by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College celebrated Black History Month with an exhibit depicting the struggles of Africans from slavery to the freedom of African Americans have today.
“The exhibit showed from what was not possible, to the possible for African American citizens,” said Tracy Reed, secretary for Student Activities at KCKCC, who created the exhibit. “It showed the quest for equality for all human beings by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the election of Barack Obama as America’s first African American President.”
The exhibit consisted of props and artifacts dating back to the 1600s, which were on loan from “Have Guns” owners, Jerry and Linda Vest. African fertility statues, headpieces, swords, hand carved knives, bow and arrows, educational readings/books accompanied sketchings of a Kenyan African Worrier as well as a Buffalo Solider. Gear the soldier would have worn in battle was also part of the exhibit, and a Confederate Uniform and Confederate Money was available for viewing.
“The ‘Black History Timeline’ of events starting in the 1600s and going to present day, was intentionally placed on canvas that shows The Statue of Liberty,” Reed said. “It depicted our justice system during those times of trails and error.”
Reed said there were also artifacts that belonged to John Brown, the abolitionist. Among them were a lock of his hair and a sword that dates back to 1853. A picture of John Drew, KCK’s first Black Marshal was seen with Jerry Vest in the exhibit.
For more information about the Black History Month exhibit, contact Reed at 913-288-7553 or by email at [email protected].