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Bryan Stevenson
Partnership for Justice & Remembrance Lecture: April 27

"The Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City is proud to be part of the Community Remembrance Project. Enjoy this program with us as we listen to updates from the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, Mr. Bryan Stevenson."
-- Dr. Carmaletta Williams

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) is proud to present the annual Race, Place & Diversity Award to Bryan Stevenson, Founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. The Race, Place & Diversity (RPD) Award was created to honor an individual and/or local organization whose actions demonstrate a commitment to advance diversity and equity. We will present our 2021 Award at the Partnership for Justice & Remembrance online lecture on April 27th.

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Racial Reconciliation Commission at William Jewell College

William Jewell College established a Racial Reconciliation Commission in April 2021 with the aim of finding and expressing both an historical and moral truth about the racial history of the College spanning the years of our founding until today. Jewell President Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, Vice President for Access and Engagement Dr. Rodney Smith, Board of Trustees Chair Bill Gautreaux, and Executive Director of the Black Archives of Mid-America Kansas City Dr. Carmaletta Williams share the purpose and plan for the Racial Reconciliation Commission.

Binding Us Together by Alvin Brooks
Purchase Your Copy of 'Binding Us Together' by Alvin Brooks
From the Publisher:

Despite all the adversity he faced, Brooks became a lifelong leader and a servant of his community. Brooks served as one of Kansas City’s first Black police officers in the fifties, helped to heal the racial divide after the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., founded the AdHoc Group Against Crime, affecting real change in city government, and met with successive American presidents on national issues. When it comes to criminal justice, civil rights, and racial inequity, Brooks’s lifetime of building bridges across society’s divides helps us better understand our past, make sense of our present, and envision our future.

Dr. Williams
Interview with Dr. Carmaletta Williams

Executive Director Carmaletta Williams spoke with Trevor Harris of the Recollection Agency recently about her experiences during the coronavirus epidemic.

"She talks about holding picture parties, interviewing the elders and being the art teacher for a pair of her instantly home-schooled grandsons."

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Women receiving a gift
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The Black Archives needs your support to continue to present the remembrances, reflections, experiences and historical contributions of African Americans.

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Portrait of unidentified woman
Explore Our Digital Gallery

Did you know that there are hundreds of historic images available online from the Black Archives collection? There are photos of famous persons, church groups, civil rights activists, athletes and more.

Notable collections include numerous photographs of the Alvin Ailey dance troupe, Buffalo Soldiers and the Tuskegee Airmen.

Explore now »