African American Heritage
The history of African American life in Kentucky has rich threads having their beginnings in Kentucky's earliest history with Daniel Boone's travel in 1769.
As our nation grew, Kentucky's status as a border state between northern "free" states and southern “slave” states created an intriguing and complex heritage for African-Americans.
After the Civil War, the African-American experience in Kentucky was imbued with the struggle for change and betterment in education (Berea College, Kentucky State University, Rosenwald Schools), employment opportunities and living conditions.
Kentucky is home to many notable African Americans including Adam (enslaved man who accompanied Daniel Boone), Capt. Jack Hart (pioneer), William Wells Brown (abolitionist), Henry W. Bibb (editor of first African American newspaper in Canada), James M. Bond (educator/activist), Luther P. Jackson (historian), Alexander Walters (civil rights activist), Whitney M. Young, Jr. (civil rights activist), Muhammad Ali (international sports figure), and Rufus B. Atwood (educator) to name only a very few.
We invite you to visit the attractions, sites and events offering you a glimpse of the many aspects of African-American life and history in Kentucky.
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