Interview with Robert R. Jefferson, June 5, 1978

Interview Summary

Educated at Dunbar and Douglas High Schools in Lexington, Robert Jefferson was Chairman of the Board of the Lexington Urban League. He discusses the history and goals of the organization and the Lexington Human Rights Commission. Jefferson recalls the blatant segregation pervasive to all aspects of Lexington society in the 1960's including education, housing, city employment, and politics. Open housing in Lexington and the Housing and Urban Development study regarding discrimination are featured. He details the role of the African American church in the community and during the civil rights movement of the 1960's and discusses his rejection of the non-violent faction of the movement. He comments on the social changes to which African American have participated in his life time. The election of Henry Sykes to the city council and his representation of the African American community are mentioned, as well as Leonard Pearson's campaign for the school board in 1976. IBM's influence on the community and employment opportunities for African Americans during the 1940's and 1950's are detailed.

Interview Keyword

African Americans African Americans in Lexington all black schools Lexington, Kentucky Microcity Government. open housing in Lexington Race relations

Interview LC Subject

African American families African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Economic conditions African Americans--Religion Jefferson, Robert R. Jefferson, Robert R.--Interviews African Americans African Americans--Race identity

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.