Kansas City, MO – A groundbreaking event is on the horizon for Kansas City this Saturday, February 10, 2024. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center will come alive with the buzz of the Buy Black Expo, a dynamic communal gathering sponsored by the National Black United Front (NBUF) and the KC Reparations Coalition.
Beyond networking and community-building, the event will feature an impressive selection of mouthwatering food vendors that celebrate Black culinary tradition.
The Expo arrives at a moment of significant momentum within Kansas City’s reparations movement, following the creation of the city’s historic Reparations Commission last year.
Leveraging the energy and focus of the community, the event aims to not just recognize the need for reparations but actively participate in the broader national dialogue and action towards restitution.
A highlight of the day will be the presence of Robin Rue Simmons, a luminary in the reparations movement. As the Founder and Executive Director of FirstRepair and the visionary behind Evanston, IL’s historic government-funded reparations program, Simmons brings her trailblazing expertise to Kansas City.
Her efforts in Evanston, which culminated in a $20 million commitment to reparations, have set a transformative precedent for cities across America.
A Day of Community and Solidarity
Attendees of the Expo will experience a vibrant display of community-driven entrepreneurship, with local Black-owned businesses showcasing a wide range of products and services. This marketplace serves as a platform for economic support as well as a space for reinforcing the importance of mutual aid and cooperative economics.
In addition to the marketplace, the event will feature a food court offering a taste of diverse Black culinary traditions, symbolizing the rich cultural heritage that continues to unite and strengthen our community. Importantly, the Expo will also provide voter registration services and access to a variety of community resources.
Highlighting the Path to Reparations
The presence of Robin Rue Simmons underscores the Expo’s focus on actionable change and her work serves as a north star for reparations efforts nationwide.
Complementing Simmons’ presence, the Expo will feature two screenings of “The Big Payback,” a documentary chronicling the journey to reparations in Evanston. The film masterfully displays the journey and work of Simmons that resulted in establishing Evanston as the first city in the United States to adopt and distribute tax-funded reparations to Black Americans. There will be two showings of the documentary – at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
As Kansas City continues to navigate the complexities of the reparations movement, the Buy Black Expo emerges as a crucial platform for community mutual aid and collective economics, education, and action.
The event is free, however, the Coalition encourages attendees to register for the two documentary showings to ensure a seat. To register and for more information visit the KCRC website – kcreparationscoalition.com, or the Buy Black website – buyblackkc.org/ events or by calling 816-479-0730.
