Meet The Past: J.C. Nichols

Kansas City Public Library Director Crosby Kemper III holds a public conversation with J.C. Nichols. From Kansas City's signature Country Club Plaza to pristine shopping districts and neighborhoods across the country, J.C. Nichols' imprint on the American landscape remains deep and far-reaching. The famed real estate developer, who died a little more than 64 years ago, is spotlighted in the latest installment of the Library's popular Meet the Past series. Nichols - as portrayed by historian and Meet the Past veteran Bill Worley.

[@jeremym3892]

In the year 2014 people attended this discussion and laughed and applauded a man who developed the city for white people at the expense of anyone of color. The man who effectively introduced segregation in Kansas City leading to extreme poverty carried on to this day is a wealthy and respected individual who is praised by elite people, as it seems from this video, who are willing to overlook his deep, deep transgressions because he "made KC look like Europe." That his children have benefited from his success while the children and grandchildren of those impoverished by the Troost wall are still struggling, stigmatized and physically sick is absolutely disgusting. It is interesting that a man born at a farm who went to Harvard and quickly became wealthy is praised for his achievements but the Black men and women who sat alone in white medical schools, grit their teeth against racists such as him, and worked against the grain to develop hospitals and institutions for themselves have no name in the history books, no interviews by KCPT.

[@thomasclark333]

Jeremy Malcom well put

[@jgordon7719]

He was a man of his time. I would argue that if it wasn't him that did it someone else would. To what extent would be the real question but I would blame the times more than individual

[@alanl6194]

How dare they

[@mikeroam1]

This interview of the character acting as J.C. Nichols mentions and then evades the issue of Nichols' racist exclusion of blacks and Jews from his communities through exclusionary deed restrictions (starting 16 minutes into the interview). His reasoning was that it was "standard practice" at the time. He goes on to state that it eventually made sense to allow Jews in, but he never says blacks (as we all know). Kemper simply lets him off the hook and moves on with the interview. Well yes, these deed restrictions were standard practice racism by developers across the nation like Nichols. These restrictions were finally declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1948. Given the current, and long overdue, racial protests and dialogue our nation is now having, this interview should be given more historical context in the description. Nichols' imprint on the "American landscape" of Kansas City has certainly remained "deep and far-reaching", but in his time it was for the benefit of whites only while blacks in our city are still feeling the negative effects to this day.

[@keishaarrkantino5476]

Sick

[@BigMeddy]

It's amazing that even Mr. Nichols doesn't understand the inspiration of his life came from the Black Moors of Spain

[@BigMeddy]

Yet still can't take away from the great things Mr. Nichols has achieved

[@alanl6194]

Great piece on a great man

[@DrewPearson713]

gross.

[@jimrick6632]

WHEN DID THIS INTERVIEW TAKE PLACE??? HOW OLD WAS NICHOLS AT THE TIME OF THIS INTERVIEW...I AM 80 AND GREW UP IN KANSAS CITY...WE ALL GOT ALONG UNTILL DRUGS TOOK OVER...TODAY THAT IS THE BASIC PROBLEM STILL...NOT J C NICHOLS...

[@mikeroam1]

It's an actor....this series is based on him talking to historical figures with actors playing the part. He's also done Mark Twain.