NAACP in Kentucky facts for kids

The NAACP in Kentucky is a very active group with many local offices, especially in big cities like Louisville and Lexington. The Kentucky State Conference of NAACP still works today to fight against unfairness and for everyone to be treated equally.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was started in 1909. It was a civil rights group for African Americans during a tough time of segregation in the United States. The NAACP grew across the country to make sure all people have rights, no matter their race or background. Its goal is "to fight for social justice for all Americans." There are NAACP offices in different states and many smaller branches within those states. In Kentucky, there are over 55 branches working for equality.

History of the NAACP in Kentucky

People from Kentucky played a big part in the NAACP's history. William English Walling (1877–1936) was from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a labor reformer and socialist. He cared about women's rights and worked with the American Federation of Labor. He also helped start the National Women's Trade Union League. After the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 in Illinois, he worked with others to form the NAACP.

The Kentucky NAACP became well-known by 1940, especially in Louisville, Kentucky. The NAACP had already helped with several court cases. These cases protested against African American teachers being paid less than white teachers. Vallateen Virginia Dudley Abbington (1907–2003) was a teacher in Louisville. She was one of many who asked for equal pay. She became part of an NAACP lawsuit. Thurgood Marshall, a famous lawyer, argued her case. This lawsuit helped remove a 15 percent pay difference between Black and white teachers in Louisville public schools. The case was called Abbington v Board of Education of Louisville (KY). It was filed on December 5, 1940. The School Board agreed to equal pay if Mrs. Abbington dropped the lawsuit. She did, and teachers' salaries in Louisville no longer depended on their race.

The Kentucky NAACP also fought other types of unfair treatment. This happened during the civil rights movement and even after. For example, in the Eilers v. Eilers case, attorney James Crumlin Sr. from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund helped Anna. She sued to get her five children back from her ex-husband, George Eilers. In 1964, George had won custody of their children. This happened after Anna, who was white, married Marshall C. Anderson, an African American man. At that time, marriage between different races was against the law in Kentucky. The NAACP helped Anna fight this unfair decision.

Another important role for the NAACP in Kentucky was in the 1970s. The Louisville NAACP and the Kentucky Civil Liberties Union worked together. They fought against segregation in the Jefferson County Public Schools.

Women in the Kentucky NAACP

Women held important leadership roles in both state and local NAACP branches. Osceola A. Dawson was the secretary for the Kentucky NAACP. Audrey Grevious was the president of the Lexington Chapter.

Other women made big achievements with the NAACP's help. Alberta Jones was the first woman prosecutor in Kentucky in 1964. She was also the first African American woman to pass the Kentucky Bar exam in 1959. With help from Julia Etta Lewis, Audrey Grevious brought the Lexington Congress of Racial Equality together. This helped them work even harder for equality.

Here are some other notable African American women in Kentucky's NAACP history:

• Olive Burroughs (1951–2003) was the first African-American woman elected to the Owensboro, Kentucky City Commission.
• Rev. Rhondalyn Randolph has been President of NAACP Owensboro Branch 3107 since 2014. She was the first woman pastor of Pleasant Point Missionary Baptist Church. She was also the first African-American woman to pastor a Baptist church in western Kentucky.
• Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beatrice Cooke Fouse (1875–1952) was a main contact for the national NAACP from Lexington, Kentucky.
• Rebecca Craft (1887–1945) was a schoolteacher from Versailles, Kentucky. She started the San Diego Women's Civic Organization and was president of the local NAACP branch there.
• Daisy Jones escaped slavery in Kentucky and lived in Canada. She trained to be a nurse. When she moved to Denver, Colorado in 1904, she helped organize the NAACP there.
• Jennie B. Liggin (1904–1977) started the first AME Girl Scout troop in Kentucky. In 1938, she and her husband, Reverend Clyde Absalom Liggin, led a successful effort to get more members for the Louisville Branch of the NAACP.
• Frances Harriet Williams (1899–1992) was born in Danville, Kentucky. She was active in the YWCA and the NAACP.
• Ann Wagner also played a role.

Women in the Kentucky NAACP branches also received special awards. These included the NAACP Magistrate Daniel Massie award for outstanding involvement. They also received the NAACP Herman E. Floyd Award. Women in the NAACP also helped organize fundraisers and other events. These events helped pay for their causes and their fight for justice.

Local branches

For more information on each of the branches below, see the national NAACP website.

See also

• Audrey Grevious
• Loving v. Virginia
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• Jefferson County Sunday School Association