Neal talks about his father’s Union activity. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State Senator from Louisville and a Civil Rights
Neal tells how his parents sent him and his sister to the Highlander Folk School where they learned so much.
Neal discusses the need for government policies that encourage opportunities in the West End. He says we are at a
Neal talks of the importance of growing up around people who you see as successful. He emphasizes education and the
Neal talks about his family and his neighborhood and her father’s union activism. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State Senator
Neal says that because of the political framework, if another senator agrees with you philosphically they are straightjacketed by the
Neal talks about University of Louisville and Law School. He recalls going to ask Ed Post to help him pay
Neal reflects on Louisville’s progress regarding segregation during his lifetime. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State Senator from Louisville and
Neal remembers being recruited to run for the Kentucky State Senate upon the retirement of Georgia Davis Powers in 1989.
Neal learned from his son when he brought 10 white friends home from school. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State
Neal talks about the Neal family and its strong character. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State Senator from Louisville and
Neal recalls moving to the African American Subdivision Algonquin Gardens. He recalls the many professionals living in the neighborhood. He
Neal reflects on urban renewal and its cost to black businesses and therefore its effect on generational wealth in the
Neal describes the scene in the West End after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gerald Neal is
Neal recalls his juvenile arrests protesting segregation in Louisville. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State Senator from Louisville and a
Neal describes the protests at the President’s Office at the University of Louisville. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State Senator
Neal discusses the role of compromise in politics. Gerald Neal is a Kentucky State Senator from Louisville and a Civil
Neal marvels about how exciting the sixties was. Nothing like it has happened since. You heard about change from everyone.
Elliott recalls lynchings in the woods and the start of the movement. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott Jr. was born in
Elliott recalls the boss-man telling his dad he needed to plow rather than going to school. They had 40 acres
Elliott relays the story of how he accepted God’s call to preach. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott Jr. was born in
Elliott voices his opinion that Dr. King was anointed by God. Dr. King told them not to hate, because it
Elliott recalls the one room schoolhouse with one teacher who taught through the sixth grade. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott Jr.
Elliott recalls Dr. Martin Luther King’s visit to Louisville. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott Jr. was born in Wheeler, Alabama in
Elliott tells how he let women preach in his church and he got kicked out of the Association. Rev. Dr.
Elliott remembers the two room house in the woods he grew up in. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott Jr. was born
Elliott came to Louisville in 1952 and encountered many of the same problems that existed in Alabama. Rev. Dr. Charles
Elliott emphasizes why this oral history documentation is important. It’s for the children. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott Jr. was born
Elliott reflects on other Civil Rights leaders of Louisville. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott Jr. was born in Wheeler, Alabama in
Elliott stresses the importance of getting an education. No one can take that away from you. Rev. Dr. Charles Elliott
Elliott marvels over the reality of a black U.S. President. He recalls Dr. King saying that one day the hands
Elliott recalls being in the car with Dr. King when white folks were protesting open housing in Louisville. They proceeded
Davis tells of the flack she and her family received after writing an “open letter to Tubby Smith” about the
Merlene Davis describes how she had a daughter and that she realized she had to be an exmple to her
Davis says that being a black student at UK in the 1960s was not very pleasant. She describes what it
Davis tells of the lessons learned writing obituaries and covering the police beat in Lexington while raising a young child
Merlene Davis describes her first assignment during her intensive journalism training at UC Berkeley, covering the Gay Pride Parade. Merlene
Merlene Davis carried the stress of school in her neck. Her days at the desegregated school were stressful. Merlene Davis
Davis describes her first job at the Memphis Press Scimitar and being recruited by John Carroll of Lexington Herald Leader.
Davis tells of the backlash of hate mail to her after a column she wrote about Chandler using the word
Davis tells how she kept six-months salary in reserve in case she lost her job because of her opinions. Merlene
Davis describes the first two columns she wrote for the Lexington Herald Leader. Merlene Davis graduated from the University of
Davis says she wasn’t a good journalist because she wasn’t willing to hurt people. Merlene Davis graduated from the University
Davis describes her early life in Owensboro, Kentucky and how she was the first of three students to integrate the
Davis tells how the editors offered her a job as a columnist and how at first she refused. Merlene Davis
Davis recalls her family being turned away from the new drive-in movie theater in Owensboro because they were black. Merlene
Davis describes the race problem in America like a boil. We’re just covering it up with bigger and bigger bandaids
Davis talks about fear. It’s fear that’s killing us. Merlene Davis graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Journalism
Davis feels it would be better to go into education in order to make a difference rather than journalism. Her
Davis tells about the column she wrote on April 30, 2014 about the fear of her own son’s death. Merlene
Davis recalls the story of having a door closed in her face by a white man when she was a
Davis tells of racist comments about black UK students during a lie-in on campus in 2014. She says black and
Davis says oppression is not for sissies. One has to be strong. Merlene Davis graduated from the University of Kentucky
McMurry tells how is father was struck by Polio as a teenager, how his father’s twin brother was killed in
McMurry recalls childhood in Paducah, Kentucky and the profound effect of the assinations of Dr. King and John F. Kennedy
McMurry and Betty Baye chuckle over the need for overcoming fear in both skydiving and practicing law. Betty reads a
McMurry recalls being roped into skydiving with fraternity brothers at the University of Kentucky and then becoming obsessed with it.
After graduating from law school, McMurry returns to Paducah to practice law with his father. He soon takes a job
McMurry was obsessed with finishing college quickly at UK so he could get on to law school. William F. McMurry
McMurry tells how is father and grandfather were lawyers and his father was County Judge Executive of McCracken County. He
McMurry relates family dinners and conversation; his mother’s story of being born out of wedlock; and his a little about
Davis credits her fifth grade teacher Olive Bopp with guiding her into writing. Merlene Davis graduated from the University of
McMurry relates the story of winning his first civil case, but promptly losing his second. William F. McMurry is a
McMurry takes on the abuse case against the Catholic Diocese of Louisville. He wins. But he doesn’t stop there, he
McMurry talks about a phone call with Morris Dees. William F. McMurry is a professional liability attorney practicing in Kentucky.
McMurry goes to Florida to skydive and then returns to Louisville’s Commonwealth Attorney’s office. William F. McMurry is a professional
McMurry recalls the Burris case in Livingston County, Kentucky about the 5-6 year old boy who was sent to jail
McMurry recalls the Florida case of the 6 year old being arrested. William F. McMurry is a professional liability attorney
McMurry describes this case as the most important and most horrific of his life. The abuse case against the Sisters
Watts recalls how lighter skin was judged to be more desireable within the black community itself. Beverly Watts is the
Watts recalls starting her work at the Kentucky Human Rights Commission and notes significant cases during her tenure. Beverly Watts
Watts recalls her work on women’s issues at the federal level. Beverly Watts is the Executive Director of the Tennessee
Watts explains how her experience at SIU Carbondale was a culture shock. She became an activist advocate for racial justice
Watts is moved to teach on the Northwest Side of as part of the desegregation of the teachers Chicago Public
Watts moved from teaching into Head Start. Beverly Watts is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Commission on Human Rights.
Watts describes her work with the Civil Rights office in Chicago. She provided training on Civil Rights Policy in the
Watts decided to go to Chicago when Carbondale closed rather than returning to Nashville. She became a teacher. Beverly Watts
Watts remarks about the ballot stuffing that went on in her precinct, as discussed in Squires’ book “Secrets of the
Watts graduated in 3 years from Tennessee State University. It was cheaper than Fisk. Beverly Watts is the Executive Director
Watts described her idyllic childhood and education. Beverly Watts is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Commission on Human Rights.
Watts recalls her childhood in Hopewell, Tennessee reflecting on her “rainbow family” and segregated schools. Beverly Watts is the Executive
Watts reflects on implementation of Brown vs. Board of Education in Tennessee. It occurred in the city of Nashville in
Watts says “we were poor folk, but we didn’t know that. My Mother made clothes for us, so we always
Anderson cites the study from the 1960s that reported that blacks paid a color tax on their housing. Alan Anderson
Anderson discusses the leadership style of Jesse Jackson. Alan Anderson is the author of Confronting the Color Line which was
Anderson tries to organize the community around his parish, but it backfires. The citizens wanted to keep black people out
Anderson clarifies how unpopular Dr. King was at the time of his death. Alan Anderson is the author of Confronting
Anderson says that people ask him how he joined the Civil Rights movement. He says he didn’t. He was just
Anderson recalls the national closed meeting for his fraternity that acknowledged that they did not discriminate based on race publicly,
Anderson recalls the community organizing scene in Chicago in the 1960s. Alan Anderson is the author of Confronting the Color
Anderson went to the University of Chicago (on the South Side of Chicago) and belonged to an integrated Methodist Church.
Anderson explains what race riots in the early 20th century looked like. Alan Anderson is the author of Confronting the
Anderson reflects on the success (or lack thereof) of Albany, GA and of Dr. King’s northern strategy, specifically in Chicago.
Anderson says Dr. King was more galvanizing in retrospect than he was at the time. Alan Anderson is the author
Anderson was in charge of Dr. King’s visit to Chicago. King spoke in 14 neighborhoods and led a march downtown.
Anderson reflects on the personal sacrifice of being in the movement. How it may have affected his job prospects. Alan
Anderson talks about origins of the women’s movement, the NAACP and the clarity of these issues in earlier times. Now,
Anderson analyzes the Chicago Civil Rights Movement, its principals and its groups. Alan Anderson is the author of Confronting the
Anderson discusses Chicago’s De Facto Discrimination in the 1960s and 1970s. Alan Anderson is the author of Confronting the Color
Anderson speaks of how black teachers lost their jobs when the schools integrated and how he remembers colored and white
