Please notice Ms. Blueford who was the owner and editor of "The Call" News Paper. The Call paper was the voice of the Black Community in the 1950's up to the 1990's. Even today The Call paper is still in being published and distributed in both Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City Kansas.
I recall, as a young girl, my parents would buy "The Call" newspaper every week. It always featured intriguing articles about black individuals advancing in politics with excellence. We read about church events in the community and notable visitors coming to our city from Washington DC and other parts of the country. Additionally, we learned about the deaths and crimes in our area. We all took pride in having "The Call" as a cornerstone for quality, truthful news. My father's business, "James Smith Drivers School," was regularly advertised in the paper, along with his other venture, "Bargain Exterminators." One of the most significant articles my father placed in "The Call" was about his invention of a battery-operated car that didn't require gasoline. Two other businesses frequently mentioned in the paper were "Gates Barbecue" and "Lawrence A Jones Funeral Homes," whose owners were friends of my father.
I am thankful for Ms. Bluford, who boldly served as a strong woman editing and distributing The Call for many years. Her journalism and dedication to informing and educating our community will forever be a beacon of light and hope for future generations.
Please notice below the story she wrote after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King and she writes about the riots that were in Kansas City, incited by the police department.
See the article below:
In the mid to late 1960s, Kansas City race relations boiled under the surface. Anger and frustration came to a head following Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968. Five days later, the nation mourned as he was laid to rest in Atlanta. Many school districts across the country, including the Kansas City, Kansas school district dismissed students from school, but the Kansas City, Missouri school district did not. This decision created resentment in the African American community. In response, Kansas City youths marched downtown to protest and tension escalated from there.
What started as a peaceful march at city hall erupted when someone from the crowd supposedly threw a glass bottle at police. Kansas City police responded by firing tear gas into the crowd and then, according to Bluford, “everything erupted.” In response, “angry blacks proceeded to vandalize and burn white-owned businesses.” Meanwhile, police snipers and armed blacks exchanged gunfire. Bluford was away attending Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in Atlanta, but on her return flight, the pilot announced rioting in Kansas City. Once back home, Bluford took to the barricaded streets to observe the rioting first-hand. Bluford “rushed to cover the violent confrontation,” becoming “part of the story” herself, witnessing the action from under a nearby car. After two days and two nights of pandemonium, 1,700 National Guardsmen joined 700 local police officers to quell the violence, looting, vandalism, and arson.
Bluford was a product of the NAACP, which supported a more conservative and gradual approach to civil rights. She regretted the violence and believed that, given his “legacy of non-violence,” King would have been “disappointed” by the rioting. She used The Call to “clearly establish” that “Negroes as a whole do not condone rioting” and made the point that “negroes suffer more than any other segment of the population during violent outbreaks.” While Bluford found the rioting discouraging, she was thoroughly appalled by what she, and many others, saw as police brutality.
Kansas City Riot Aftermath, 1968
In the weeks and months following the riot, The Call’s attention centered on the violence meted out by the Kansas City police department. The Call related the circumstances surrounding the deaths of six black citizens and the injuries sustained by at least fifty rioters. Clearly placing blame on police, an article explained that “civil rights leaders said…members of the police department themselves triggered the rioting by the unwise use of tear gas on a group of students…who were conducting a peaceful march from their schools to the City Hall in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King.” In a rare departure from her editorial section at the back of the paper, Bluford authored a front-page article with her name affixed. She expressed concern writing that “the relationship between the Negro community and the Police department, already at the straining point, is now on the brink of breakage as a result of incidents involving police action during racial violence.” Bluford believed a “thorough, impartial and fair investigation [was] needed and wanted.” She had no intention of letting the issue become yesterday’s news.
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This was a photo taken on the corner of 27th and Prospect, a location that holds significant memories for my family and me, as it was merely one block away from our home. The image captures a moment in time that resonates deeply with the turmoil we experienced during those harrowing days. We were utterly devastated by the extreme violence that permeated our neighborhood, a reality that was marked by the incessant sounds of gunshots echoing through the streets, the crackling of fires that seemed to rage uncontrollably, and the cacophony of chaos that filled the air around us.
The atmosphere was thick with tension and fear, as the once-familiar surroundings transformed into a battleground. My father, ever the protector, took immediate action to shield us from the dangers that lurked outside. He firmly instructed us to stay away from the windows, a precautionary measure aimed at keeping us safe from stray bullets and the unpredictable nature of the violence that engulfed our community. His voice was steady, but I could sense the underlying worry that accompanied his words.
As we huddled together in the dim light of our living room, the sounds of the outside world seeped into our home, creating an unsettling backdrop to our otherwise normal lives. We could hear the distant sirens wailing, the shouts of people caught in the chaos, and the ominous crackle of flames consuming whatever they touched. Each noise served as a stark reminder of the reality we were living in, a reality that felt surreal and frighteningly close.
In those moments, our home became a sanctuary, albeit a fragile one. My father’s determination to keep us safe was palpable, and it instilled a sense of resilience within us. We leaned on each other, sharing whispered conversations and stories to distract ourselves from the fear that threatened to overwhelm us. The bond between us grew stronger as we faced the uncertainty of our surroundings together, united in our struggle to maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.
Reflecting on that time, the photo serves not only as a visual representation of a specific location but also as a poignant reminder of the trials we endured. It encapsulates the essence of our experiences, the fear that gripped us, and the unwavering love and protection that my father provided.
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