Africa

Professor Ira Grupper was born in New York City and lived there his whole childhood. He moved to Georgia and then Mississippi to participate in civil rights protests and organizations. He was jailed twice in Mississippi for his involvement and moved to Louisville in 1969 to work with the Bradens. He has lived in Louisville ever since and has held a couple of appointments in government: Human Relations Commission (1980-1986) and Metro Louisville Human Relations Commission (appointed by Mayor Fischer). He currently teaches at Bellarmine University and considers Louisville to be his home. Although he was not living in Louisville during the 1968 uprising he is well informed of the events and national climate of racial tensions during the time. He has a specific and firm view of Louisville as being a segregated city, then and now. He shares ideas for how the city can become more inclusive and integrated and briefly outlines the transformation of industry and business in the city. (Interview index and summary available.)

Interview index available

African American former Louisville City Councilwoman Cheri Hamilton, born in 1950 in the Russell neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. Mother was an activist and role model for Hamilton’s activism. She discusses her experiences dealing with racism in Louisville while growing up, as a protester and later as a government official. She also notes the influence of her mother and her activities on her own activism. Interview index and summary available

Interview index available

Louisville sculptor Ed Hamilton talks about his upbringing as the adopted son of a tailor (father) and barber (mother). He discusses the influential moments he had attending different schools and the teachers who encouraged him to pursue art. He attended art school at UofL and became involved with the Louisville Art Workshop. He formed a particularly close bond with G.C. Coxe who acted as a mentor and friend. A pivotal moment in Hamilton's life occurred when he met sculptor Barney Bright and began to work as his apprentice. He notes this time as being transitory, and afterwards, opportunities began to open up. He eventually achieved international recognition, sculpting pieces such as The Spirit of Freedom in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Hammond, a small business owner and real estate agent, discusses his childhood, education and life as a young adult living and working in Louisville. He talks about being a small business owner, the impact of urban renewal on the black business district, Small Business Administration loans, and his belief in the potential of young people in his community. He describes the opportunities of black real estate agents, talks about busing, gives his views on affordable housing for low-income families and concludes the interview with a discussion of his desire for greater participation by African Americans in community development.

This interview was conducted in 1979 as part of a series on African Americans in Louisville. It is cross-listed here as part of the Joe Hammond Series. Mr. Hammond, a small business owner and real estate agent, discusses his childhood, education and life as a young adult living and working in Louisville. He talks about being a small business owner, the impact of urban renewal on the black business district, Small Business Administration loans, and his belief in the potential of young people in his community. He describes the opportunities of black real estate agents, talks about busing, gives his views on affordable housing for low-income families and concludes the interview with a discussion of his desire for greater participation by African Americans in community development.

Mr. Harbin has lived in the Parkland area for over fifty years. He discusses his remembrances of early Parkland when they housed hogs and chickens. He also talks about his family and career.

Past librarians of the Western Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library discuss the Black community and the history of the first branch library to open its doors to the Black community in Louisville.