Old newspaper and typewriter
Kansas City rose to its feet yesterday in honor of the late Lucile H. Bluford, a prominent journalist, civil rights leader, and tireless advocate for equality. July the 1st has been the state-designated Lucile Bluford Day since 2016, marking nearly four decades since Bluford helmed the Kansas City Call. Her relentless pursuit of justice and brave stance against racial inequality have rendered her an enduring figure in the realms of journalism and civil rights.
Bluford embarked on her journalistic journey at The Kansas City Call as a copy editor and reporter before steadily climbing the ranks to succeed founder Chester Franklin as editor-in-chief and eventually owner and publisher of the newspaper. “When you looked at Miss Bluford, you thought, ‘Okay, this is a celebrity.’ But she never came across as that,” said Tracy Allen, current editor-in-chief of The Call.
Allen, who worked under Bluford’s tutelage for years, insists on carrying her legacy forward by ensuring that every new staff member understands who Miss Bluford was and the causes she championed – not just for the Black community, but for all communities of color.
In memory and honor of Lucile Bluford, the Kansas City Library recently acquired access to The Kansas City Call digital archive, spanning the years 1919 to 2008. This serves as a testament to the vital role the newspaper played in chronicling the experiences and struggles of the African American community throughout crucial periods in history, such as the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement.
The library’s special collections manager, Jeremy Drouin, highlighted the significance of the digital archive, calling it “a boon for researchers” and a vital “record of Black life, culture, and community in Kansas City.”
This year’s Lucile Bluford Day celebration held at the namesake branch of the Kansas City Public Library was accompanied by the Kansas City Symphony, creating an atmosphere of reverence and joy. The event included various activities for children, teenagers, and adults alike, from storytime to video game tournaments, upholding Bluford’s spirit of inclusivity and community engagement.
Lucile Bluford was born in North Carolina in 1911 and moved to Kansas City at the age of 7. Her passion for journalism began in high school and continued at the University of Kansas as the University of Missouri denied her admission due to her race. Nevertheless, she fought relentlessly against the segregated admission policies of the University of Missouri, gradually paving the path for the university’s eventual integration. Her formidable strength of character was not only evident in her journalistic prowess but also in her confronting and challenging societal injustices and systemic discrimination.
Throughout her 69-year career with The Call, Bluford made her mark as a fearless advocate for African Americans in the city and across the nation, leveraging her platform to battle discrimination and fight for justice. Her memory enduringly lives on in the Bluford branch of the Kansas City public library – an emblem of her vast contributions to the city and its citizens.
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