Interview with Florence A. Young, September 10, 1986

Interview Summary

Florence Young was born in Frankfort, Kentucky and moved to Harrodsburg, Kentucky at six weeks old. She lived in Harrodsburg until her father's death, after which her family moved to Lexington, Kentucky.

In this interview, Young recounts her family's history including her great-grandfather, who was a slave buyer. Her grandparents were slaves in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She discusses her father's career in Frankfort and Harrodsburg. His jobs included working for a lawyer, working as the president of an all-Black fair, and as a member of the town council.

After her family moved to Lexington her mother began her own catering business working for many prominent White families in town. She discusses how her mother was treated by her White employers, other Blacks in town, and by White store owners in downtown Lexington. She discusses her sister's career teaching in Lexington in both segregated and integrated schools. She talks about her own varied career, ending with her lengthy education and work in New York for the Board of Education.

Throughout the interview she discusses the Black community during her childhood and how it has changed over time. She discusses the effects of the civil rights movement in Lexington, the role of the church in the community, and race relations in Kentucky.

Interview Keyword

African American families African American leadership African American neighborhoods African Americans--Education (Higher) African Americans--Employment African Americans--Genealogy. Childhood

Interview LC Subject

African American churches--Kentucky African Americans--Economic conditions African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions Civil rights movements--United States Integration Race discrimination United States--Race relations Young, Florence A. Young, Florence A.--Interviews African Americans--Race identity

Interview Rights

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 be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.