Many of the residents of Northeast Wichita historically were African-American migrants from the South. Due to the lack of resources and means of access, their spatial experiences were inherently dictated by real estate agents, federal government housing agencies, white neighborhood councils, and banks.
The Home Owners’ Land Corporation created a system that rates urban neighborhoods by defining risks to lending organizations. African-American residents were the most ‘at-risk’ demographic and were victims of a process called redlining.
This allowed banks to deny loans for commercial or personal property for Northeast residents. Blocking progress, pushing African-Americans out white neighborhoods, and causing the deterioration of their already geographically scarred community. Decimated by the construction of an interstate highway.
Enjoy these daily facts about how African Americans helped shape Kansas.
The State of Kansas was forged in the crucible of violence over the issue of slavery. Though the 1820 Missouri Compromise had explicitly forbidden the practice in most new western territories except Missouri, the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed settlers in the proposed new states to self-determine whether or not slavery would or would not be legal within their borders.
Robert Weems worries that the history of African American businesses in Wichita may someday be lost forever. That’s why he’s made it his mission to document all that he can.
While working on the African Americans of Wichita book project, I was struck by how many prominent figures of the 20th century were veterinarians.
A pastor in northeast Wichita is offering a Black History Video Series and community discussion every 3rd Sunday in Wichita.
Back in 2011, things seemed more promising when the building at 1205 E 12th Street in Wichita was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
