Reading · {B/qKC}: Kansas City's Black queer archive

This page did not load. You can still read it on the original site — the toolbar below keeps your place in the directory.

> “Hello_world!

What a summer it’s been! Thank y’all for all the support of {B/qKC} recently. The love just continues growing and touching new people and I’m so thankful for that. Folks who’ve donated to the archive should’ve received a thank you card from me!

{B/qKC} logo. P.S. You’re receiving this email because 1) you’ve registered to attend one of {B/qKC}’s past events and/or 2) you’ve supported this work in some way. Unsubscribe at the bottom of this email if you need!

{B/qKC} is having its first outdoor event and exhibition, and we want you to register ASAP! We also have some cool updates (recognized by City Council??), and still looking for lovely donors and sponsors to continue this much needed work.

Keep reading!

TABLE_OF_CONTENTS

Parkin’ Lot Pimpin’: a Black queer block party
Honored with proclamation by the City of Kansas City Council
Our first intern, Anevay Martz, graduates her internship
{B/qKC}’s workshop series launches!
Snippet from the archive: Kansas City’s Black Gay Pride Booklet
Support our work!

Parkin’ Lot Pimpin’: a Black queer block party

Exciting news!! {B/qKC}, in collaboration with @tintoretta.tattoo.studio, presents “Parkin’ Lot Pimpin’”: a Black queer block party and outdoor exhibition.

Launching around Kansas City’s inaugural Black Pride in September 1999, Parkin’ Lot Pimpin’ is a historical nod to Soakie’s and its parking lot so deeply treasured by Black queer elders in the community.

Folks can expect dancing, vendors, food, drink, and a special “trunk” exhibition of the archive. With a slew of community partners, {B/qKC} continues to build on its roots: growing our community and historical record through party.

We encourage folks to register in advance; entry is suggested donation $5-$30+.

{B/qKC} and its recent exhibition, SOAKIE’S WAS HOME, recognized and honored by the City of Kansas City, MO!

Wow!! On June 26, 2025, I was officially recognized by the City of Kansas City, Mo for my contributions to Kansas City’s Black queer history.

City Council held a special action and passed Resolution NO. 250507 honoring my recent solo exhibition SOAKIE’S WAS HOME and Black queer community archive {B/qKC}.

Deeply grateful for this recognition! I’ve been working on this project pretty much since I’ve moved to Kansas City; glad we’re still trailblazing!

Watch a video of my accepting the award >

Thanks for reading {B/qKC}: Kansas City's Black queer archive! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Anevay Martz, {B/qKC}’s first intern, completes the program 🥲

Anevay Martz and I pose for a photo at her graduation dinner.

At the end of July, Anevay Martz wrapped up her Digitization Internship with {B/qKC}. Matched with us through UMKC’s Mellon Humanities Program, Anevay helped build {B/qKC}’s Digital Asset Register, along with event and initiative support, and getting Soakie’s listed on the platform Clio.

Anevay started interning with me in January; so grateful for all she was able to contribute to the archive. Please wish her luck on her next journey!

Check out this Clio entry Anevay helped develop >

{B/qKC}’s Popular Education series launches!

Grateful to have launched {B/qKC}’s FIRST-EVER popular education series this past Juneteenth!

I started conceptualizing this workshop series over a year ago. Lots of folks, of course, have been asking me how to start their own archives and share any wisdom I can.

But I wanted to go beyond the numerous tools and tip sheets that exist out there now. I really wanted to ground in the aspects that make this Black queer archive radical, especially in a place like the Midwest, and how we can use this science to destroy negative narratives and build Black queer futurity.

This workshop series began with Workshop_1: Archiving As Power and Repair, where we explored the archival science I’ve been developing over the past year, and built shared definitions around fascism, indoctrination, and how to fight back through the archive.

In July, we continued with Workshop 2: How A City Destroyed A Black Queer Safe Space–discussing how we repair and build in the aftermath of Soakie’s.

Next workshop will be coming sometime later in the next few months. However, we’re looking for some more donors and sponsors to keep this series going.

Reach out to me to inquire about how to support >

Snippet from the archive

starlacoll002 | Starla Carr poses with her car, ca. 2003

**Starla Carr poses for a photo in front of her white sedan. (Licensed for the starla_carr_collection, {B/qKC})**

With Parkin’ Lot Pimpin’ on the way, it only makes sense to share this photo of Starla Carr posed up in front of her car. This is the energy come September!!

Support this work!

Nasir and Iesha at the SOAKIE’S WAS HOME opening reception. (photo by Jay Maughmer)

In order to keep these sexy updates coming, the money needs to flow as well!

At the end of last year, I launched a crowfunding campaign for {B/qKC} and we’re still less than halfway to our goal.

If everyone subscribed to this newsletter gave $20, we’d blow our goal out of the water!

{B/qKC} is fiscally sponsored, which means all contributions are 100% tax-deductible and go directly to supporting the work I do as a Black queer artist and the sustainability of this project.

By supporting {B/qKC}, you’re investing in my work as an artist and memory worker and in the long-term preservation of Black queer Midwestern stories. Together, we can build a future where our histories are celebrated and never forgotten.

Give a tax-deductible donation

With love,

Nasir

Catch this new, ONE NIGHT ONLY exhibition for Black Pride!