Think & Drink: Black Kansas City from the Early Years to the Jazz Era and Monarchs

Long before Kansas City became synonymous with jazz and innovation, African American leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and educators were building institutions that shaped the city’s identity—and influenced the nation. This talk explores the people and places that defined Black Kansas City from the arrival of Exodusters through the Roaring ’20s, revealing stories of resilience, creativity, and civic leadership. Along the way, we’ll uncover surprising moments—like a racially integrated barnstorming baseball team that predated the Monarchs—and consider what this history still teaches us about community, opportunity, and change today.

Don’t miss this Think & Drink lecture with guest speaker Dr. David Trowbridge. They are free to attend and open to all ESU members and the public, but registration is required. These Think & Drink lecture programs often reach capacity, so we encourage ESU members to register now. You will also receive at least one reminder email about the event when you register.

When: Thursday, February 19, 2026, 6:00 pm

Location: Casual Animal Brewing, 1721-1725 McGee Street Kansas City, MO

Tickets: Admission is free but registration is required.

About Dr. David Trowbridge

Dr. David Trowbridge (Ph.D. Kansas, 2008) is the William T. Kemper Associate Research Professor of Digital and Public Humanities at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Trowbridge is the former Director of African and African American History at Marshall University and specializes in 19th and 20th century U.S. History. As part of his research and teaching, Trowbridge uses technology to connect people to history. As part of that effort, Trowbridge authored A History of the United States, a textbook published under a Creative Commons license and available to students and the public in various formats. In 2013, Trowbridge began work on Clio, a website and mobile application that connects people to nearby history and culture. Clio is free for everyone and has grown to include over 40,000 articles on individual landmarks and over 1,700 walking tours and virtual tours of museums and historic sites.

About Think & Drink Lecture Series: Think & Drink is an exciting new kind of event that combines educational topics with social gatherings. This one-hour lecture program was launched in July of 2025 by Casual Animal Brewing Company, a microbrewery in the East Crossroads area, south of downtown Kansas City. The lectures are held on the first and third Thursday of every month and bring together experts, academics, and curious minds for evening talks on topics that generate fresh perspectives, ideas, and discussion. No topic is off the table