The Kansas City Defender

We are a nonprofit digital organization dedicated to creating news, digital resources, and public services specifically for Black communities in the Midwest.

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Ivanhoe Won’t Let USDA’s Racism Stop Its Farmers Market

1 month ago | kansascitydefender.com | Mili Mansaray |Lynnie Holl |more. Mili

For Executive Director Alana Henry, the sudden cancellation of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council’s federal farming grant was not just a blow to her organization — it was a direct assault on Black self-determination, economic empowerment, and the right to feed one’s own community. “We are under attack by a hostile government,” she said. “But that has been our experience for many centuries.
The Defender’s Guide to Black History Month

2 months ago | kansascitydefender.com | Mili Mansaray |Lynnie Holl

Celebrate KC's Black History with events highlighting Black art, culture, and activism. From concerts to book clubs, here’s what to know.
Independence Police Release Edited Video of Maria Pike and Destinii Hope’s Killing, Sparking More Questions – The Kansas City Defender

Nov 27, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

Nearly three weeks after the killing of Maria Pike and her two-month-old baby, Destinii Hope, the Independence Police Department has released a highly edited three-minute video, offering a fragmented glimpse into the 20-minute incident. The video, which omits significant portions of the encounter, has only fueled public skepticism and intensified calls for accountability.
Black-Owned KC Daiquiri Shop Announces Closure Amid Growing Crisis for Black Businesses in Kansas City

Nov 25, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

KANSAS CITY, MO – Beloved Black restaurant “KC Daiquiri Shop,” known for hosting some of the most popular events in the city, its cajun dishes and of course, its signature daiquiris, announced its impending closure earlier this morning. The news comes as a devastating blow, not only to the restaurant’s loyal patrons but to the broader Black business ecosystem in Kansas City.
‘I’d Rather Be Persecuted Than Silent’: Rockhurst Fires Teacher for Standing With the Oppressed & Resisting Fascism

Nov 19, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

“I pray I am a fool so as not to be exposed as a coward,” wrote James Gillcrist in an extraordinary open letter to the Rockhurst High School community. A theology and philosophy teacher, veteran, anti-racist advocate and lifelong advocate for the oppressed, Gillcrist was terminated last week in what he calls a clear retaliation for speaking truth to power. More than a local scandal—his firing indicates a chilling sign of the times we are in, and of the crackdown on dissent sweeping the nation.
Independence Police Slaughter Mother & 2-Month Old Infant in Botched Domestic Dispute Call

Nov 18, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

**UPDATE** Independence Police Department has released edited, body camera footage showing short portions of the moments leading up to their murder of Maria and baby Destiny. Officers did not allow mental health responders to engage Maria, and ultimately footage shows Maria grabbing a knife in the final moments prior to the murder of Maria and her child.
Kansas City's Hip Hop Infrastructure is Taking Shape, Thanks to a New Generation of Artists

Oct 28, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

Kansas City, the birthplace of Tech N9Ne and, more recently, the SleazyWorldGo entourage, still flies under the radar compared to hip hop giants like Atlanta, Chicago, and New York. However, the city boasts its own powerhouse talents, including Cinco, the official DJ for Funny Marco, who recently sold six records to rap superstar NBA YoungBoy. Despite this, Kansas City’s contributions remain largely overlooked on the national stage.
Black Feast Week 2024: A Historic Success that Galvanized Kansas City’s Black Food Scene

Oct 17, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

Kansas City just witnessed something extraordinary. The first-ever Black Feast Week has come to an electrifying close, and it was nothing short of monumental. What started as a bold, community-driven initiative to uplift our city’s Black-owned restaurants transformed into a full-blown movement, bringing the community together and spotlighting the brilliance of the World’s Greatest Food Culture.
KC’s Latest Attempt to Build An $800 Million Human Caging Facility Must Be Stopped

Oct 11, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

Kansas City is once again deepening its commitment to build a racist and destructive jail—this time by quietly passing an ordinance to spend $2.3 million of public tax dollars to purchase land from Jackson County which is already building another caging facility of its own. On October 10th, with little public input, the City Council hastily approved the use of General Fund money for the project.
Mass Death Looms: Florida Refuses to Evacuate Prisons & Jails Ahead of Hurricane Milton

Oct 9, 2024 | kansascitydefender.com | Ryan He

As I write this, a violent, unprecedented storm rips across the Florida—Hurricane Milton, a monstrous, life-annihilating catastrophe. A storm that officials are warning comes “once in a century,” and that you don’t survive if you’re in its path. A storm with storm surges expected up to 15 feet, and a storm that Florida is knowingly leaving thousands of incarcerated individuals to face.