Interview with Jesse Crenshaw, February 9, 2001

Interview Summary

Jesse Crenshaw discusses his family background in Metcalfe County, Kentucky. Crenshaw talks about his experiences with segregation growing up as a black child in the South. He talks about being bused to schools much further from his home because the schools that were closer were white schools. He talks about his family's philosophy that he could do anything he set his mind to, regardless of race. He describes an incident of illegal segregation that occurred while he was employed at a local hospital. Crenshaw describes his process of deciding to become a lawyer based on the advice and life philosophy of his grandfather. He talks about working with a law school colleague, Harold Green, to convince the UK law school to hire their first African American law professor. Crenshaw talks about beginning his career as an assistant U.S. attorney, the first African American in that position in his district and the second in the state of Kentucky. He talks about his goal to improve society by making changes in the law. Crenshaw talks about his first elected position in the Kentucky General Assembly in 1992. Crenshaw talks about being appointed to the Prichard Committee shortly after its inception. He talks about the purpose of the committee, names some of its members during his tenure, and talks about their recommendations and accomplishments in the field of education in Kentucky.

Interview Keyword

Black law professors Assistant U.S. Attorneys U.S. Attorney's Office Prichard Committee African American college students. College students, Black College teachers, Black College teachers--Selection and appointment. Universities and colleges--Faculty University of Kentucky. College of Law Subsistence farming Traditional farming

Interview LC Subject

Education--Kentucky Educational leadership Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence Metcalfe County (Ky.) African American families Families. African Americans--Education. African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions. Discrimination in education. Race discrimination. Race relations--Kentucky Racism Segregation in education--Kentucky Childhood Family farms African American lawyers. Lawyers--Kentucky African American college graduates--Kentucky African Americans--Education (Higher) Discrimination in employment. Education, Higher--Kentucky Educational change--Kentucky Political campaigns--Kentucky Politicians--Kentucky Kentucky--Politics and government

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights,belong to Jesse Crenshaw.

Interview Usage

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