On Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 1:00 pm, the Greater Kansas City Black History Study Group held its annual Dr. Carter G. Woodson Birthday Celebration at the Black Archives of Mid-America-1722 E. 17th Terrace-Kansas City, MO 64108. The featured guest speaker was Mr. Robert (Bob) King.
Mr. Robert (Bob) King, a retired IBM Corporation executive, currently serves as board Chair of Discovering Amistad (New Haven, Connecticut), whose mission is “to connect people of all ages with the Amistad story, motivating them to act and work to change systems that perpetuate racism, to ensure human rights for all.”
Mr. King’s presentation, The Amistad Africans, reviewed the history and legal proceedings of The Amistad case. Most importantly, he centered his discussion on the travails of the enslaved men, women, and children, ultimately leading to their revolt. The social and political climate that made the legal case possible and the ultimate return of the Mende people to their homeland was shared. Taking the audience on the Amistad journey from Sierra Leone, King shared little known stories on how the enslaved were able to undo the chains that shackled them, how abolitionist were able to identify a translator to help them tell their story and how it was a former President of the U.S., John Quincy Adams, who took the case to the Supreme Court on behalf of the enslaved, having the advantage of having appointed many of these men to the Supreme Court.
The information shared was a great tribute to Dr. Woodson’s legacy and the mission of ASALH as we continue to educate ourselves and the public about our rich history. It is a story that resonates with those who did not get to return and remained enslaved, as well as with those who did return to their homeland to unknown futures. Our stories are intertwined. Today, the Mende are the largest single ethnic group in Sierra Leone, with a population of roughly 1.5 million.
The Woodson celebration included a wide variety of refreshments and door prizes for two lucky attendees.
Pictured left to right are: Mr. Robert King, guest speaker; Mr. King, with Larry Lester (GKCBHSG President) and Mrs. King; Woodson Birthday Cookies and Woodson labeled waters
