On Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, the top editor of the Kansas City Star newspaper apologized for past decades of racially biased coverage and has posted a series of stories examining how it ignored the concerns and achievements of Black residents and helped keep Kansas City segregated.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)NEW YORK – The first significant attention that the Kansas City Star gave to hometown hero and jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker came when he died in 1955 — and the newspaper spelled his name wrong.
“Generations of Black Kansas City residents grew up not trusting the Star,” he said in an interview Monday.
The project arose from discussions following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which sparked demonstrations around the world, including Kansas City.
He said he's been heartened by much of the response he's received in Kansas City, but not all.