Passing the Baton | Sonny Gibson’s Pursuit of Local Black History

Season One, Passing the Baton Ep. 5

Sonny Gibson, a historian and author, has been doggedly documenting the forgotten history of Black Kansas City for decades.

In this week’s installment of “Passing the Baton,” a series of cross-generational conversations hosted by urban educator Carl Boyd, Gibson shares with activist and radio producer DeQuai Wilson his process in researching topics like the creation of the first hospital for African Americans in Kansas City.

“Most people who write books … will give you the information that you’ll get,” Gibson said. “It does not necessarily be the truth, and it does not necessarily be a matter of fact. So, what I decided to do was gather information that was printed or published at the time.”

It is a laborious pursuit, but one to which Gibson has devoted his life.

“You have to have a love for what I do,” he said. “I haven’t been able to find anybody that’s crazy like me.”

To learn more, watch the attached video.

Sandy Woodson is an independent producer, most recently of “AIDS in KC: The Early Days,” which aired on Kansas City PBS. “Passing the Baton” is presented with support from Health Forward Foundation and
Husch Blackwell.