Journalists

An interview with Mervin Aubespin about the Louisville Association of Black Communicators.

Louisville journalist and civil rights activist Mervin Aubespin talks about his days as a student at Iowa, his brief stint as a middle school shop teacher, and his time as an active member in civil rights protests including those outside department stores which did not allow Black people to try on clothes. He then earned a position at the Courier-Journal, first on the art team and then as associate journalist and chief recruiter. This work allowed him to travel to many places. Merv also discusses his involvement with the Louisville Art Workshop. He identifies as an artist who incorporated painting into a life full of other responsibilities including work and family.

Mervin Aubespin (b. 1937 in Louisiana), a reporter for the Courier-Journal, talks about his path to the Civil Rights movement starting in Alabama and then in Louisville; Louisville during segregation; housing discrimination; and white flight. As an activist, Aubespin participated in marches, sit-ins, voter registration and organization for public accommodation, open housing, and to integrate Fontaine Ferry. Aubespin was originally hired by the Courier-Journal an artist, one of the first Black employees there. He covered the Parkland Uprising but did not get a byline or credit for his work. He then attended an intensive program at Columbia University to produce Black journalists and had a successful career as a reporter for the Courier-Journal, specializing in covering topics of interest to the Black community. Regarded as an expert on racism and the media, Aubespin is a past president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and was given the Ida B. Wells Award for his efforts to bring minorities into the field of journalism. Aubespin was also the founder of the Louisville Association of Black Communicators.

An interview with Lenore Ballard about the Louisville Association of Black Communicators.

Civil rights activist and journalist Anne Braden talks about the civil rights movement in Louisville in the 1950s and 1960s. Topics explored include efforts for school integration, the public reaction to it, her family's experiences with school integration, and redistricting of the city; the West End Community Council and its efforts to keep the West End neighborhood integrated, white flight, and the open housing movement; the activities of SCEF (Southern Conference Educational Fund); the emergence of youth movements; the beginnings of groups like CORE (Congress of Racial Equality), the Committee for Democratic Schools, and the Gandhi Corps; Black Power organizations in Louisville like JOMO (Junta of Militant Organizations) and the Black Panthers; the trial of the Black 6 and the protests surrounding it; and many individuals who were involved in the civil rights movement.

Civil rights activist and journalist Anne Braden talks about her early years as an activist in Louisville from 1947 through the early 1950s. The focus is on the intersection of the labor movement and the civil rights movement, including integration within labor union. Topics include Braden's career as a reporter, the Farm Equipment Workers Union, the Progressive Party, and the beginnings of the movement for integrated hospitals in Louisville.

Ms. Clowes joined the Courier-Journal in 1936 as a staff reporter. Her previous newspaper experience was with the old Herald-Post. She was named editor of the Courier-Journal editorial page in 1966, and held this position until her retirement.

Ms. Coady began her career with the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times as an assistant copy editor employed temporarily during the summer of 1945. She returned after graduation from college in July 1946 to permanent employment. She has worked as an assistant copy editor, feature writer, news reporter, education reporter, and general assignment reporter and in September 1981 became the Arts Editor.

Mr. Crowdus joined the staff of the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times in the summer of 1947. His initial assignment was to cover the police beat as a reporter. He then covered general assignment stories through the 1950s. In 1961 Mr. Crowdus began covering City Hall. Through the administrations of four mayors (Cowger to Sloane) Mr. Crowdus covered city government. In 1977 he returned to general assignment reporting.

Mr. Davis has earned a national reputation as an aerial photographer. He was director of the Photography Department for 35 years until 1974. Mr. Davis still works for the Courier-Journal and accompanies other on their aerial assignments.