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What Two Artists Behind Kansas City's Black Lives Matter Murals Hope Their Work Achieves

By Brian Ellison,
Mackenzie Martin
Published September 4, 2020 at 4:48 PM CDT
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KC Art on the Block
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Troost Market Collective
Michael Toombs and Harold Smith are two of six artists behind Kansas City's Black Lives Matter murals.

Painting will begin this Saturday in Kansas City on six street murals, each designed by a different artist with a unique message.

Harold Smith's design features a Martin Luther King Jr. quote: "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." Meanwhile, Michael Toombs' piece focuses on the accomplishments of Black Americans, stressing the importance of why Black lives matter in the first place.

For more information about the Black Lives Matter murals in Kansas City, visit the KC Art on the Block Facebook Page.

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Up To Date Racismrace relationsKansas City Missouri (KCMO)public artmuralTalk ShowPodcastVisual arts
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Brian Ellison
As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.
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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.
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