The Kansas City Defender
@kcdefender.bsky.social
Black News, Politics, Arts & Culture.
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‘Children Of The KKK’ Stage A Test Run In Kansas City – The Kansas City Defender
Kansas City’s brief invasion by white supremacist fascist group, Patriot Front, made two things clear: Missouri is a central theater for 21st-century neo-Nazism, and our state also houses a growing co...
kansascitydefender.com
Kansas City’s brief invasion by white supremacist fascist group, Patriot Front, made two things clear: Missouri is a central theater for 21st-century neo-Nazism, and our state also houses a growing coalition determined to stop it.
kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
At 84 years old, Willa Robinson is retiring and closing Willa’s Books and Vinyl, the store where she’s spent years selling works by Black artists. She’s placing the beloved space in the hands of @kcdefender.bsky.social, which will preserve her vast archive.
Collecting Black authors' books is Willa Robinson's 'thing.' A new generation preserves her legacy
At 84 years old, Willa Robinson is retiring and closing Willa’s Books and Vinyl, the store where she’s spent years selling works by Black artists. She’s placing the beloved space in the hands of The Kansas City Defender, which will preserve her vast archive.
www.kcur.org
September 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
At 84 years old, Willa Robinson is retiring and closing Willa’s Books and Vinyl, the store where she’s spent years selling works by Black artists. She’s placing the beloved space in the hands of @kcdefender.bsky.social, which will preserve her vast archive.
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
Congratulations to our colleagues at @kcdefender.bsky.social for winning the 2025 @inn.org Community Champion Award! Read about their groundbreaking B-REAL Freedom School here.
Community Champion Award
Honors an INN member organization that made a significant contribution to the well-being of its community through a journalism-centered project or
inn.org
September 11, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Congratulations to our colleagues at @kcdefender.bsky.social for winning the 2025 @inn.org Community Champion Award! Read about their groundbreaking B-REAL Freedom School here.
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
The Small Division winner of the Community Champion Award is “BREAL Academy: Black Radical Education for Abolition and Liberation” from @kcdefender.bsky.social.
September 11, 2025 at 1:38 AM
The Small Division winner of the Community Champion Award is “BREAL Academy: Black Radical Education for Abolition and Liberation” from @kcdefender.bsky.social.
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
Movement media is a key tool to fight fascism.
In the @truthout.org Center for Grassroots Journalism newsletter, see the latest from @wagingnonviolence.org @hammerandhope.bsky.social @convergencemag.com @kcdefender.bsky.social @deceleration.news & more! ❤️
mailchi.mp/truthout.org...
In the @truthout.org Center for Grassroots Journalism newsletter, see the latest from @wagingnonviolence.org @hammerandhope.bsky.social @convergencemag.com @kcdefender.bsky.social @deceleration.news & more! ❤️
mailchi.mp/truthout.org...
Grassroots journalism organizations are a tool against fascism -- and their voices are growing
mailchi.mp
September 5, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Movement media is a key tool to fight fascism.
In the @truthout.org Center for Grassroots Journalism newsletter, see the latest from @wagingnonviolence.org @hammerandhope.bsky.social @convergencemag.com @kcdefender.bsky.social @deceleration.news & more! ❤️
mailchi.mp/truthout.org...
In the @truthout.org Center for Grassroots Journalism newsletter, see the latest from @wagingnonviolence.org @hammerandhope.bsky.social @convergencemag.com @kcdefender.bsky.social @deceleration.news & more! ❤️
mailchi.mp/truthout.org...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
The original video: youtu.be/BhQjYxBcqxw
The creator, @kcdefender.bsky.social , deserves way more views and subscriptions.
As said in this video, this is the future of the United States.
The creator, @kcdefender.bsky.social , deserves way more views and subscriptions.
As said in this video, this is the future of the United States.
St. Louis Tornado CLIMATE WARZONE and The People Fighting Back
YouTube video by The Kansas City Defender
youtu.be
August 31, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The original video: youtu.be/BhQjYxBcqxw
The creator, @kcdefender.bsky.social , deserves way more views and subscriptions.
As said in this video, this is the future of the United States.
The creator, @kcdefender.bsky.social , deserves way more views and subscriptions.
As said in this video, this is the future of the United States.
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
Ever had that "make it make sense?!" feeling when you're reading the news? Yeah. Me too. Conceiving of journalism as political education -- as the @kcdefender.bsky.social does so well -- is one solution and way forward. @objectivejournos.bsky.social objectivejournalism.org/2025/08/make...
Make it make sense: movement media as political education
Even when our stories herald bad news, they can also help people make meaning and figure out our role in responding.
objectivejournalism.org
August 29, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Ever had that "make it make sense?!" feeling when you're reading the news? Yeah. Me too. Conceiving of journalism as political education -- as the @kcdefender.bsky.social does so well -- is one solution and way forward. @objectivejournos.bsky.social objectivejournalism.org/2025/08/make...
North St. Louis is in the middle of a climate warzone. A tornado wiped out 5,000+ homes. Black residents are relying on mutual aid to survive. We went to document climate collapse, ICE kidnappings, and the people fighting back in a city that once sparked a global revolution.
youtu.be/BhQjYxBcqxw
youtu.be/BhQjYxBcqxw
The Tornado That Could Destroy St. Louis’ Black Community
YouTube video by The Kansas City Defender
youtu.be
August 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
North St. Louis is in the middle of a climate warzone. A tornado wiped out 5,000+ homes. Black residents are relying on mutual aid to survive. We went to document climate collapse, ICE kidnappings, and the people fighting back in a city that once sparked a global revolution.
youtu.be/BhQjYxBcqxw
youtu.be/BhQjYxBcqxw
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
A beloved bookstore about to close; a determined volunteer; a local news nonprofit that got creative.
Got to write about a Kansas City icon named Willa Robinson and what @kcdefender.bsky.social is doing to preserve her remarkable book collection and legacy.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Got to write about a Kansas City icon named Willa Robinson and what @kcdefender.bsky.social is doing to preserve her remarkable book collection and legacy.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Missouri’s oldest Black bookstore just closed. The Kansas City Defender plans to reopen it as a newsroom and public archive.
“The thought of losing that history, particularly in this political moment, was devastating.”
www.niemanlab.org
July 31, 2025 at 8:20 PM
A beloved bookstore about to close; a determined volunteer; a local news nonprofit that got creative.
Got to write about a Kansas City icon named Willa Robinson and what @kcdefender.bsky.social is doing to preserve her remarkable book collection and legacy.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Got to write about a Kansas City icon named Willa Robinson and what @kcdefender.bsky.social is doing to preserve her remarkable book collection and legacy.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
Exciting developments at the @kcdefender.bsky.social, providing a other example of the importance of grassroots Black Press organising
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Missouri’s oldest Black bookstore just closed. The Kansas City Defender plans to reopen it as a newsroom and public archive.
“The thought of losing that history, particularly in this political moment, was devastating.”
www.niemanlab.org
July 31, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Exciting developments at the @kcdefender.bsky.social, providing a other example of the importance of grassroots Black Press organising
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
absolutely loved this piece about @kcdefender.bsky.social and a bookstore called Willa's by @speppered.bsky.social www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Missouri’s oldest Black bookstore just closed. The Kansas City Defender plans to reopen it as a newsroom and public archive.
“The thought of losing that history, particularly in this political moment, was devastating.”
www.niemanlab.org
July 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
absolutely loved this piece about @kcdefender.bsky.social and a bookstore called Willa's by @speppered.bsky.social www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
The @kcdefender.bsky.social is fundraising to purchase the collection and turn it into a public archive, making “Miss Willa’s” bookstore space into its first-ever public headquarters.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Missouri’s oldest Black bookstore just closed. The Kansas City Defender plans to reopen it as a newsroom and public archive.
“The thought of losing that history, particularly in this political moment, was devastating.”
www.niemanlab.org
July 31, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The @kcdefender.bsky.social is fundraising to purchase the collection and turn it into a public archive, making “Miss Willa’s” bookstore space into its first-ever public headquarters.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/miss...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
How do you reach young audiences that traditional media misses?
In our latest Q&A, @kcdefender.bsky.social founder Ryan Sorrell explains how "grocery buyouts" built trust with Gen Z audiences.
In our latest Q&A, @kcdefender.bsky.social founder Ryan Sorrell explains how "grocery buyouts" built trust with Gen Z audiences.
Truly engaging community: A Q&A with Kansas City Defender - INN News
Ken Ward of Mountain State Spotlight talked with INN about how his small team conducted election surveys across the state.
news.inn.org
June 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
How do you reach young audiences that traditional media misses?
In our latest Q&A, @kcdefender.bsky.social founder Ryan Sorrell explains how "grocery buyouts" built trust with Gen Z audiences.
In our latest Q&A, @kcdefender.bsky.social founder Ryan Sorrell explains how "grocery buyouts" built trust with Gen Z audiences.
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
Missouri is home to a growing coalition of people determined to stop the encroachment of white supremacist groups on their communities (via our partner @kcdefender.bsky.social). kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
‘Children Of The KKK’ Stage A Test Run In Kansas City – The Kansas City Defender
Kansas City’s brief invasion by white supremacist fascist group, Patriot Front, made two things clear: Missouri is a central theater for 21st-century neo-Nazism, and our state also houses a growing co...
kansascitydefender.com
May 27, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Missouri is home to a growing coalition of people determined to stop the encroachment of white supremacist groups on their communities (via our partner @kcdefender.bsky.social). kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
Kansas City’s brief invasion by white supremacist fascist group, Patriot Front, made two things clear: Missouri is a central theater for 21st-century neo-Nazism, and our state also houses a growing coalition determined to stop it.
kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
‘Children Of The KKK’ Stage A Test Run In Kansas City – The Kansas City Defender
Kansas City’s brief invasion by white supremacist fascist group, Patriot Front, made two things clear: Missouri is a central theater for 21st-century neo-Nazism, and our state also houses a growing co...
kansascitydefender.com
May 26, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Kansas City’s brief invasion by white supremacist fascist group, Patriot Front, made two things clear: Missouri is a central theater for 21st-century neo-Nazism, and our state also houses a growing coalition determined to stop it.
kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
kansascitydefender.com/justice/fasc...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
The reason I’m so loud about my respect and admiration about @thetriibe.com is because they laid the groundwork for me. I’ve learned a lot from the innovation happening in Chicago as a whole. I’m also loud about my love for Scalawag in the south and @kcdefender.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The reason I’m so loud about my respect and admiration about @thetriibe.com is because they laid the groundwork for me. I’ve learned a lot from the innovation happening in Chicago as a whole. I’m also loud about my love for Scalawag in the south and @kcdefender.bsky.social
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
🗞️ NEW from @kcdefender.bsky.social on what’s at stake in our fight to #SaveOurTransit:
March 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
🗞️ NEW from @kcdefender.bsky.social on what’s at stake in our fight to #SaveOurTransit:
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
!!!
"“We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the publick been deceived by misrepresentation in things which concern us dearly,” they published on the front page of the paper’s first printing."
wordinblack.com/2025/03/blac...
wordinblack.com/2025/03/blac...
Black Press Sunday: Celebrating 200 Years, Praying for 200 More
We need the Black press now more than ever. On March 16, a church service in D.C. will celebrate its existence and pray for its protection.
wordinblack.com
March 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM
!!!
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
My hope in 54 yrs of journalism was to equip the community with facts and solutions that can improve life. Ryan Sorrell at the Kansas City Defender @kcdefender.bsky.social has a 21st Century definition for his newsroom that works for me: "Power-building organization." www.poynter.org/business-wor...
A ‘media organizer’ built an abolitionist newsroom in Kansas City. Is he a journalist? He’s not yet sure. - Poynter
At The Kansas City Defender, Ryan Sorrell is following Ida B. Wells and Claudia Jones in honoring the legacy of the radical Black press
www.poynter.org
March 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
My hope in 54 yrs of journalism was to equip the community with facts and solutions that can improve life. Ryan Sorrell at the Kansas City Defender @kcdefender.bsky.social has a 21st Century definition for his newsroom that works for me: "Power-building organization." www.poynter.org/business-wor...
Kansas City Leaders Speak Out Against New $800 Million Jail
Kansas City Leaders EXPOSE $800 Million Jail Tax Scheme | FULL SPEECH
YouTube video by The Kansas City Defender
youtu.be
March 12, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Kansas City Leaders Speak Out Against New $800 Million Jail
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
Journalists should look beyond other journalists for inspo: "Study content creators … I listen to a lot of marketing podcasts because I think that they have a lot of the most innovative strategies," says Ryan Sorrell, @kcdefender.bsky.social founder. nationalpress.org/topic/social...
Social First: How Journalists Can Win Gen Z Audiences - National Press Foundation
Ryan Sorrell, founder of The Kansas City Defender, and Marian Liu of The Washington Post, share audience engagement tips for journalists.
nationalpress.org
March 7, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Journalists should look beyond other journalists for inspo: "Study content creators … I listen to a lot of marketing podcasts because I think that they have a lot of the most innovative strategies," says Ryan Sorrell, @kcdefender.bsky.social founder. nationalpress.org/topic/social...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. This exposé uncovers the shocking truth behind Platt’s reign.
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
BOMBSHELL VERDICT: Jury Confirms Corruption and Retaliation at the Highest Levels of Kansas City Leadership
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. T...
kansascitydefender.com
March 6, 2025 at 8:37 PM
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. This exposé uncovers the shocking truth behind Platt’s reign.
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
@kcdefender.bsky.social is dropping bombs. Follow them. And read this insane news (because you need more of that IYL right now sorry:
#KC #KCMO #BrianPlatt
#KC #KCMO #BrianPlatt
BOMBSHELL VERDICT: Jury Confirms Corruption and Retaliation at the Highest Levels of Kansas City Leadership
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. T...
kansascitydefender.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:11 PM
@kcdefender.bsky.social is dropping bombs. Follow them. And read this insane news (because you need more of that IYL right now sorry:
#KC #KCMO #BrianPlatt
#KC #KCMO #BrianPlatt
Reposted by The Kansas City Defender
Thank you for your reporting, @kcdefender.bsky.social
Oof! I had no idea about this Hernandez suit too.
kansascitydefender.indiegraf.com/lt.php?x=3DZ...
Oof! I had no idea about this Hernandez suit too.
kansascitydefender.indiegraf.com/lt.php?x=3DZ...
BOMBSHELL VERDICT: Jury Confirms Corruption and Retaliation at the Highest Levels of Kansas City Leadership
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. T...
kansascitydefender.indiegraf.com
March 6, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Thank you for your reporting, @kcdefender.bsky.social
Oof! I had no idea about this Hernandez suit too.
kansascitydefender.indiegraf.com/lt.php?x=3DZ...
Oof! I had no idea about this Hernandez suit too.
kansascitydefender.indiegraf.com/lt.php?x=3DZ...
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. This exposé uncovers the shocking truth behind Platt’s reign.
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
BOMBSHELL VERDICT: Jury Confirms Corruption and Retaliation at the Highest Levels of Kansas City Leadership
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. T...
kansascitydefender.com
March 6, 2025 at 8:37 PM
As Kansas City’s most powerful unelected official, Brian Platt has built his career on lies, retaliation, corruption, targeting Black employees, women, and whistleblowers who dared to challenge him. This exposé uncovers the shocking truth behind Platt’s reign.
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
kansascitydefender.com/politics/kan...
🚀 In February 2025, The Defender officially launched B-REAL Academy, a radical education & organizing initiative born out of crisis.
Our first cohort brings together Black radicals ages 11-86, equipping them with organizing skills, Black radical movement history, abolitionist writing and more.
Our first cohort brings together Black radicals ages 11-86, equipping them with organizing skills, Black radical movement history, abolitionist writing and more.
The Kansas City Defender Launches its Freedom School
The Defender's inaugural Freedom School cohort brings together multiple generations of Black radicals, equipping them with organizing skills, Black radical history, and the tools to resist oppression.
kansascitydefender.com
March 4, 2025 at 4:41 PM
🚀 In February 2025, The Defender officially launched B-REAL Academy, a radical education & organizing initiative born out of crisis.
Our first cohort brings together Black radicals ages 11-86, equipping them with organizing skills, Black radical movement history, abolitionist writing and more.
Our first cohort brings together Black radicals ages 11-86, equipping them with organizing skills, Black radical movement history, abolitionist writing and more.