The Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City hosted their second annual Black History Month fundraiser featuring keynote speaker, Emanuel Cleaver II on Saturday, February 25. UMKC School of Law was one of the many sponsors of the luncheon.
The mission of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Inc. is to collect, preserve and make available to the public materials documenting the social, economic, political and cultural histories of persons of African American descent in the central United States, with particular emphasis in the Kansas City, Missouri region.
This year, “Crisis in Education,” was the theme of the luncheon and it was held at Pierson Auditorium on the UMKC Campus. Emanuel Cleaver II has been a long-standing, recognized member of the community.
Cleaver is now serving his sixth term representing Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.
Having served for twelve years on the Kansas City council, Cleaver was elected as the city’s first African American Mayor in 1991. During the 112 Congress, Cleaver was unanimously elected the 20th chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Emanuel Cleaver II received five honorary degrees augmented by a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M, and a Master’s from St. Paul’s School of Theology. Cleaver was the pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri from March 1972 until June 28, 2009.
To learn more about the Black Archives of Mid-America, visit blackarchives.org.