History of African Americans in Kentucky

Western and Central Kentucky with fertile soil and southern climate developed large tobacco plantations with the use of slave labor.

As Northern troops arrived into Kentucky, slaveholders attempted to keep the slaves from hearing abolitionist ideas.

They gained this information by eavesdropping on council meetings and getting literate women to read to them stories from the war.

[3] Large groups of slaves were fleeing Kentucky to north of the Ohio River, in search for freedom.

September 1862, reports from an Ohio soldier said that about 600 slaves entered the Union troops in Lebanon, Kentucky.

They believed that since they did not all betray the Union and fully side with the Confederacy as there was dueling Unionist and Confederate state governments in Kentucky, that they would be able to keep their slaves.

[5] In total, there were about 25,000 African American Kentuckians who served in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) in the Civil War.

Engraved on one side is "In Memory of the Colored Soldiers Franklin County, Kentucky Who Fought in the Civil War 1861–1865".

It wasn't until 1884, in the Claybrook v. Owensboro lawsuit, when legal action was taken to receive equal funding of public education.

The University of Kentucky finally admitted black students being one of the earlier Southern states to desegregate.

There was also open admittance at Russellville, Prestonsburg, Owensboro, Waynes County, and Lexington public schools.

[4] However, a mob at Sturgis High School against eight black students lead governor Chandler to send the state police and National Guard to protect them from violence.

[4] In 1960, a voter registration campaign to replace city officials was hosted in Louisville, followed by a rally and a speech featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1963, Governor Bert Combs even issued the Fair Service Executive Order to increase public accommodations before it got suspended.

[4] Also in 1963, Harry M. Sykes and Luska Twyman of Lexington and Glasgow became the first African American city council members.

The Kentucky Real Estate Commission banned the use of scare tactics to force Blacks out of integrated neighborhoods.

This helped form the West End Community Council, which urged peaceful integration of Louisville neighborhoods.

Jesse Warders, the only black member of the General Assembly as well as a Louisville Republican, assisted the legislature to repeal the Day Law.

In 1968, Georgia Davis Powers was elected into the Kentucky Senate, helping the General Assembly add housing discrimination to the state's Civil Rights Act.

Also in 1968, there was a Louisville protest, turned violent, against police mistreatment, leading to six African American being arrested.

[4] Louisville's local housing law was enforced in 1970, and centers were opened to help African Americans move into their new neighborhoods.

In 1975, there was cross-district busing Louisville, helping the equality of public schools, while also bringing about some racial violence.