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Kansas City's Excessive Parking | Athletes And Activism (R)

Marsha Miller
/
LBJ Presidential Library
Harry Edwards' long history in sports and social change dates back to the Olympic Project for Human Rights, which led to the 1968 Black Power salute at the Mexico City Olympics.

How urban Kansas City became a parking lot hot spot, and recognizing the power athletes have to influence social movements.

Segment 1, beginning at 3:59: Kansas City's parking lot problems

Kansas City is thoroughly a car town — a place where owning a vehicle is pretty much necessary. That physical layout means parking lots proliferate, which then affects property values, development patterns and so much more throughout the entire metro area.

Segment 2, beginning at 25:20: Athletes, Harry Edwards insists, are a lot more than one-dimensional performers.

Athletes have long served as very visible agitators for social change. Take, for example, strikes last week sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Today, we revisited a conversation from January with a man who recognizes better than most the power athletes have to influence movements.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.
As culture editor, I help you embrace what makes Kansas City fun and vibrant, whether it’s a championship sports franchise or a little-known wonder. I work with reporters to ensure KCUR stories on art, culture, and race fully reflect our diverse home so readers and listeners can take full advantage of what the metro has to offer. Email me at luke@kcur.org.