He'd be very proud of those who are who are engaged in nonviolent direct action.

Protests.

You know, continuing to struggle.

>> Reflecting on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Junior.

>> This it means a lot about education, mostly undeveloped, how black students were actually educated before integration.

>> How this once all black school house is still teaching many lessons.

>> I think it's the most wonderful thing I've seen in a long time.

>> How one Woodford County group is preserving the land and the legacy of a historic African-American community.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on Monday, January 16th, I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

Today we celebrate and remember the life of Martin Luther King Junior in honor of this day.

We will be bringing you stories that reflect Kings enduring message of social justice and equality and meet those who are making sure the message and the man are not forgotten.

This year marks 60 years since Martin Luther King Junior delivered his celebrated.

I have a dream speech during the march on Washington.

It was considered the turning point in the civil rights movement.

What progress have we made as a country when it comes to fulfilling that dream?

We asked Gerald Smith, a Lexington pastor and history professor at the University of Kentucky, who's done extensive research on King's life and legacy and co-authored a book on the unpublished works of the civil rights leader.

We have made significant progress over the past 60 years.

When I think about 1963 and we see the many changes that have taken place and the significant progress that is going on.

>> In terms of opportunities for African-Americans regarding their the communities they live in the colleges that they 10 the attitude that the change toward in a continue to improve each year.

you know, see the number of individuals who and now part of the black middle class of the backup of class to comment positions, the visibility that we see.

On television and in newspapers and magazines, you know, much more diverse representation there.

So there is tremendous significant progress.

On the other hand, I think it's important that we are mindful that this progress did not come without struggle without sacrifice.

How without suffering without death, ha.

And quite frankly, it's only within the past 8 or 9 years that our nation has begin to transform slightly, too, reflect the kind of progress that I'm referencing you know, unfortunately of with the death of 9 African-Americans in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015 then we began to see America to take another look in terms of where we are regarding race.

Well, I think he would be.

He'd be very proud of those who are who are engaged in nonviolent direct action.

Protests.

You know, continuing the struggle.

Refusing to be did not, you know, recognizing, you know how far we've come.

But yet as to how far we have to go.

But I think you know, it would be useful.

Something from King's work other than I have a dream speech.

To read his letter from a Birmingham jail.

We don't consider the national have has a beginning and an ending to understanding and valuing and appreciating his life and legacy considered the beginning and moving forward.

You know, because we know will, you know.

All of these events taking shape on the national holiday.

But then the next day it's over.

We turn the page and so we can't turn the page.

You know, we've got to stay.

Committed to the calls is KET was.

>> Smith's new book Slavery and Freedom in the Bluegrass State.

Revisiting my Old Kentucky home be available on Amazon this week.

Believe it or not, some states are just now considering bans on slavery.

States like Tennessee have embraced the idea.

Others happen.

Our chip Olsen sat down with an official trying to help move a proposed constitutional amendment to Kentucky's General Assembly.

>> You may be surprised to find out slavery is punishment is not clearly prohibited in Kentucky's constitution.

Our state's current language is similar to what was in place in Tennessee where voters recently amended that state's Constitution to ban the practice outright voters in Louisiana, though soundly rejected the same type of measure and work is underway to eliminate this provision in Kentucky's constitution.

Here to talk about that is Terrence Sullivan, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.

Terence, thanks so much for being with us today.

Thank you for having me.

So what is in Kentucky's constitution now and what are you hoping to see a change to be sure.

So in our current Constitution and section 25, it says slavery and involuntary servitude in the state are forbidden.

>> Except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

So basically slavery is forbidden, but it is allowed for someone as a punishment for crime.

It could be your sentence to go work a certain way.

As long as you've been through had due process had trial or had some form of an actual connection that happen.

You want to see that changed.

What?

Ideally, I would love to see Stop at the word from in and take out the except I do know that in some instances it's just been changed to take out that he's the exception, but make sure it clarifies that there are punishments available for.

That.

There are print punishments available for crack cocaine.

So you wrote a really powerful op-ed about this recently.

And I want to quote to you part of this review said, quote, >> This could be a simple oversight, but it's there and to a descendant of slaves like myself, even remote allowance of slavery is a dangerous thing.

End quote.

Do you think it's a simple as an oversight?

Do I think it's as simple as an oversight now?

Yes.

Do I think in the and I think it 18 91 that it was put I don't think it was then because a lot of southern states at that time put in what are called punishment clauses in their constitutions, which really was used to extend slavery after it was forbidden.

And so crimes that they.

Wanted to punish, especially black people for they rode in these provisions so they could.

And though southern states in them to work in fields or whatever form of work they may have been doing in slavery.

It was just change to as part of the criminal code to say, okay, it's not allowed.

But here's a workaround.

So Tennessee has addressed it like we talked about.

in Louisiana and the midterms, it was really interesting that the measure there.

>> Last I think Malik, 22 points.

It was really soundly defeated.

And in retrospect, they felt like people were not ready to change out labor practices in prisons.

There.

Do you think you may run into the same issues here in Kentucky?

You know, from the conversations I've had, I don't think so.

I think that it's more of a timing thing, but I don't think we don't have the same structure that they have in Louisiana where it's a larger.

Part of the penal system where someone is where they use this type of labor.

We do have some work force initiatives in prisons.

We do have some labor practices within our system, but it's not set up in the way that it is in Louisiana where it's a big piece of that punishment that is put in.

So there's enough difference there where you think Kentucky, maybe may not go down that same path, potentially, right.

I think that we have a system that would allow for this change without seeing as much of the repercussions that they here in Louisiana.

So lawmakers in Kentucky have set up a legislative panel to look at the issue.

I know you've been working on it.

Terrence, in your conversation with lawmakers, especially those within the GOP.

Did they look at this as a no-brainer or is there a chance that when you look back to the rhetoric, Sarah surrounding critical race theory and things like that that happened in the last session.

Could this get painted with that same broad brush?

I think it's different.

I think that the the rhetoric around critical race theory was more regionally nationally.

It was just a scare tactic to get people involved in say on one particular side to say we want to be involved in this thing.

We want to scare people into doing something.

>> This type of initiative, the only thing that I've heard that I could use negative in the feedback in these discussions is the timing and being in a short session.

And not wanting to address it right now, especially since the way that the amendment process works.

It couldn't be on the ballot until the next year.

Anyway.

And so there's been some discussion about preserving this conversation for.

A later I personally feel like it's better him prudent to address it.

Now.

And then if it's not on the ballot until 2024, fine.

But it's already there instead of having that fight.

Again and again, we'll look to see how it progresses through this upcoming legislative session.

Again, Terrence Sullivan, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.

Thanks so much for being with us.

Thank you.

>> Both counties last all-black school house has a new purpose.

The Bowman's Valley school House close to 1957.

After schools were desegregated.

Thanks to a group of volunteers, the school now serve as a museum and learning center.

♪ >> This it means a lot to help education and developed.

>> How black students were actually educated before integration.

It had to be say that's how it got started.

But what about the school set about 6 Miles where it's located now?

And it has been there for a long time.

It had been a news since Brown versus Board of Education and that school no longer in use.

It was closed down the students were integrated into the other existing schools.

And it just sat there and it deteriorated.

So tell me Ott who drove by, he said and KET and felt that with that school should not just dissolve and the torn down and she gathered phone and said we're going to do this.

We're going to move the school.

So that was kind of an undertaking.

You know, he was like why, you know, it's just going to be building, know or go fix up.

We're going to make it good.

>> It's an opportunity for us to acknowledge and celebrate the rich history and heritage of education in our community.

My mother's, my sisters, my cousins all went to the school before me.

I went to school in 1956.

Were I attended the first grade.

>> And after that, we were moved to Robi Elementary School, as for importantly, did see that people took interest in our school to KET it going.

So people wouldn't have some history behind the school that they attend.

We got to acknowledge the history that have all.

>> Hadn't been through it and to ensure that folks know where we come from and the growth that we made through generations because we want to continue to grow.

We don't want to be a finished product.

And so it's extremely important to acknowledge where we've been several years where we are now and where we need to continue to go in order to try and provide educational opportunities and and to make for a better future for every one of our community.

I would just like to say, thanks to all the people that had this Don, its work is really a preview to us.

All my family burn quite.

♪ ♪ >> The Bowman Valley Schoolhouse Restoration Project took 14 years and more than $100,000 to complete the museum is open to the public by appointment.

The Louisville Urban League is beginning the new year with a new leader, Kentucky additions.

Kelsey Starks sat down with her to find out what's next for the league in Louisville.

>> The Louisville Urban League has a storied history in Louisville being a part of this community for more than 100 years.

And right now we have a brand new president Doctor Kish to me prices.

The brand new president of the Louisville Urban League.

Just the second.

>> Woman to lead that are bin Laden.

We're glad to have you.

And so you just started November 1st, a little at couple months.

And now how you feeling?

>> I'm feeling I don't know if that is because I've decided to be slightly delusional about all the wonderful thing that are coming my way.

But and a good place.

I mean, this is the work that I love and I'm just being able to do this on a regular basis is amazing.

>> And you were previously the director of education for their urban Lakes.

So this isn't a new organization to you.

By any means, What what is the direction that your your vision now that you are at the head of it?

>> Yes, so we, you know, are pillars are jobs just as education, health and housing.

And we've added black business as a main pillar for the work that we're doing and I really see education as the anchor for all of that.

I'm really figuring out how we can collectively billed as the city and having the Urban League at the helm of what that looks like is is really the goal to figure out how we can support in ways that we haven't in the but we've been moving in that direction all along.

I'm really to provide support for other nonprofits.

Some of the smaller nonprofits that are black lives that need support really partnering with them to to help their vision come to light, but really centering youth and So >> And you are taking over for the depot.

Reynolds has some big shoes to fill.

There was a clear >> Vision, defer or or from her say yes.

>> You know, I think it is.

And I've of answer this quite a bit.

Even offense taking the position >> and I say something a little different every time, but it really is about moving the mission forward and less about feeling shoes but moving the mission.

Ford and I'm having the momentum to drive the initiatives that we know we need to accomplish in this city for us all to have a better city and I think my addition to this work really is in the education space and understanding that room.

If we center the needs of our most marginalized.

Populations, then everybody's going to be good.

That is just I think that is a given and a lot of people don't necessarily know s necessarily trust that.

So we're trying to make sure we have a very coordinated strategy for people to get it and to get on board with how they can support.

>> Yeah, I know you have a lot of big ideas.

A lot of priorities coming into this new year and it a lot of things changing.

Speaking of expansion, you love the headquarters itself is expanding.

Let's talk about that.

>> That is correct.

So we've grown exponentially.

I mean, our staff is tripled almost I guess I'm in the past 2, 3 years that so it is it is necessary at this And we have a very I'm very grateful for the headquarters in the building that we occupy now.

But there's no possible way for 96 staff members to fit in that building at any given time.

So we're looking to the office space and to also have 8 affordable rental units that will be in that same building.

So a mixed use facility and then re organizing and renovating our current space.

So that is more of a collaborative co-working space.

That is wonderful.

We're looking forward to that groundbreaking coming soon.

And real quick, tell us about HBCU.

>> Track classic.

Coming up.

Yes, yes.

Coming up this month, January 16th and we hope everybody who can come will calm.

It is an amazing thing like that.

I think so many events take place in the sports and learning Center, but to actually see it being used in the capacity in which it was built in saying a track meet is amazing.

And so it's not just about the track.

Meet us about the experience.

If you've never had that touch with HBCU colleges and institutions, this is an opportunity for you to get that experience exposure, children to We're also going to have an opportunity for people to to explore those colleges and the idea of looking into what does it mean to be prepared for admissions into these colleges?

So we really want people to support.

However, you can wonder fall, I look forward to that.

Can that can re the 16th back to you?

>> Doctor Price most recently was commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development.

Shortly after the Civil War, a group of African-Americans settled in an area of Woodford County that became known as Hunter Town for nearly 2 decades.

A group of volunteers has been working on a project to honor the 100 town legacy and the close knit community that lived there.

Here's the story from KET tease, Kentucky life.

>> This is sacred ground.

It was a community that was thriving and have people live there that gave much back to this county and in this history of what your county.

>> We now share together as family.

is with a loving and peaceful place.

>> Hunter time was an African-American hamlet.

Settle in 18.

71 and Hamlet was a community, a formerly enslaved people who are able to purchase their own property and start their own lives in a new place with freedom after the Civil war was over.

>> In 18, 70 won.

The first 5 acre tract was purchased by a U.S. colored troop veteran Jerry Gatewood.

Soon after African-American families settled there and together they formed a community.

>> It was a thriving community for over 130 years.

>> Residents had almost everything they needed to survive and make a living tobacco fields.

Vegetable gardens, livestock stores, and most of all each other.

An important element of the community was the Hunter town colored School which operated from 18.

95 until 1940, anything they needed to travel for.

They were able to catch the rainy, be which was a railroad that ran straight through Hunter town and operated until 1932.

When the railroad was discontinued.

>> I was born and raised here and after glad there is along the railroad tracks and people would leave.

I'm from in the summertime.

We never had running water at that.

That was count them.

And crawfish 9.

>> A lot of the times the land that was sold to former slaves was not land.

That would be suitable for agricultural purposes.

So it was a wetland.

It had always issues with water.

>> Residents found ways to live around the flooding problems up until the community was split.

Once the Bluegrass Parkway project was completed in 1965.

>> It really hurt everybody.

When the Jeep Parkway came for him as it took my aunt.

>> Her house, some of the other residents homes when they put the bridge in.

It was a long before people started moving.

>> On the community's behalf, Woodford County tried applying for numerous development block grants but after a series of denials they decided to buy out 100 town residents with a different block grant and allow them to relocate.

>> And they foot every man and you know, the funding for that for their homes and everything.

You know, I I was I was really, you know, saying that it was and a lot of the people that I KET was passing away.

>> While teaching social studies at Woodford County High School.

Sue Finney at her academy.

Students decided to focus on the story of 100 town.

>> As I began to understand the stories of this place, it just captured my heart.

And I said when I retire, we're going make this happen.

>> retired in 2018, she and a group of volunteers came together and began digging deeper into the history of the Hunter town community.

In 2019 Woodford counties, Parks and Rec department agreed to take on the remaining 38 Acres and 100 town as part of the Woodford County Park System.

The group of volunteers began restoring what was left of 100 town.

>> What we want to see happen is to interpret the community of Hunter town in a way that will engage the whole the whole our whole community today.

>> In August of 2021 on the 100 50th anniversary of the 100 town community founding.

The land was dedicated as a community interpretive park.

The park project is still in the early stages, but volunteers plan for it to be a green space that preserves and celebrates the rich history of Hunter town as well as the history and significance of wetlands.

It's expected that the park will offer thanks such as a pavilion for gatherings, a community garden space go structures of former buildings and Hunter Town, a memorial for formerly enslaved war troops and even an outside classroom for students.

>> Very lax.

And what their next has this quiet.

It's peaceful on us.

One to 5 brings back a lot of town memories and is confident in what I go out there and walk around and they and that they don't put out there.

I'm looking forward to that.

The U.S. it would give families chance to go out.

You know, and have picnics and family reunion.

And now I think it's the most wonderful thing I've seen in a long time.

>> And feisty, the God that I was here to see.

Some Donna didn't see it.

I mean, they're looking down today.

>> The group said it is still looking for volunteers to help with the Hunter.

Tom Project encourages anyone who's interested to contact them.

♪ ♪ >> A famous dual record cold and obscure inventor.

Here are some of the events that happened this week in Kentucky history.

♪ Henry Clay fought a duel with Humphrey Marshall on January.

19th 18.

0, 9, Clay was Kentucky speaker of the House at the time.

>> Clay and Marshall each fired several times and clay suffered a minor thigh wound.

They dueled over Clay's resolution requiring lawmakers to wear domestic made Alvin Barkley, Western Kentucky, native and Kentucky's longtime U.S. senator became vice president of the United States on January.

20th 1949.

He served under President Harry S Truman and Barkley returned to the Senate after leaving the vice presidency.

Fred Truman appointee as chief justice in 1946. was born in the weeds, a January 22nd 18, 90 in addition to being chief justice.

He also served as a congressman and as secretary of the Treasury.

President Lyndon Johnson nominated former Kentucky governor Bertie calms to the U.S. Court of Appeals, the 6th District on January 16, 1967, the Senate confirmed calms and he served as a federal judge until 1970.

>> Happy birthday to actress Patricia Neal.

The Academy Award winner was born January 20th, 1926.

In Whitley County.

37 degrees below 0.

That's the coldest temperature ever recorded in Kentucky.

And it happened January 19th 1994 in Shelbyville.

Here's a Kentucky claim to fame.

You might not know about.

George Bertie was born 1/17/1900, and Covington invented an UltraViolet lamp.

The medicine asper cream and preparation age.

And that's a look at what happened this week in Kentucky.

History.

>> I'm told the Good News.

Coming up tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION.

Find out how one organization is expanding its services to feed people in Kentucky as the demand for food continues to grow.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire subscribe to our weekly Kentucky Edition email newsletter and watch full episodes and clips a K E T Dot Org.

You can also find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV and follow Kct on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thank you for joining us.

Take good care.

And Renee Shaw will return tomorrow.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪