from
UK Public Relations

Selena Stevens, 606-257-1754

March 2, 1999 — (Lexington, Ky.) — On March 10, the University of Kentucky will kick off a year-long commemoration of its African-American students, staff and faculty – past and present – with a College of Law presentation based on the court case that desegregated higher education in Kentucky.

Fifty years ago, UK graduate student Lyman T. Johnson, supported by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, won a lawsuit against the commonwealth of Kentucky to erase the state’s segregation laws, ones that prevented Kentucky institutions from offering higher education to African Americans on their campuses. The laws prevented Johnson from attending classes at UK, relegating the state’s African Americans to classes at Kentucky State University in Frankfort.

The Johnson case was an important learning ground for the NAACP and its main goal – total desegregation of all education in the United States. The organization achieved its goal in 1954 with Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topkea, Kan., in part thanks to what it learned in Kentucky. The Johnson case’s importance makes it the obvious subject for a kick-off event in UK’s celebration of 50 years of African Americans.

"This case is why we have a 50^th anniversary celebration," said Robert Schwemm, dean of the UK College of Law. "It was a major step in the process of freeing Kentucky from segregation in education and eventually every part of public life."

The case not only began desegregation for African Americans, but also gave new opportunities to all minorities, said Louise Graham, associate dean and professor in the College of Law.

"Johnson’s case really opened the doors for a lot of people to come into professional schools, not just African Americans," she said. "I know I would not be sitting here if it were not for him."

UK President Charles T. Wethington Jr. will open the College of Law’s presentation at noon March 10 with remarks, followed by Student Government Association President Nate Brown who will speak of the importance of Johnson’s case to students. Schwemm will talk about the legalities of the case which was decided by summary judgment in the spring of 1949. UK Board of Trustees member Steven Reed, a 1986 African-American graduate of the College of Law, will offer his experiences as a student and young lawyer in Kentucky.

"For African Americans and this university, remembering this court case recertifies that the decision 50 years ago was the right one," said Derrick Ramsey, co-chair of the celebration’s steering committee and emcee for the College of Law presentation. "It is very appropriate because it was a law decision that allowed this university to move from segregation to integration."

The 50^th year celebration, which will run through homecoming 1999, will feature special guest speakers, a September convocation, art projects, plays, banquets, displays, a video and more. A logo for the celebration will be used by the university to mark the commemorative year and identify participating events. A video history and commemorative publication are also in the works to mark this special year.

During the commemorative year, a historical marker will be placed on campus to note the celebration. The double-sided marker, created with the help of the UK Student Development Council, will tell the story of Lyman T. Johnson on one side and the 50^th year celebration on the other.

For Ramsey, a former UK and professional football star, timing is very important and the celebration’s timing is extraordinary, he said.

"This will let us start with a clean slate in the new millennium," he said.

Members of the UK community, Lexington citizens and the public are invited to all events.

For more information on the events, contact the Office of Minority Affairs at 257-1991. For more on the commemorative publication, visit www.uky.edu/Alumni/AAC/main.htm. A schedule of events will be posted at this site.