March 1, 2024 - Gerald Smith (60th Anniversary of the March on Frankfort)

Behind the Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 1, 2024) – On March 5th, 1964, following the postponement of legislation aimed at eliminating segregation in public accommodations in Kentucky, some 10,000 residents of the Commonwealth came together with notable civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jackie Robinson to participate in a March on Frankfort. This interracial protest was designed to exert pressure on the governor, urging support for a more robust legislative proposal.

On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, UK professor of history Gerald Smith talks about the historical context and significance of the march, the legacy it left behind, and how, 60 years on, it continues to be commemorated.

From 1997-2005, Smith served as the director of the African American Studies and Research Program at UK, and he is the author, editor, or co-editor of five books including his newest from 2023: ‘Slavery and Freedom in the Bluegrass State: Revisiting My Old Kentucky Home’.

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