The Black Archives of Mid-America, Inc.

Check out this video from one of our gift shop vendors!

Come see what we’ve done to provide a safe, dynamic, and learning environment for the whole family!

Black History Project seizes the moment with book, special events Our webpage for the 2021 Black History Project is going to be a dynamic place. On it You can download the 44-page special edition book and order printed copies. It features contemporary essays and a compilation of more than 70 profiles, including Bruce R. Watkins, above, and Anna H. Jones, below.... You will see in the weeks ahead educational curriculum from teachers and historians to use in classrooms and at home. And there will be special events with the Kansas City Public Library, the Black Archives of Mid-America and The Kansas City Star. Link to website information: https://kclinc.org/blackhistory Link to Book: https://static1.squarespace.com//1608045009450/kcblackhist

The Black Archives of Mid America is thrilled to announce our next exhibit! George Mayfield's- Black Women. Art by George Mayfield. ... Curated & Hosted by Taylor Jackson. This exhibit is to celebrate Beauty and serve as our appreciation to all Black Women in Kansas City for their hard work in keeping our city together. Due to Covid-19 guidelines, we are only accepting reservations of groups of 3 or less and will abide by ALL mandates set forth by the KCMO Health Department. Please make your reservation to view the exhibit at https://blackarchives.org or call (816) 221-1600.

KANSAS CITY, Kan., Dec. 15, 2020 Last month, a new 10-part documentary series about the lives of some of the people within historically Black communities of Kansas City, developed by Roger Suggs, also known as the rapper ‘Vigalantee,’ who is the coordinator of Student Activities at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) , premiered. Each episode of the series, titled TRUTH Mini-Mentary, features Black entrepreneurs, artists and people who are the heartbeat of the co...mmunity. To date, five episodes have dropped, including Saving Quindaro, The Gary Wilson Story, Diamond in the Dotte, The Crayge Lindesay Story, Blueprint, The James Holt Story, and "Urban American Outdoors, The Wayne Hubbard Story, and last week, "Heart to Heart, The Christopher Williams Story", and today, the "Survivor of the Fatherless, The Lavance Meeks, Jr. Story", all available for streaming at TruthTheReason.com. See more

This is the last week for this exhibition. If you haven't seen it yet, time is running out!! We practice COVID protocol, but we know you will be smiling under your masks. These are fabulous exhibits!!

New Docuseries Featuring Unsung Black Voices of Kansas City Aims to Raise $15,000 for Operation Safe House to Meet Emergency Needs of Youth While Giving Community Influencers Their Flowers While Their Living Activist, educator and now filmmaker Roger Suggs shares the triumphs of residents who make up the jewels in the heart of Kansas City’s Black communities

Thanks to everyone who came out to support our very first 1st Friday and the opening of "Our Ancestors unfinished stories in America" by artist E. Lewis! We ...had over 100 friends to walk through the doors to hear the inspiring stories of the artist and to view the amazing work on display and for sale designed by students who are members of Inspired Aesthetics! We were Covid-19 Compliant, consistently messaging our guest to monitor their spacing for the safe well-being of all in the building. Our host Taylor Jay was phenomenal in setting the stage to personalize the event not only for the artist but for the attendees. Chef Jamar satisfied our palates with mouth watering Hors d'oeuvres that stimulated our taste buds. Don’t let me forget the music resonating throughout the rooms, with options for requests! And if you need a trinket or two as a gift or a reminder of your visit , our Gift Shop is open with original gifts with you in mind. Shortly, you will be able to grab a cup of coffee and spend time in our cyber cafe. If you haven’t visited the Black Archives, you’re missing out on a goldmine right in the heart of our city on 18th and Vine! Stop in anytime and ask for Dr. Carmaletta Williams or our ombudsman James Watts! They’ll welcome you home with a smile, open arms and the warm words I See You!

Happy birthday to an amazing young woman, The Black Archives' own Alexandra Green, on her 21st birthday. Woo Hoo!!

Free Did Not Mean Welcome Presentation Explores Emancipated African Americans’ Free State Experiences and Systemic Racism that stills exists in today’s world. Guest Speaker: Dr. Carmaletta Williams Monday, January 18, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (The registration link will be available at a later date)

Negro Leagues baseball celebrates 100 years and Baseball Historian Phil S. Dixon shares stories about the Kansas City Monarchs barnstormed across Kansas to play... local town teams, facing segregation and paving the way for integration of the major leagues. Read Dixon’s Big Idea essay: https://bit.ly/3gQm9xY Join HK on Zoom on Dec. 17, 2020 at noon CST for a Big Idea Interview with Phil S. Dixon and Dr. Valerie Mendoza of Washburn University. Register here: https://bit.ly/2LsI4zo Photo by Tom Parker

A wonderful wonderful evening An amazing first First Friday Thank you artist E Lewis for your gift of art that you shared with us. Thanks to Taylor Jackson who curated the event. for sharing your vision for the Archives and especially this event with us. Special thanks to the Black Archives staff - Rev. Fannye Foster who's always ready to pray.. Jason Williams for your hard work getting the entire facility ready. The space was beautiful. Our student workers James McGee, Ivan Williams and Jason Williams, your energy, talents and skills are invaluable to our success. Antoinette your smile and service at the front desk made all feel welcome. Quincy thank you for all you do to make the Archives work. You are wonderful people. I appreciate you. Dr Carma P. S. Pictures to follow

Hard working, beautiful, committed to our military. Thank you 6888th.

The November/December issue of KC Studio magazine has a very nice article about the late Ron Chaney (1950 - 2020) of EthnicArt Gallery that was written by Selina O'Neal. A wonderful tribute to the engineer/math teacher/art aficionado. Rest in Sweet Artful Peace, my friend.

Bunker tenant and textile artist, Elaine Lewis is putting the finishing touches on her installation at the The Black Archives of Mid-America, Inc. - Kansas City It opens this Friday. You don't want to miss this.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2020. DOORS OPEN AT 6. EXHIBITIONS OPEN AT 6:45. MASKS REQUIRED. WE HAVE THE SPACE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

TheBAYCON kids hit the streets to promote voter registration and voting. If you haven't already - - - VOTE Dr Carma

There is no Kansas City without Black Kansas City. African American educators, activists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and athletes built a vibrant community th...at shaped the city and the nation. For the past 12 years, the Local Investment Commission, Kansas City Public Library, and The Black Archives of Mid-America, Inc. - Kansas City have celebrated this underappreciated history in annually published poster sets, booklets, and calendars that highlight the history of Black excellence in the metro. To commemorate Missouri’s bicentennial year, the 2021 Kansas City Black History project features a special edition publication with more than 50 biographies of notable Black citizens and a collection of essays on the African American experience in Kansas City. Print and electronic versions of the publication will be freely available to the public. Additional content including lesson plans and other educational resources will appear in early 2021 on a new website. Learn more here about the Kansas City Black History project - https://bit.ly/3jW3gtW

What an art treasure!! Just a couple blocks from the Black Archives Thank you for the invitation Consuela Cruz and Evelyn Craft Belger!!.