KC Defender Launches Black Economic Justice Desk & Names Tiffany Watts As Lead Reporter

Photo of Tiffany Watts by Itzel Photo Co.

I’ve always believed that storytelling can be a tool for liberation. 

That the act of witnessing, documenting, and uplifting our people is both powerful and necessary. And now, I’ve been given the opportunity to do that on an entirely new level.

I’m honored to step into the role of Lead Reporter for Black Economic Justice, Food & Culture at The Defender, one of the most radical, unapologetically Black media platforms in the country. And at a time when such work couldn’t be more urgent. 

I was drawn to the organization because of their philosophy on journalism as intervention, and their insistence that it cannot be disattached from organizing and love for our communities.

Our team had a great deal of discussion when ideating the title of my role, and I do want to be clear that this is not a “Black Capitalist” role. We do see Black economic power as necessary, and severely under-reported in our region, as is evidenced by the nearly 10 Black restaurants that went out of business in 2024 alone. I am excited to offer my sharp analysis on Black economic systemic issues in Kansas City, but also uplift and highlight the brilliance, beauty and resolve of our food producers, salon owners, restaurants and more. 

My role exists at the intersection of media, movement, and memory. And to go beyond simply profiling businesses. I will be traveling the city amplifying the stories of Black chefs, healers, hustlers, cooperatives, and culture creators who are shaping what a thriving Black economy in Kansas City could look like. And I’ll also be unapologetically exposing the systems that have long tried to extract, displace, and erase us.

This includes diving deep into the stories behind Black-owned restaurants, radical food traditions, labor organizers, mutual aid networks, and artists who are dreaming new futures into existence. It means showing up to pop-ups and kitchen tables with a camera in hand and a heart open to listening. It means turning everyday moments into powerful narratives that reveal both the harm of systemic oppression and the beauty of everyday survival and joy.

One of the projects I’m most excited to grow is Black Feast Week, a city-wide celebration of Black culinary brilliance that drives foot traffic, visibility, and pride to Black-owned restaurants across Kansas City. It’s not just about food. It’s about legacy, love, and radical hospitality.

I’ll also be building out resources like the “Ultimate Guide to Black-Owned Businesses in KC,” connecting our communities to funding, job opportunities, apprenticeships, and trainings, because storytelling without action isn’t enough.

As I step into this new chapter, I do so with deep gratitude, sharp intention, and radical hope.

So if you know a Black-owned business, farmer, food vendor, artist, or organizer doing amazing work in Kansas City, send them my way. If you have a story that’s never been told or a community event that deserves attention, I want to hear about it.

Because this isn’t just about me stepping into a new role. It’s about all of us, building something powerful and beautiful together.

I can’t wait to get to work.

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hookedonkc/ or via email at tiffany@kansascitydefender.com

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