Arts & Culture Archives – The Kansas City Defender

Abolitionist Architecture: How Black Designers Are Building a Liberatory Future

By Ryan S. ● Arts & Culture ● December 2, 2025

The newly appointed president of the National Organization of Minority Architects, Bryan C. Lee Jr., sits down with The KC Defender’s Executive Editor Ryan Sorrell to discuss why, in an age of fascism, building a blueprint for liberation means reclaiming the spaces where Black life can flourish

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The front of Holy Bruch, where Euphoric Bar & Lounge was slated to be.

Federal RICO Case Alleges an All-White Board Runs Westport Nightlife Like a Racist Cartel

By JT ● Black Business ● November 17, 2025

Federal judge allows civil rights conspiracy case to expand after a local Black entrepreneur’s motion sufficiently alleged evidence of “common discriminatory purpose” to exclude Black business owners from Kansas City’s historic entertainment district. At the center: allegations of a weaponized “Good Neighbor Agreement,” brazen threats captured on tape, and a music ban targeting chart-topping Black artists.

Where Creativity Meets Community: Inside DISTRKCT, Kansas City’s New Black-Owned Content Hub

By Tiffany Watts ● Arts & Culture ● November 17, 2025

This 7,000-square-foot space on Agnes Ave. offers artists, podcasters, and entrepreneurs the access, equipment, and support they’ve long been missing.

One of America’s Most Acclaimed Black Dance Companies Brings Zora Neale Hurston’s Revolutionary Vision to Kansas City Next Friday

By Midwest Trust Center ● Arts & Culture ● November 6, 2025

Multi Award-winning, Black-led Collage Dance Collective brings Zora Neale Hurston’s revolutionary vision to Kansas City. A neoclassical ballet and contemporary dance piece exploring Black freedom and self-determination. November 14 at the Midwest Trust Center.

BLK + BRWN Bookstore Celebrates 4 Years with Juneteenth Block Party

By Lynnie Holl ● Arts & Culture ● June 25, 2025

Local bookstore BLK + BRWN hosted their annual Juneteenth Block Party to commemorate the bookstore turning four years old.

KC Defender Launches Black Economic Justice Desk & Names Tiffany Watts As Lead Reporter

By Tiffany Watts ● Black Business ● May 30, 2025

We’re thrilled to welcome Tiffany Watts as our first-ever full-time reporter. In her inaugural piece as Lead Reporter for Black Economic Justice, Food & Culture, Tiffany investigates the forces threatening Black economic survival—and just as powerfully, celebrates the brilliance of Black chefs, salon owners, growers, and organizers reimagining what a liberated economy looks like in our city.

The Defender’s Guide to Black History Month

By Mili Mansaray & Lynnie Holl ● Arts & Culture ● February 13, 2025

What Love Taught Me During The Fires This Time

By Melissa Ferrer Civil ● Fire & Verse ● January 21, 2025

Kansas City’s Poet Laureate delivers a prophetic reckoning—an unflinching meditation on survival, sacrifice, and the firestorm of our times.

Kansas City’s Hip Hop Infrastructure is Taking Shape, Thanks to a New Generation of Artists

By Ryan S. ● Arts & Culture ● October 28, 2024

Long overshadowed by bigger markets like ATL, NYC, and Chicago, a new movement led by Phantom Pesos is reshaping Kansas City’s Hip Hop future, building local infrastructure and empowering independent musicians to take control of their careers.

Community Resilience and Renewed Spirit: Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council Triumphs Over Turmoil, Restores Joy and Purpose

By Lynnie Holl ● Kansas City ● October 18, 2024

The story of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council captures a community’s journey from adversity to triumph, highlighting the resilience and collective power of its residents. Through empowerment and unity, they navigate challenges, seek accountability, and pave the way for a brighter future together.