10/09/2026
🚨 THE IRONY. THE AUDACITY. THE CONTRADICTION.
“WHO’S IN THE ROOM?” OR BETTER YET… WHO’S BEING KEPT OUT?
The Black Archives of Mid-America is promoting its upcoming Black History Luncheon under the theme:
“Who’s in the Room: Honoring the Legacy, Advancing the Future of Entrepreneurship.”
Interesting theme for an institution that recently refused to accept a StoryCorps oral history documenting the origins of Kansas City’s Juneteenth celebrations.
And their justification for dismissing the recollections of individuals connected to that history, including the family of one of the Archives’ OWN founders, Tillman Stewart?
“Our experience has been that both the people you name don’t share honest recollections. Take care.”
EXCUSE ME?!
Since when did preserving Black history become an exercise in deciding which Black voices are worthy of being heard?
Let’s be clear.
YOU CANNOT CELEBRATE BLACK LEGACY ON A STAGE WHILE DISMISSING BLACK VOICES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS!
Historical institutions have a responsibility to research, document, and preserve our history — NOT become gatekeepers of narratives that challenge their preferred version of it.
So while the luncheon asks “WHO’S IN THE ROOM?” perhaps the community should be asking:
🚨 WHO’S BEING EXCLUDED?
🚨 WHOSE HISTORY IS BEING DISMISSED?
🚨 WHO DECIDES WHICH VOICES DESERVE TO BE PRESERVED?
🚨 AND WHO IS HOLDING THE GATEKEEPERS ACCOUNTABLE?
Our history belongs to the people who lived it, built it, and passed it down through generations — NOT simply those currently occupying positions of authority.
OUR HISTORY IS NOT YOURS TO ERASE.
OUR LEGACY IS NOT YOURS TO REWRITE.
OUR VOICES ARE NOT YOURS TO SILENCE.
If we’re going to talk about who’s in the room, LET’S TALK ABOUT WHO’S GUARDING THE DOOR! ✊🏾
KANSAS CITY, WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
