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

By Brian Ellison,

Published September 4, 2020 at 4:48 PM CDT

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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.

Michael Toombs, artist and director of Storytellers, Inc.
Harold Smith, artist and educator

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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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

As senior podcast producer for KCUR Studios and a host of A People’s History of Kansas City, I interview everyday people and dig through old newspaper articles to unearth stories of the visionaries and renegades who created this region. I focus on bringing the past to life, so we can all better understand the city we live in today. Email me at mackenzie@kcur.org.

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