During the 1920s and 1930s, Kansas City's 18th and Vine area thrived as a hub for African American businesses and entertainment. Despite facing discrimination at white-owned shops, the community grew and prospered with many black-owned businesses. The Lincoln Building, central to the district, housed shops, professional offices, and popular dance halls. It also hosted key organizations like the NAACP and the National Urban League, which advocated for civil rights. This period marked a significant cultural and economic boom for Kansas City's black community.