Kansas City’s champion cakewalker

By Julie Denesha,

Mackenzie Martin, Celia Morton

Published August 14, 2024 at 3:00 AM CDT

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The 19th-century American dance craze "the cakewalk" began as a form of resistance by enslaved Black people — a showy promenade concealing a mockery of slave owners. One of the most charismatic and famous cakewalking champions was Kansas City’s own Doc Brown. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports on a modern movement to recognize Brown’s stamp on history.

This episode of A People's History of Kansas City was reported by Julie Denesha. It was produced and mixed by Mackenzie Martin and Celia Morton with editing by Luke X. Martin and Suzanne Hogan.

A People's History of Kansas City

Julie Denesha

Julie Denesha is the arts reporter for KCUR. Contact her at julie@kcur.org.

See stories by Julie Denesha

Mackenzie Martin

Mackenzie Martin is a senior podcast producer at KCUR Studios and host of the podcast, A People's History of Kansas City. Contact her at mackenzie@kcur.org.

See stories by Mackenzie Martin

Celia Morton

Celia Morton is the KCUR Studios intern for summer 2024. Email her at cmorton@kcur.org.

See stories by Celia Morton

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