weapons, they are not similarly trained on "how not to use them."

Looking ahead, Ware said minority votes will gain even more critical importance and will "turn" elections, and said it's imperative to get out and vote.

To those gathering to speak out peacefully on the need for change, Ware said, "I salute them."

And as for detractors who disparage the Black Lives Matter movement, he said, "There are always some who will respond with negativity."

A future ripe for change

Lopez said babies are not born "with that type of hatred. It's acquired over time, nature versus nurture. It's the environment around you that brings you up to feel that type of hatred."

Lopez, who has two sons — their mother is white — said he teaches his children "to love everyone equally."

The reason he feels the Black Lives Matter gatherings are critical, he said, is "it's important. We all need to come together and stop senseless killing and hatred, for no reason."

A music producer and recording engineer, Lopez is working on a series of videos and said it's important that all demonstrations be calm and "utterly peaceful. The first thing people believe we will do is act with ignorance, be rowdy. We have to be sure that never happens, that no one gets hurt, every time we go out there."

"Something has to change"

Fuego McDaniels, 26, who is originally from Coram but now lives in Amityville, said he has "stories about growing up and being black."

In recent years he was living in Las Vegas to film a reality show that hasn't yet aired.

"During the shooting they had everyone take cabs to the house," he said. "When we got there, not even five minutes later the cop showed up, and I noticed a lady on the balcony nearby who kept taking pictures of us with her phone. She was saying, 'I see you. I know your kind. You don't belong here.'"

McDaniels said the same scenario plays out in communities across the country. "White, black, Latino, they say everyone is equal; it's not true."

Segregation still exists, he said; the way it's perpetuated is by white men being paid a higher wage than minorities, making it impossible for blacks or Latinos to move into the same neighborhoods. "That's the way the keep everyone segregated," he said.

Ware agreed that an inherent wage disparity helps keep inequality alive and well.

"People say, 'All you have to do is work harder,'" he said, when in reality, black individuals are not only not advancing, they are "going backward."

A music engineer, McDaniels said the only way toward a better future is not only through rallies, but also through significant financial backing of a real movement. Civil rights activist Marcus Garvey started a real movement, he said, but it was one that employed individuals and gave them a livelihood.

As Tupac Shakur said in the 1990s, McDaniels said, "Something has to change."

Steps to eradicate racism include changing curriculum in schools to more accurately reflect the truth for black men and women, McDaniels said.

Also critical, he said, are peaceful demonstrations. "At the end of the day it's about unity," he said. "It's what we're going to do from here that matters."