Interview with Barbara Hudson, October 18, 2021

Interview Summary

Barbara Hudson attended the 1964 March on Frankfort as a youth and shares her memories of the March as well as growing up during the Jim Crow era in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Hudson begins the interview by describing her childhood in 1950s-era Harrodsburg. Hudson discusses attending segregated schools and her overall experiences with segregation. Hudson highlights her father's involvement in civil rights activism. Hudson attended the integrated Harrodsburg High School and endured discrimination and racism from her white classmates. Hudson often turned to her church to help in coping with her traumatic experiences in high school. Hudson began to get involved with civil rights in high school, joining her local NAACP chapter. Hudson attended the March on Frankfort with her church, and describes her memories and experiences at the March. Upon returning to school the day after the March, Hudson recalls that she and her fellow March attendees had trouble obtaining an excused absence for missing school. Hudson then assesses the impact of the 1966 Kentucky Civil Rights Act on her life. Hudson attended West Kentucky Technical College in Paducah, which had very few opportunities for civil rights activism. Hudson offers a comparison between civil rights protests of the 1960s and Black Lives Matter movement protests today. Hudson then describes her personal life and career. Hudson provides her opinion on the January 6, 2021 United States Capitol Attack and its aftermath. Hudson explains why she feels that there has been a lack of progress on civil rights in recent years. Hudson describes the March on Frankfort for the benefit of children today. Hudson lists some of the people she considers to be her civil rights role models. Hudson gives her opinion on young people today and activism. Hudson evaluates the legacy of Black leaders such as Colin Powell and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Hudson describes the relationship between white people and civil rights currently. Hudson describes the legacy of the March on Frankfort. Hudson concludes the interview with a reflection on various U.S. presidents and their overall performance in terms of civil rights and Black equality.

Interview Keyword

Frankfort (Ky.) Harrodsburg (Ky.) Martin Luther King, Jr West Side School (Harrodsburg, Ky.) Harrodsburg High School (Harrodsburg, Ky.) Activism March on Frankfort Integration Desegregation Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966 West Kentucky Technical College White people Donald Trump George Floyd protests Lafayette Square (Washington, D.C.) John F. Kennedy Barack Obama Mitch McConnell Joe Biden

Interview LC Subject

Harrodsburg (Ky.) Mercer County (Ky.) Mothers Fathers Black people African Americans Kentucky Kentuckians Segregation Rosenwald schools High schools Education Discrimination Racism Prejudice Churches Faith Religion School principals Restaurants Paducah (Ky.) Black Lives Matter movement Children Grandchildren Careers Protests (Negotiable instruments) Washington (D.C.) Youth Leadership Role models Politicians Presidents

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All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

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