Penn Valley Common Read: Some of My Best Friends Are Black

Journey through the history of segregation in the Kansas City metro, primarily through its real estate. The tour is designed so that you can safely drive through the city at your own pace while hearing stories about each area you travel through.

Nathaniel Bozarth, ethnographer and host of the “Wide Ruled” podcast, narrates this 90-minute drive, bringing in interviews from several area students and notable city figures Sid Willens, Bill Tammeus, Mamie Hughes, and Margaret May.

“Dividing Lines” was created as a part of the Johnson County Library’s “Race Project KC.” The Library’s Civic Engagement Committee and Tanner Colby’s book “Some of My Best Friends are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America” inspired much of the ongoing work of Race Project KC. This tour was made possible by support from Johnson County Library and the Kansas Humanities Council. It was produced by Brainroot Light & Sound. Written by Nathaniel Bozarth and Christopher Cook. The tour features music from Hermon Mehari and KC Jazz LP.

A KCPT special series: With the number of homicides in Kansas City for 2015 having leapt back up, this film examines violent crime in the segregated black community east of Troost Avenue and asks whether enough is being done to make its neighborhoods safe. February 2016.

Troost is a place where people in Kansas City don't go, unless you live there. Tanner Colby gives an in depth explanation on why segregation in the housing industry in Kansas City has portrayed Troost as a dividing line between the middle class and poverty, white and black people, and what needs to be done to integrate communities not only surrounding Kansas City, but in other major cities what still deal with racial segregation.

Although the Supreme Court ruled racial covenants unenforceable in 1948 and although the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act outlawed them, the hurtful, offensive language still exists — an ugly reminder of the country's racist past. NPR, Nov 2021.

"Wyandotte County consistently ranks near the bottom of Kansas counties on health outcomes, despite sharing a border with Johnson County, which usually comes in first or second. Even within Wyandotte County, however, a person’s address can have a serious effect on his health." KCUR, November 2016.

June Thomas's interview with Tanner Colby on the "Afterword" podcast. Click "Play in Another Tab" to hear the full interview. August 2015.

Celeste Headlee interviews TannerColby on WNYC's The Takeaway. July 2012.

Tanner Colby is interviewed on WNYC's The Leonard Lopate Show. July 2012.

Joe Donahue interviews Tanner Colby for WAMC Northeast Public Radio. July 2012.