Bernard Powell Memorial

Introduction

This memorial commemorates the life and legacy of one of Kansas City's leading African American activists. Bernard Powell was born in 1947 and beginning at the young age of 13 became involved with the Civil Rights movement. He joined Martin Luther King in the march to Selma and in the mid-1960s became the director of the Congress of Racial Equality. He then co-founded the organization, the Social Action Committee of 20, in 1968, which focuses on teaching leadership skills and job training. During the following years he was on several committees such as the Governor’s Advisory Council on Comprehensive Health Planning for Missouri and the Human Resources Corporation. He would often wear a black beret with a five-pointed star, which gave some observers that he was a militant activist. Tragically, Powell was shot and killed by a member of the Social Action Committee of 20 in 1979 at a social club (it is not clear as to what the motive was for his murder). His dream of becoming Missouri's first black governor was abruptly cut short.

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information

• Link to an article about Powell and a video describing the memorial