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.
Black History Month events at TKAAM include "Black Cemetaries of Kansas," led by local cemetery historian to explore segregated cemeteries in Kansas, and a Mask-Making Workshop on Feb. 28.
Celebrate African American STEM pioneers
In collaboration with TKAAM for the fifth 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.
Changing weekly throughout the month, the display will honor Wichitans’ contributions to Black history:
- Week 1: Harold Miller is a U.S. Navy veteran who in 1970 became the first African American to serve as an air traffic controller in the Wichita tower. Eventually, he was promoted to supervisor in the central region.
- Week 2: Charyl McAfee-Duncan is a licensed architect who is a committed mentor to girls interested in STEAM and an advocate of public art programs. McAfee-Duncan is the first African American woman Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in Dallas and the second in the state of Texas. Charyl, her sister Cheryl and their father Charles F. McAfee are the only known father-daughters and sister sibling fellows in the history of the AIA.
- Week 3: Dr. Donald Jackson was a World War II Tuskegee airman who trained on the B-25 bomber. He later became a veterinarian. In 1957 he opened his own practice, becoming one of the few African Americans to own a business in Wichita. Dr. Jackson cared for animals at his All Pets Clinic until his retirement in 2001.
- Week 4: Col George Boyd served for nearly three decades in the U.S. Air Force, first in World War II and later in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He served as an all-weather jet fighter radar intercept officer, squadron commander and combat management engineer. Eventually, he served as the commander of the Kansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
Additionally, TKAAM and the Arts Council are partnering to host a special reception starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 at Exploration Place to celebrate innovation, leadership and the lasting contributions of African Americans in STEM.
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.
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.
Learn about Black aviators at the Kansas Aviation Museum
See the Rip Gooch Black Aviators exhibit featuring Black aviators at Kansas Aviation Museum. 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 Simply Vibes: Jungle Love on Valentine’s Day. The romantic event will feature a 3-course dinner experience and the talents of Delaney Renese & The Band, bringing a night full of the best love ballads to the winery. Attendees are encouraged to wear animal print or matching outfits to show how wild they are about their love.
Or join their next Simply Poetic on Feb. 19. Simply Poetry is a night of celebrating the arts through poetry, music and comedy - all in one show. The event happens on the third Thursday of every month.
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.
