September 12th 2023.
Larry Jackson Jr., the creator of The Black Visitor's Guide to Kansas City, passed away on June 10th after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 76.
He was a man of many talents and accomplishments in Kansas City's Black community. His marketing firm, Specialized Entertainment and Distribution Inc. worked on campaigns for Budweiser and Sprint, but its most lasting achievement was Jackson's guidebook that provided an encyclopedia of Black-owned businesses in Kansas City.
The pamphlet was available from Kansas City's Lincoln Building, which was a hub for Black culture in the city, as well as SEDIC and newspaper stands around the city. The guide was an invaluable resource for navigating the city's functionally segregated community.
Jackson's son, Damon, believes his father wanted to highlight his friends in the Kansas City business community. He said, “I think he just really meant to do something for the community. At the time, there wasn’t a list or a place where you can go and find Black businesses.”
Lloyd Mason Jr., Jackson's business partner, spoke of his friend as a "serial entrepreneur." He also dedicated much of his time to civil rights and marched alongside the late Rev. Fuzzy Thompson. Jackson also had a chance to meet the legendary comedian Redd Foxx while he was trying to write television shows.
In his 50s, Jackson changed careers and became a substitute teacher, where he was instrumental in getting other substitutes retirement benefits. His funeral was held at Thatcher's Funeral Chapel and was attended by many teachers and faculty members.
Jackson was a true Kansas City native who had a profound impact on the city and its Black community. Mason said, "Kansas City was the only community that Jackson ever knew."
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
