Today, the city is home to a number of prominent Black activists who are continue to fight for racial justice and equality. In honor of Black History Month, we’ve put together a list of 5 famous Black activists from Kansas City, Missouri you need to know.
Dorothy Height was a civil rights activist who worked tirelessly for equality for Black Americans. She was the president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years and was also a close friend and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.
Kenneth Gibson was the first Black mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He was elected in 1970 and served for 10 years. During his time in office, Mayor Gibson worked to improve race relations in Newark and also helped to revive the city’s economy.
Lorenzo J. Greene was a historian and educator who was born in Kansas City in 1895. He was a professor of African American Studies at Howard University, where he taught for 35 years, and wrote several books on the history of the African American experience.
James Milton Turner was a supporter of the Republican Party in the late 1800s, and is remembered as the first African American to hold public office in the United States. He worked as the first African American to serve as Register of Deeds in Jackson County, Missouri and was elected to the state legislature in 1899.
L. Patrick Sykes was a civil rights activist and community leader in Kansas City, Missouri. He organized voting campaigns to increase African American participation in the political process, was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Missouri, and also served as president of the Kansas City branch of the NAACP.
These are just five of the many Black activists who have made a lasting impact in Kansas City, Missouri. While we recognize their achievements and contributions to the city’s history, we must continue to fight for racial justice and equality in the years to come. We can honor the legacy of these prominent figures by learning from their struggles and continuing the fight for a better future.
