Your Kansas City and Mine

[Kansas City, Missouri]: [Self-published], 1950. Good. First printing stated. 10 7/8" x 8½". Illustrated wrappers. Pp. vi, 177. Good: front wrapper partially split and reinforced with archival tape as well as a chip at the lower corner; internally very good; lightly dust-soiled. Inscribed by William H. Young on the title page.

This is a densely packed and heavily illustrated book serving as a celebration of African American history, business, culture, and community in Kansas City, Missouri.

Both of the book's creators were sons of Nathan B. Young. Born into slavery, Young earned degrees from Talladega and Oberlin Colleges and embarked upon a long career in higher education. He served as president of both Florida A&M University and Lincoln University in Missouri. Nathan B. Young, Jr. moved to St. Louis in 1924, where he became a founding member of a prominent bar association for Black lawyers. He was also an influential newspaper publisher, the first African American appointed as municipal judge in St. Louis, and the author of Your St. Louis and Mine in 1937. William Young began as a teacher in St. Louis but moved to Kansas City and co-founded the Crusade Life Insurance Company. In 1950 the brothers published this anthology of Black Kansas City's achievements.

The book's forward acknowledged that [i] "the Statue of Liberty's democratic welcome is the essential strength of our great country" but lamented the "residuary of segregation out of the slavery regime." The authors dedicated the book "to the Kansas Citians of the future - especially of the year 1975 (children pictured herein shall be the grown-ups then) . . . as a milestone of progressive hope - hope for a strong and just City of the Future."[/i]

The book is filled with features on the African American community of Kansas City, including over 200 photographic images. It celebrated the accomplishments of Black Kansas City doctors, lawyers, government officials, educators, and community leaders. Business was also a focal point. A feature entitled "Demonstration in Cooperation" discussed the work begun in 1932 by seven Kansas City citizens with an [i]"eagerness to see fellow Negroes get work and become thrifty and self-sustaining citizens,[/i]" which developed into the Kansas City Council of Negro Employees, a credit union and "Wise Buyers' Mart." The book also has advertisements for over 80 businesses, several of which were illustrated, including one great full page ad with photographic images for the Streep Music Company.

As alluded to in the book's forward, it has 40 images of babies and children, the "Citizens of the Future," including a young Julius Bernard Lester. Lester was a renowned author, college professor, civil rights activist, and musician whose writing was largely devoted to Black American history. There is also a feature on "Kay Cee Music - An American Institution," covering the city's history of ragtime, jazz, swing, bop and "whatelse." The book also highlights female leaders including the founders and directors of "Our Institutions" for women and girls, as well as Emily Fisher, owner of the first hotel in nearby Independence, Missouri. There is also a nearly full page image of the Alpha Chapter of Lambda Alpha Phi Sorority, organized in 1939 at the Madame C.J. Walker College of Beauty Culture in Kansas City.

A celebratory examination of African American accomplishments, history, and community in Kansas City. OCLC shows 23 holdings.