Interview with Guy Marius Mendes, III, March 3, 2010

Interview Summary

Guy Mendes, a New Orleans native and longtime KET producer, was a student protester and editor of the underground, alternative newspaper the Blue-Tail Fly, at the time of the University of Kentucky ROTC building burning. In this interview, he provides a brief biography, discusses what initially drew him to University of Kentucky, his short stint on University of Kentucky?s freshman, all-white, basketball team, and how the racism he observed in University of Kentucky?s sports culture, coupled with other strong cultural flows, urged him towards a life of journalism and activism. In addition, Mendes reviews the Blue-Tail Fly?s genesis, its contents, and the initial difficulty he and other Tail-Fly journalists had in finding a company willing to print it in Lexington. Mendes also discusses the particular instances of activism and national events (such as the Kent State killings) that led up to the May 5, 1970, burning.

Interview Keyword

Blue-Tail Fly College environment College presidents College student newspapers and periodicals College students--Attitudes. College students--Political activity. College students--Social conditions Journalism, College Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio, 1970. Racism--Kentucky--Lexington Universities and colleges--Administration. Universities and colleges--Safety measures. Universities and colleges--Security measures

Interview LC Subject

Mendes, Guy Mendes, Guy--Interviews Student movements Student protesters University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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.