KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas City is known for its barbecue, sports, and fountains. But politically, the city stands out for its historic selections—KC is one of a few in the U.S. with a running record of Black mayors.
African Americans only make up 3.8% of mayors in the country. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, former Mayor Sly James, and Mayor Quinton Lucas have laid the groundwork in Kansas City.
Breaking the glass ceiling
Emanuel Cleaver II, now a Congressman, was sworn in as the first Black mayor of Kansas City in 1991.
Though Cleaver broke the glass ceiling for other people of color to follow him, he recognizes that he wasn’t the first to run for the leadership role.
“The morning after I was elected, Ollie Gates and I went to the grave of Bruce R. Watkins, who was the first African American to run for mayor.” Cleaver went on, “We prayed because he had laid the groundwork. The point I’m trying to make is everybody lays the groundwork for somebody else. He had laid the groundwork for me and actually Sly James and Quinton Lucas.”
Cleaver, the 51st mayor, was credited for stimulating economic growth, enhancing the city’s infrastructure, and creating youth outreach programs.
With the accomplishments, there were also challenges.
“Chaos broke out all over the country,” he said.
One month after Cleaver was sworn in, a Black man by the name of Rodney King, was beaten by three officers in Los Angeles. Frustration was felt across the country, including in KC.
“Once the decision was rendered that the police officers were not found guilty, a group of people were gathering in Brush Creek and they were getting ready to march on the Plaza,” Cleaver said. “I essentially said, ‘You know, please don’t do this.’ Reverend Fuzzy Thompson stood up and he said, ‘This is going to hurt the mayor. Don’t do it.’ So, it stopped.”
Cleaver’s speech to avert a riot has been recognized as one of his finest moments. But he takes none of it for granted.
“I think it is remarkable that we have Mayor James and Mayor Lucas after I was elected,” he said. “I tell people all the time that we are a lot better as a city than we think we are.”
Kansas City makes history again
Twelve years later, the city was in for another historic moment. A lawyer by the name of Sly James put his name in the race for mayor and was elected in 2011.
James was sworn in as the 54th mayor — the second Black man to hold the position in Kansas City.
James said Cleaver set the path for him.
“Anytime that you see a group or an individual from a group with whom you identify, reach a height that you did not necessarily believe was either reachable or had been reached,” he said. “You are inspired and to follow in their footsteps.”
Mayor James said Cleaver’s election was a momentous day for the city in many ways.
“The majority of the population saw that a person of color could be an effective leader for the entire city, not just one group or another. And that is what he did,” James said.
James was inspired to continue Cleaver’s legacy. During his tenure, a new airport was approved, the deal for the Loews Downtown Hotel was finalized, the streetcar started operating and the Royals won the World Series.
“If I have to pick one thing that I think is most impactful, it’s Turn the Page KC,” James said. “That’s primarily because it has the ability to affect the lives of children who otherwise might not be able to break themselves of the cycle of poverty and under-education.”
James described the Pre-K sales tax as an outright failure.
“That was heartbreaking because without access to early education, to every child, then every child will start off at a different place in the race,” James said.
Back-to-back Black mayors
Then came Mayor Quinton Lucas in 2019. He is not only recognized as the third Black mayor in Kansas City, but also the youngest dignitary to hold the position.
“I was a child at the time [Mayor Cleaver was elected] but I was knowledgeable of it.”
Like James, the current mayor was inspired to follow in Cleaver’s footsteps.
“To have the mayor of Kansas City be one of us,” Mayor Lucas said. “To have somebody who comes from your community, who is from your group, and lets you as a young person know that maybe I can do anything. But it also lets you know that you belong in the city.”
In this city, the Lucas administration hopes to leave its mark.
RELATED: Mayor Quinton Lucas delivers State of the City address
“The true proudest accomplishment is probably our affordable housing trust fund,” Lucas said. “World Cup 2026 [is also] something that we are exceedingly proud of.”
Lucas said his achievements would not be possible without two of the men that came before him.
“You don’t get World Cup 2026 without a new KCI terminal. You don’t have the wonderful experiences we’ve had from the NFL Draft without a new and improved Union Station.” Mayor Lucas went on to say. “So, the work that they did has built up the Kansas City that we have today. I’m happy to reap the rewards of them and continue to sell the city.”
In the last six years, Lucas has also had his fair share of challenges.
“I never thought as a mayor, we’d be dusting off the old rules, emergency order declarations, curfews, all those things that hadn’t been invoked since Mayor Illus Davis in the 1960s.”
The mayor pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as one of his biggest trials.
“The deaths that we saw and the protests that we saw during that time made for a very challenging time in Kansas City,” he reflected. “A challenging time in this position.”
But more recently, in an interview with CBS Mornings, Lucas shared his disappointment following the mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl parade.
“This is not the way I want to live. I remember an America where you could go to big events without a fear of shootings.”
The work is far from over
Shortly after serving two terms, Kansas City honored Cleaver by designating one of its major roads as “Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.”
Cleaver now represents Missouri’s 5th District as a Congressman. Sly James, on the other hand, has no plans to land a role in Washington D.C.
“I wouldn’t trade Congressman Cleaver for his position up there.”
Once his tenure ended in 2011, James started a consulting firm with his former chief of staff. Wickham James Strategies & Solutions focuses on politics and public policy.
“When you need me, if you need me, just call and I’ll answer.” James is standing by what he told Mayor Lucas after he took the oath of office in 2019.
Lucas is currently in his second term.
“I hope the greatest accomplishment is still out there. I’ve got about three and a half years, so we’ll have some exciting things obviously.”
His current term ends on July 31, 2027.
The three Black mayors of Kansas City hope they will not be the last.
To watch their extended interview, see the video below.
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