Although this week we will be finishing our coverage of the great reformers who ushered in
the age of Protestantism we will turn our attention a little closer to the modern day for this assignment. In
honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I want to pause to reflect on the
Civil Rights movement as it transpired in the state of Kentucky. While we spend
a great deal more time discussing the topic in US History it is important to
note that the issues of civil rights are very central to the human story of
world history. It is in fact one of the great forces behind the development of
western civilizations - that notion that "all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights".
The
Kentucky Historical Society has constructed a wonderful website dealing with the
Civil Rights movement in Kentucky. It can be accessed at the link
http://205.204.134.47/civil_rights_mvt/ . The stories that are told are
available in print and oral (and sometimes video) format. Browse the topics
available and report back on two interviews (include identifying information
such as name, location if given, etc.) You can download the free software that
will allow you to hear the actual interviews or simply read the transcripts.
What do these interviews teach you about life in Kentucky during the era? How
different are things today? Is racial inequality still an issue that must be
addressed? If so, how? If not, why? Please be respectful in your
comments.
For full credit please follow the directions of these assignments completely: a 250 word essay is due on Friday evening. By Sunday evening you will need to have responded to at least two other essays (a total of 150 words in your responses).
Life in Kentucky during this era was even far worse than I imagined it to be, in terms of segregation. For example, in 1995, a lady named Anne Braden, who lived in Jefferson County at the time, was asked by a local African-American man named Andrew Wade asked her and her husband to buy a house in the outside suburbs of Louisville to transfer it to him. The reason for this was because Wade tried to buy it but couldn't because of his race. The real estate agent simply stated that he couldn't purchase it but could have a white person to buy and transfer it for him. James Howard from Union County reports of his encounters with racial abuse. He states that in local schools, students who were not white were spit on, whipped, cussed, and befriended. Jennie Wilson who lived in Graves County describes when she was a black man being hung in her community in the early 1900's. Also around this time, her family was threatened by racial violence. Today, however, the racial issues have died down. Colors aren't separated. There are no "Only White Schools." After Martin Luther King Jr's movement, the whole country changed. African Americans can now eat together, be in the same store, enjoy the parks, and ride the buses together. However, racial inequality, in my opinion, is still a slight issue today. Many people today are still partial to their race and can be very hurtful towards those who are not. God created us all equal. "Red or yellow, black or white. They are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world." We are his children. He created us to be like him, no matter what color we are!
ReplyDeleteYou're right McKenzie! Good essay, it was very well written! And timely unlike the rest of us (: haha
DeleteHarold Alston, from McCracken County, talked about what life was like for a black person growing up in a segregated society. There were restrooms and water fountains for colored people only. If they wanted to eat at a restaurant they had to receive their food from the back door. Even to see a movie, they had to use a side door and go up to the balcony.
ReplyDeleteLucille Brooks, from Simpson County, said that hospitals were completely segregated. There were only certain rooms for blacks to be admitted. They used different waiting rooms and there were a few doctors who would see the black patients. Later on she went to talk about her experience as a black teacher in integrated schools. She was a teacher when Lincoln County became an integrated school. She talked about how hard it was to keep the job, and if you had tenure the job was made really hard. Lucille said that it took a lot of patience and endurance, and if you didn’t have that then you would just go find a job somewhere else.
It’s hard to understand why so many white people thought that black people were inferior to them. The mistreating of black men, women, and children then breaks my heart. Today there are still people who are prejudice toward black people, but it isn’t anywhere near as bad as it used to be. Still, people should not be looked down on for any reason. All men were created in the image of God, and therefore we are all created equal.
I agree Summer, it's really hard for me to understand why so many people thought blacks were less-than as well. Good essay girly!
DeleteNice work, Summer! You did a great job! You are so right. It’s crazy to think that someone would think they are better than someone else because of the color of a person’s skin. God created everyone different. We are all unique and special in His eyes. I can’t imagine how the black people felt as they were looked down on and mistreated in cruel, heartless ways. To me it shows that a lot of white people were very prideful and self-centered during this time. Instead of treating others like they wanted to be treated, the white people treated blacks as if they were dirty or worthless.
DeleteHarold Alston, from McCracken, was interviewed about how was the segregation back in the decade of 1920-1940. He describes the segregated society of Paducah, according to him if you wanted to eat in a restaurant, and you were black, you would have to go to the backdoor to receive your food because since it was a white restaurant they were not allowed to eat inside, even to see a movie in the movie theater you would have to go to a special place like the balcony.
ReplyDeleteThe other person interviewed is Lloyd Arnold from McCracken, he talks about having to walk five miles to his high school and eventually quitting due to the harassment he experienced from the white community, according to him every time he walked to school white people would start throwing rocks at him so he just decided to quit school to avoid that.
After listening to those interviews I could realize that Kentucky was a very racist town back in time, living here probably was very hard if you were black. We can see a huge difference when we compare the “old Kentucky” to the “New Kentucky”, now a day`s racism, even though it still exists, is way less that in 1920. Today in Kentucky if you are black or white doesn`t matter anymore since both have the same rights, black people can go to the movies and sit in the same place as the white men sits. And you also don`t have to go to a special restaurant because they don`t accept black people, now a day’s black and white can eat in the same restaurant and be treated in the same way.
very good job on your essay, Eduardo! It was very well-written and informative! I always like to hear what our exchange students think on these subjects because you all have such different thoughts than we do! It's very awesome because it's different!
DeleteGreat job on your essay, Eduardo! Your essay was written well and full of interesting information. I'm happy that today we are all allowed to eat, work, learn, and etc. together.
DeleteLloyd Arnold grew up in Paducah. He went to grade school there and started high school there. He had to walk five miles everyday to get to school. Lloyd walked through different white neighborhoods and they would harass him and throw rocks at him so he had to quit school. Then after that he moved to Clinton, Kentucky with his Fathers cousin to work on his farm. He said there until he grew up and got married.
ReplyDeleteJoyce Hamilton Berry grew up in Lexington. She says in her interview she didn't realize there was segregation until she went to high school.From what I understood her parents in a way kept it secret kind of. They never just straight up told her that there were places for white people and places for black people. They would just lead her away from the places that only white people could go. Like she would want to eat somewhere and he mother would tell her well we can just go eat with your father at the shop, that was what she said in her interview, so she was just excited cause she got to hang out with her dad. Like it never dawned on her that she couldn't. (I really liked learning about her)
In Kentucky during this era there was segregation. From the two interviews I heard it was kind of what I expected it to be. Like it wasn't horrible for Joyce but for poor Lloyd he had to stop going to school. So I guess it is really just where you lived is how bad it really was. Like even in different parts of Kentucky. But today we don't have to worry about segregation. We all used the same bathroom, same school, same church, and same store. It's not a big deal now a day's. For some people racial inequality is still a really big deal to them. Some black people feel they are over white people and white people feel they are over black.(which I think is dumb; we are all the same) I think to some people it's still a big deal but to most they don't even think about.
God created us all equal. To think that at one time white people were thought to be over black is really weird to think about to me now a day's. But I for one am very happy that now, in this time we are all considered to be equal.
Howard Bailey talked about his undergraduate experience that followed his discussion of his hometown Middlesboro, Kentucky. He describes the community as somewhat integrated. Some social patterns were most definitely segregated and other less so. Bailey describes a number of incidents resulting from segregation and resistance to it. Bailey’s high school was integrated as of his junior year although his athletics were integrated two years earlier. He also tells of playing on an integrated football team which, when they played in Corbin and Fort Thomas, he had to be prepared to leave immediately after the game and to ride home in their uniforms and helmets. Still, adults in these particular towns used to throw stones at their bus.
ReplyDeleteLloyd Arnold talked about how his educational opportunities were very limited and when he was growing up near Paducah, Kentucky. He dropped out of high school when he was hit by rocks while walking through a white neighborhood to get to his school which was about 5 miles away. Hi father had stressed the importance of his education and so Arnold was determined that his daughters would have the opportunities that he never had. He was an active mason and he learned about changes that were happening in the schools. Later he served for 6 years as murray city council and he saw several improvements in that community.
Great job on your essay, Amanda! It was written well and full of great information. It's horrible to think that people would throw stones at a bus full of teens because they hated African Americans. Again, great job on your essay.
DeleteThis week im going to do my essay and a video from the website http://205.204.134.47/civil_rights_mvt the video is a interview of mervin aubespin. Mervin is a associate editor for the louisville courier journal he began his distinguished career at that paper as a news artist in 1967. This video has to do with the civil rights movement. And how it effected him and the others around him. I think that this man is correct on several topics I belive that the civil rights movement is a great thing we all need to have equal rights as the bible says in 2 cor. 8:14 "at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;" this is an obvious statement from the bible that shows we are created equal. Every man and woman should have equal rights and be able to do the same things. Not troubkled by their sex, race, or other things that they cant change god said every man was created in his image so I think we should treat every man like they and made in his image. That is my esay for this week.
ReplyDeleteOn this week’s assignment, my topic I chose was Desegregation of Education.
ReplyDeleteOdessa Chestine- Christian County- was interviewed and gave her thoughts and experiences of a segregated school and library. Odessa; however, grew up to be a teacher because her passion for education. Odessa, being a black child and growing into a teacher, talked about how she couldn’t even go into the Carnegie Library they had in Christian County. She went on and explained that her dad, at any chance he got would get a book so she could try to read. Odessa had a passion for education. She talked about how the white teachers didn’t like teaching black children because they would be a distraction and easily offended. But even though through all the segregation she grew up and did what she had a passion for.
Lucille Brooks- Simpson County- was interviewed as a teacher in integrated school system. She told how she dealt with the children of the school system. Lucille said that she told the children that they could be friends with whoever they want, but of course they had a lot of questions. She even went on and explained what she went through as a teacher. Lucille explained she went to the University of Kentucky and on the whole campus there were 18 black students. She even said that the black teachers without tenure usually lost their job, but the ones with tenure usually said that they wanted to look for another job, because of such bad conditions.
These interviews told me that the times back then are different from now. But even though it is different we still have people making racial slurs and bad things about them. Is racial inequality out there? Yes! Does something need to be said about it? Absolutely!
Good essay, Bethany. I thought your essay was very well written and full of interesting information. I think it is awful how black people were not allowed in the public libraries and how the conditions for black teachers at UK were so bad.
DeleteGreat job on your essay, Bethany! As always, you did a great job writing your essay. It's so sad to read about the counditions people had to live through during this time.
DeleteThe Civil Rights movement has always been a fascinating period to me. Like the holocaust, it never ceases to boggle my mind that one people group are so willing to treat another people group so terribly for such superficial reasons. I cannot imagine walking down the road and having rocks thrown at me and things slurred at me for no reason other than the color of my skin.
ReplyDeleteI tried to read several of the articles provided on the Civil Rights Movement in Kentucky Oral History Project site the two interviews that really grabbed my interest were both by a man named Howard Bailey. In one he talks about the schools segregating his junior year of high school and how for the most part the students didn’t care, most of them had known each other from a young age playing on the same integrated ball teams but some teachers very suspicious of the black students especially the ones that did well. Bailey mentioned how a lot of them were worried they wouldn’t do well at the white school because up until that point they hadn’t had any textbooks or lab equipment or a lot of the stuff the white students had learned with. The other interview that shocked and riveted me he talks about playing on the integrated football team for Lincoln High School and as soon as they would finish a game they would have to run onto the bus and leave their uniforms on the whole time because the adults would throw rocks at them.
Racial inequality is still something we face today but it’s broadened to every ethnicity including whites. I do think something needs to be done about it but I don’t know what or how. I don’t feel like we will ever be able to live in a society without inequality simply because we are a fallen people.
Good essay, Allisha. I thought that your essay was full of really good information. It definitely is mind-boggling how someone could discriminate against someone else because of the color of their skin. I think it is awful that the black students weren't given textbooks or lab equipment.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading your essay, Allisha! The interviews that you found about Mr. Howard Bailey are both shocking and sad. Black people during this time were treated so unfairly. People can’t help when they are born whether they are black or white or any other color. Even if they could, it wouldn’t give someone else the right to mistreat or be hateful to them. God created us all equal in His image.
DeleteGeorge L. Logan is a guy born in Lincoln County. He grew up in the tiny city of Standford. He was one of the very first three African Americans enrolled in University of Kentucky graduate school in in 1951. He was in the air force and then he began teaching at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. And later, at Henry Clay high school. He became a bus driver and worked for the Kentucky State department for twenty years. He was one of the many people that helped the civil rights movement. Another person that helped he civil rights movement was Edward T. Breathitt Jr. who was born in Hokinsville, Kentucky in 1924. He was the only child of Edward Thompson and mary Breathitt. HE went to Hopkinsville High school and graduated in 1942. He served in world was II and graduated from collage. He went to the University of Kentucky and got an undergraduate and law degree there. He was elected governor in 1963 and worked to helped the civil rights movement. HE was in office from December 1963 until December 1967. Whenever he was the governor, Kentucky became the first southern state to pass the civil rights act. This bill was held in march and was attended by Martin Luther King Jr. and baseball player Jackie Robinson. They passed this act in 1966. Another person was Alice Wilson. She went to the all black dunbar high school but registered at the white Mayfield high after she learned about the 1954 surprime court decition. But she went! These were 3 people who helped the movement.
ReplyDeleteFor my essay I have decided to write on two different people, one before desegregation and after desegregation.
ReplyDeleteJoyce Hamilton Berry lived in Lexington, Kentucky after desegregation. Joyce attended the University of Kentucky in 1962 to receive her masters in Ph.D. Joyce said that for the first couple of weeks she stayed quiet in class and listened instead of answering questions the professors were asking the class. One day Joyce realized she was as or more competent then the others around her, so she decided to speak up an answer. Joyce answered correctly, but she said she was starred at like she was an alien from Mars for answering the question correctly. From then on Joyce answered the questions with confidence and had a ball doing it. Joyce said she had never had so much fun because she proved to herself that she was intelligent.
Mervin Aubespin lived in Jefferson, Kentucky in 1960. Aubespin knew a man who was a leader in Louisville's civil rights movement. Aubespin's friend, Frank, ran a local newspaper with his dad. Frank and his dad used their newspaper to form a coalition between the African American Baptist churches of the community.
By reading these interviews I have learned how unfair life was for the African Americans during the civil rights movement era. Berry's story especially touched my heart in knowing that her fellow classmates and professors were actually shocked in discovery that she was intelligent. Today, life is very different. Though some people still believe this way, the mass majority has come to love and respect out fellow beings because we have realized that we are all the same and we are all equal. Over all, I do not think that racism is a major battle in today's society.
Good job on your essay Lydia! It seemed very well thought out!
DeleteTo segregate means to separate or set apart from others or from the main body or group. This is exactly what went on during the times before and during the Civil Rights movement in America. It is sad to think that people would discriminate against others based on their “race” or the color of their skin. One lady from Bell County, who had to face this in the 1940s, was a woman by the name of Julia Cowans. As a young girl Julia was the neighborhood papergirl. She would go every day from house to house delivering papers, and one particular white family had a little girl named Dorothy who was friends with Julia. One day Dorothy wanted to go to Julia’s house, but Dorothy’s mother wouldn’t let her go with Julia because she was black. Something like this would be unthinkable to me if it were to happen in this day and time. Another person who was discriminated against because of the color of her skin was a lady named Mattie Jones from Jefferson County in the 1950s. As a worker at the local laundry mat, Mattie one day saw a white lady take a break to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water. Thinking she could use a short break to get some water and use the restroom, Mattie asked her boss if she could take a quick break. Her boss strictly said, “No, you stay where you are!” I could never imagine how those poor people felt after being treated so terribly because of their “race”. Today, however, I think that thanks to all the efforts and hard work that was put into making the Civil Rights movement happen, and all the brave people who stood up for what was right, we as Americans don’t have to go through the terrible problems of racism.
ReplyDeleteThis assignment provided an interesting look into the unjust treatment of African-Americans in Kentucky before the civil rights movement. Listening to these firsthand accounts of life under segregation was very eye-opening.
ReplyDeleteJoyce Hamilton Berry from Fayette County described segregation in Lexington while she was growing up. Berry describes how as a young girl, not being able to go to most local restraints because they were “white only.” When she was getting ready to start high school she was not able to attend the school just down street because it was a white-only school. She also talks about having to ride on the “colored car” while taking a train to Cincinnati. Berry was a senior in high school when she saw in the newspaper that the Supreme Court issued segregation of schools unconstitutional.
Sanford Roach grew up in a segregated Danville. In the interview he talks about how the black schools were never as nice as the white schools. As an adult while coaching high school basketball at Dunbar High School in Lexington, his superintendent told him not to leave the bench, not even to protest a controversial call because, according to the superintendent, if he got up off the bench, he would cause a big stir in the audience. Also while attending a University of Kentucky basketball game with a front row ticket, he was told he needed to move to the back by a boy scout, when he didn’t move, the scout master came and told them they needed to move. After they refused the scout master got the UK Athletic director to get them to move. Instead of moving, Roach decided to leave.
I think that racial inequality is still an issue that needs to be addressed. Although much of it has died down, it is still very common, especially in the South. I think that one way it can be addressed is to encourage people of different races to come together. I think it is important for people to remember that every life has equal value regardless of skin color.
Good job on your essay Bobby! It was very full of information on the subject!
DeleteGreat job on your essay, Bobby! Your essay was written well and full of great information.
DeleteLydia Ramsey: Great Job on your essay! I loved reading about the people you chose to write about. I enjoyed reading your opinions and how the people stood up in class. I distinctly remember, from your essay, the women who answered the question in the college class right! I love to hear that they stood were bold and brave like that!! Great Job!
ReplyDeleteAllisha Turpin: I really enjoyed your essay. It was very well written and I defiantly could tell you spent some time doing it! I am fascinated with this subject also. All together it is very mind boggling. I can’t understand how people could treat others the way they did. I really like reading about the guy that you did your essay on. It’s awful that they had to run to the bus or they would throw rocks at them. It saddens my heart to hear that people did that.
Have you ever truly thought about how different things were just a few decades ago? It astonishes me to think that people were treated so unjustly and cruel for doing nothing-but simply by just having a different skin color. The people on the website (http://205.204.134.47/civil_rights_mvt/) lived through these difficult times in our state’s history and still overcame the prejudices and misconceptions of the day to do great things. With that being said, I think that the racist mindset will always be around no matter where you go. But, I don’t believe it remains the threat it posed back in the time of the Civil Rights Movement.
ReplyDeleteI chose to first write about is Joe Graves. Joe Graves, a member of the Lexington Human Rights Committee, remembered being involved in the desegregation of the movie theaters and the March on Frankfort in 1964 among many other local protests in the 60’s. He was instrumental in electing the first Black City Commissioner in Lexington, Harry Sykes, by running on the same ticket as him. While in their offices, they were commissioned to respond to several crises pertaining to the assassinations of the famous Civil Rights activist, Rev. Martin Luther King, JR. and Senator Robert Kennedy.
The second person I chose to write on is Eleanor Jordan. I read the particular interview about the process of her buying shoes. To us today, buying shoes is so simple: you find some you like, try them on, and then purchase them. To Eleanor Jordan, it wasn’t that simple. She remembers only being able to actually try on the shoes to see if the fit if they were fortunate enough to have a nice salesperson. Most times, her mother and she would leave the store with a pair of shoes praying they fit because they weren’t allowed to try them on in the store. This was also, of course, after several minutes to hours to be waited on. To me, that is so crazy to think that something as small as purchasing shoes in Jefferson county Kentucky during that time would be so difficult just because of skin color
Great job on your essay, Rebecca! Your essays are always well written and packed full of information. Your essay was very interesting. I can't imagine someone not saling shoes to a person because of their skin color. Again, great job on your essay!
DeleteOut of all the people to chose from on this assignment I chose to do mine on Howard Bailey. Howard Bailey talked about his undergraduate experience that followed his discussion of his hometown Middlesboro, Kentucky. He talks about the community as in some ways integrated. Some social patterns were definitely segregated and other less so. Bailey describes a number of incidents resulting from segregation and resistance to it. Bailey went to a high school that was integrated as of his junior year although his athletics were integrated two years earlier. He also talks of playing on an integrated football team which, when they played in Corbin and Fort Thomas, he had to be prepared to leave immediately after the game and to ride home in their uniforms and helmets to avoid encounters with hostile citizens. Still, adults in these particular towns used to throw stones at their bus which is sad to think about because this is something children would do.
ReplyDeleteanother person I chose was Lloyd Arnold. Lloyd Arnold talked about how his educational opportunities were very limited when he was growing up near Paducah, Kentucky. He dropped out of high school when he was hit by rocks while walking through a white neighborhood to get to his school. His father had stressed the importance of his education and so Arnold was determined that his daughters would have the opportunities that he never had. He was an active mason and he learned about changes that were happening in the schools. Later he served for 6 years as murray city council and he saw several improvements in that community.