Kansas City Entrepreneur Calls for Accountability and Community Investment After Racial Profiling Incident

Kansas City, MO — On Christmas Eve, Marsha Willis, founder and CEO of Black Owned Business Kansas City (BOBKC), was falsely accused of theft at a retail store despite cooperating fully and proving her innocence.

The incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by African Americans in retail spaces and highlights the critical need for supporting Black-owned businesses that prioritize respect and community reinvestment.

“This experience was humiliating, especially in front of my 4-year-old daughter. I repeatedly asked them to review their cameras, but they refused, relying instead on a faulty security system,” said Willis.

Willis, a leader in Kansas City’s Black business community, has spent years advocating for economic empowerment through initiatives like the Retail Success Program and the planned Enterprise Center of Kansas City. Her experience has strengthened her resolve to uplift Black-owned retailers and create spaces where customers are treated with dignity.

Willis invites the public to join the movement by supporting Black-owned businesses, sharing their own stories, and exploring resources like the BOBKC directory.

For more information about BOBKC and its programs, visit www.bob-kc.com.

Contact:
Marsha Willis
blackownedbusinesskansascity@gmail.com
(816) 875-9004