"Troost Avenue has become known as Kansas City’s dividing line — and its roots run deep in the city’s history of racial segregation and slavery." -Kansas City Star. but not just the KC☆. There have been so many people aware of the history of the street and have been advocating for a change like this since Jim Crow laws. Of course changing the name wouldn't affect the oppression and division in place surrounding the 10 mile road, but I would say it is a great start to denouncing people like Benoist Troost, (who owned 6 enslaved men and women) Rev. James Porter, owner of the Porter Plantation spanning 365 acres from Locust Ave to Vine, and the list goes on. 

  The fact that Troost Ave is still recognized primarily as a dividing line while no real change has been enacted is my motivation for creating this petition. It is something we can all see and feel driving along the road. There are streets with similar histories in nearly every American city. We need to start somewhere with fighting systemic oppression. Benoist Troost frankly does not deserve to have his name echoed into today.