February is Black History Month, and there are numerous events and activities in Wichita to help celebrate the history and culture of Black Americans.
Explore the Kansas African American Museum
The Kansas African American Museum (TKAAM) is housed in the former Calvary Baptist Church, once the cornerstone of Wichita’s vibrant Black community. The museum is one stop on the Kansas African American History Trail and is considered the preeminent home of Kansas African American history and artifacts.
In addition to permanent exhibitions, “Defining Black Wichita: New Horizons, 1970s-Today” is on display through April 2025. The exhibit is the third part of the Defining Black Wichita series and focuses on African Americans in Wichita from the 1970s to today. Empowerment from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s created space for African Americans to fill in government, business, education, arts and culture and athletics. As a result of this, the 1970s became a time of transition and opportunity. African Americans crossed the color-line at Hillside Street that once restricted where people of color could live and moved into neighborhoods that were previously closed to them, beginning a period of exploration of new spaces and new horizons.
Discover the sounds of talented, local musicians
Delight in the musical sounds of local, Black musicians at various venues across the city. One you have to hear for yourself is Rudy Love, Jr. Son of legendary bluesman Rudy Love, his music defies genres and forms a connection with audiences. You can find Rudy on stage locally at venues like Mort’s Martini & Cigar Bar, WAVE and the Brickyard. Head over to his Facebook page to keep tabs on where he is performing.
Another Black artist worth seeking out in Wichita is Injoy Fountain. You might remember her from “The Voice” or maybe you saw her when she was on tour with Postmodern Jukebox. Locally, she brings her musical talent to a variety of venues like Chicken N Pickle and has also performed in Music Theatre Wichita and Roxy’s Downtown productions. On Tuesdays, join her for karaoke at Vorshay’s Cocktail Lounge.
On Feb. 15 at Orpheum Theatre, hear hits like “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Shake Your Booty” as KC and The Sunshine Band take the stage.
Celebrate Jackie Robinson in the Heart of the Country
Pictured above is a Jackie Robinson statue at McAdams Park, known for recognizing influential Black Wichitans. Several facilities in the park are named after community standouts, including the Antoine Carr basketball courts, the Barry Sanders football field, and the Charles McAfee swimming pool.
The statue of Jackie Robinson was unveiled at McAdams Park in 2021. After being stolen in January 2024, the community rallied to replace it that same year. League 42, named in honor of the great Jackie Robinson, the first African American in Major League Baseball, is a youth baseball league comprised primarily of urban children ages 5 to 14. The park is home to the League where they play their games. The organization was integral to raising funds to replace the beloved statue. On Feb. 8, head to Orpheum Theatre to see the “More Like Jackie” Film Screening. The film was developed by creators from the Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com.
Go on a journey at Exploration Place
In collaboration with TKAAM for the fourth year, Exploration Place will be featuring a large-scale outdoor exhibit during Black History Month. Each night during February, Exploration Place will honor African American scientists and STEM leaders by projecting giant portraits onto the side of its iconic island building. The display will be freely viewable from the path along the Arkansas River. Visitors also may take in the display from inside Exploration Place on Thursday nights, when the museum is open until 8 p.m. Admission is not required to view the display from the Exploration Place promenade.
This year’s project will feature contemporary leaders connected to Wichita. Changing weekly throughout the month, the display will honor:
- Roy Moye III, a trained aerospace engineer who is also a Grammy-nominated urban gospel singer, community leader and founder of STEMusic
- Sisters Deborah Gladney and Angela Muhwezi-Hall, creators and founders of WorkTorch
- Dr. Larry Mitnaul, a dual board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist practicing in Wichita
- Lakesha Bates, a Wichita native who is a leading engineer and technical branch head at NASA in flight systems integration and testing
Make it an evening and stay to watch the nightly Ring of Fire lighting at the Keeper of the Plains, which lights at 7 p.m. during winter months. Additionally, visitors can see the display from inside Exploration Place on Thursday nights, when the museum is open until 8 p.m.
Learn about Black aviators at the Kansas Aviation Museum
In 2023, the Kansas Aviation Museum added three new exhibits, one of which is a reimagined Black aviators display that was renamed the Rip Gooch Black Aviators exhibit. Ulysses Lee “Rip” Gooch was a retired Kansas state senator and former Wichita City Council member whose passion for flight and dedication to civil rights helped pave the way for Black leaders in the aviation industry. See it on display in addition to the museum’s other permanent exhibits.
Feel the love at Simply Sangria
Black-owned Simply Sangria will host Wine & Dine: The Lover’s Dinner on Valentine’s Day. The romantic event will feature a five-course meal, a bottle of sangria or table wine and a pair of award-winning artists to sing you sweet melodies all night long, Cydnée Alyxzan and Justin Noel Hall.
Gain insight about Black Wichita through the Wichita Public Library
Local organizations and institutions, including the Wichita Public Library and various community centers, typically offer programs like lectures, film screenings and workshops to commemorate Black History Month. Wichita’s largest library facility – the Advanced Learning Center – in partnership with The Millennial Black Professor® and TMBP Media, is presenting AMPLIFY 365™, a quarterly series designed to celebrate and honor Black culture, history and experiences. Each event will focus on a different aspect of the Black experience, offering a mix of presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions.
On Feb. 19, Dr. Latasha Kelly, Ph.D., will present a keynote lecture on how to foster more meaningful engagement with the Black community by consistently honoring black culture and experiences year-round.
Visit the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Learn about exceptional coaches and athletes from Kansas, including inductees Willie Jeffries, the first African American head football coach at the NCAA Division 1 level; NFL great Barry Sanders; and basketball star Lynette Woodard, who became the first female Harlem Globetrotter. To visit the exhibits, request an appointment by calling the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Go on outdoor adventures at local parks, trails
Several Wichita parks honor notable Black leaders, celebrities, and more. Downtown Wichita’s Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square Park is named for Chester I. Lewis, the late prominent local Civil Rights leader who served on the legal team that argued the landmark 1954 Brown v. Topeka Board of Education case before the Supreme Court.
Wichita’s Black history is showcased along the Redbud Trail. Approximately 11 miles of this biking and walking trail is located within the city. It has three rest areas that tell the story of the people who live in nearby neighborhoods with art and history-filled installations at 9th & Hillside, 13th & Roosevelt, and 17th & Oliver. The entire trail spans two counties and is more than 15 miles, providing the perfect opportunity for those who want to mix culture with an outdoor challenge.
Visit memorials and historical markers
Learn about the 1958 Dockum Drug Store Sit-In at the Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum and then make your way to nearby Ambassador Hotel to stand at the site of the sit-in. The hotel features historic photos and also pays homage to its history by naming its speakeasy-style bar Dockum.
Visit a memorial for Hattie McDaniel, famed actress from “Gone with the Wind” who was born in Wichita. The marker can be found across the street from her childhood home, located at 925 N. Wichita Street.
Pay tribute to the 30 lives lost in the tragic military aviation accident that occurred in the Piatt Street area of Wichita in January 1965. Piatt Memorial Park serves as a memorial and a space for reflection of the impact one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Kansas history had on the community.
Learn more about Black history in Wichita, read stories about Black leaders in the Heart of the Country, and more with this guide to Black Wichita.