Black history is woven into the history of Kansas City and into our urban hikes. This month, we invite you to come on our Quidaro Ruins Urban Hike on Feb 28th at 9:30am. Additionally, here are some details about the bi-state stories of Black figures who made an impact in our city and beyond.
Welcome to the BBQ Capital of the World
Photo credit: KC Public Library and Clio
Mr. Henry Perry, the father of Kansas City BBQ, made an entrepreneurial decision that would change the way Kansas Citians experience everything from burnt ends to mutton. Hailing from Tennessee, Perry came to Kansas City in 1907 and went from selling his unique BBQ style out of a stand to BBQ’ing as his occupation and opening a commercial location. This made BBQ more accessible outside of large gatherings.
Fun fact: Three of Perry’s apprentices went off to open two popular Kansas City BBQ restaurants Gates Bar-B-Q (Arthur Pinkard) and brothers Charlie and Authur Bryant (Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque). Be on the lookout this year for an 18th and Vine Urban Hike and our urban hikers will be able to see the impact of Perry’s passion on this route which will briefly take urban hikers by Arthur Bryants.
Let’s take a Ride
(second from right) Photo: https://ridekc.org/blog/ray-harris
Riding the city bus is something that our founder, Lisa Peña, often does and we’ve even included on our urban hike experiences before. We’d like to point out that In 1960, Mr. Rayford “Ray” Harris became one of the first five Black bus drivers for the Kansas City Area Transit Authority (KCATA).
Travelers may have seen his name as part of the Paving the Way Honor Plaque program on the Prospect Max line at the northbound Swope Parkway and Prospect station. This recognition and others were given to Harris because of his perseverance while driving bus routes and facing racial motivated resentment related to integration. Despite these situations, Harris became the first minority Kansas Citian to move from a labor job to a management position as a driving instructor.
Try This: When individuals join the Kansas City History of Transportation hikes, they can learn more about KCATA and share some knowledge about Harris’ impact!
Paving the Way for Black Students
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=50583
Before the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, Corinthian Clay Nutter advocated for Black students in and Johnson County, Kansas. Her testimony helped those students integrate into a formerly segregated school in School District No. 90.
When the students’ families wanted their children to attend the newly built South Park Elementary School in Merriam, KS they were denied by the school board. A group of parents moved their children out of the dilapidated building and took the school district to court. They hired Nutter to continue to teach the students so they wouldn’t fall behind.
Nutter’s voice was also powerful as a witness in the case, Webb vs. School District No. 90., and helped the families desegregate South Park.
Did You Know: Corinthian Nutter moved up from Texas and later graduated from Western University, the first historically Black college west of the Mississippi river. Urban hikers learn about the history of Western University and its roots in Kansas City, Kansas during the Quindaro Ruins hike.