About us
In partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), the Community Remembrance Project of Missouri (CRP-MO) was established by Missourians to work in coordination with communities throughout the state to memorialize victims of racial terror lynching, raise public awareness, facilitate education, and engage in conversations around reconciliation. The centerpiece of these efforts revolves around Missouri's history of racial injustice—in particular, its legacy of racial terrorism.
Over the last several years, the Community Remembrance Project of Missouri has been working to recognize victims of lynching, with the ultimate aims of collecting 60 jars of soil from lynching sites across the state, erecting historical markers, and creating a permanent soil exhibit in Kansas City, Missouri acknowledging the statewide horrors of racial injustice. It is our sincerest hope this will provide a resource for and encourage others to do this necessary work, so that together we might build a better and more just future for all Missourians. In this effort, we have pledged to uphold the Equal Justice Initiative’s values of authenticity, forthrightness, collaboration, listening with respect, and empowering courtesy.
The Missouri Exhibit
The Soil Collection Exhibit opened April 10th, 2021 at the Black Archives of Mid America in Kansas City Missouri. Through working in coordination with communities across the state, we will continue to gather jars of soil from locations of lynching victims in order to remember and honor them. During each soil collection, memorial services will be held to honor the horrific loss of life. As associated communities engage in coordinated gathering efforts we encourage lasting efforts in every community to remember, reconcile, and repair historic and current racial injustice. Communities who are currently working with us exist in St. Joseph/Buchanan, St. Louis, Columbia, Springfield, Fulton, Sikeston, and more.
To learn more about the Black Archives of Mid-America please visit www.blackarchives.org
Mission
The Soil Collection Exhibit located at the Black Archives of Mid-America will not only display collected soil, but also share the story of the individual whose life was viciously taken. Providing context is a critical feature of this work.
Demonstrative displays and educational programming will further enhance meaningful understanding of racial terror lynching in Missouri. This is all achieved in the spirit of justice, truth seeking, racial reconciliation, and by creating a historical marker for acknowledgement and memorial.
Register Today!
Join us in Kansas for the first CRP-MO Conference at the Black Archives of Mid-America on September 23rd 2023.