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A Taste of Wichita, Kansas
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The Dockum Drug Store sit-in was one of the first organized lunch-counter sit-ins for the purpose of integrating segregated establishments in the United States. The protest began in July 1958 in Wichita at the Dockum Drug Store, a store in the old Rexall chain, in which protesters would sit at the counter all day until the store closed, ignoring taunts from counterprotesters. The sit-in ended three weeks later when the owner relented and agreed to serve black patrons, taking place 18 months before the more widely publicized Greensboro sit-ins in January 1960. A 20-foot -long bronze sculpture first announced in 1998 at a cost of $3 million marks the site of the successful sit-in, with a lunch counter and patrons depicting the protest.
The period between 1950 and 1970 saw a major shift in the city's racial make-up, as the proportion of blacks in the population increased significantly. Until 1950, blacks had made up about 5% of the population, with little variation. The black population increased from 8,082 (4.8%) in 1950 to 26,841 (9.7%) in 1970. Even as the white population has increased from 160,000 in 1950 to about 260,000 in 2000, the percentage of the population has dropped from 95% to 75%.
During the 1970s, the city's population grew by only 1%, but the growth rate accelerated in the following two decades to more than 13% in the 1990s. The growth among minorities is still strong. The black population has grown by a more modest 14% per decade, but the proportion of other races, including indigenous Americans and immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Rim, has risen from 1% to over 10% of the population.
The Wichita River Festival is held each May in the Downtown and Old Town areas of the city. It is one of the longest continuous running festivals in the state of Kansas and features over 70 events, including musical entertainment, sporting events, traveling exhibits, cultural and historical activities, plays, interactive children's events, a flea market, river events, a parade, block parties, a food court, fireworks and souvenirs for the roughly 370,000+ patrons who attend each year.
The Tallgrass Film Festival was founded in Wichita by the late Timothy Gruver in 2003. The festival draws an estimated 100 independent feature and short films from all over the world for three days each October. MPAA president Dan Glickman and legendary actor Seymour Cassel have attended. The River Run, a 10 km race held on the first Saturday of the festival, is the largest road race in Kansas.
Located on the Great Plains far from any large moderating influences such as mountains or large bodies of water, Wichita lies between the humid subtropical and humid continental zones with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Over the course of a year, the city experiences temperatures that range from an average low of 20 °F in January to an average high of nearly 93 °F in July. Temperatures reach 90 °F an average of 64 days per year and reach 100 °F an average of 14 days per year.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
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Demographics of Wichita, Kansas
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By Race |
White |
Black |
Native American |
Asian |
Hispanic |
Total Population |
73.5% |
10.9% |
0.07% |
4.5% |
12.2% |
Because Hispanics could be counted in other races, the totals above could possibly be more than 100%. If you would like a detailed listing of all ethnic groups in the U.S., please Click Here. |
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Famous African Americans from Wichita, Kansas |
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African American Businesses in Wichita, Kansas |
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BEAUTY CARE - BLACK HAIR SALONS
- Anointed Hair Salon - 2216 East Douglas Avenue, Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 265-3888
- Black Panther Beauty Salon - 3731 Zoo Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67203 (316) 943-3327
- Chocolate City Beauty & Barber - 2401 East 21st Street North, Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 681-1064
- Sally Beauty Supply - 6714 W Kellogg Dr # 100, Wichita, KS 67209 (316) 946-5566
- Zulema's Hair Design - 3114 West 13th Street North, Wichita, KS 67203 (316) 942-2818
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DINING - CATERING
- Alexander's Soul Food Delivery & Catering - 1935 South Hydraulic Street, Wichita, KS 67211 (316) 558-8090
- Da Louisiana Chicken & Waffle House - 1555 S Bluffview Dr, Wichita, KS 67218 (316) 688-1105
- Fat's Soul Food - 2504 East 9th St N, Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 688-4415
- Pig in Pig OUT - 1003 E 13th St N, Wichita, KS 67214
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THE WICHITA GRIOTS - THE KEEPERS OF THE STORIES IS A PROFESSIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN STORYTELLING GROUP BASED IN WICHITA, KANSAS, USA. OUR PERFORMANCES ARE EDUCATIONAL, ENTERTAINING, AND HUMOROUS AND WE ENCOURAGE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
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