Jan 15 Democracy & Civic Life Black Lives In Red States: Art And Life Converge For Two Women In A Tumultuous Year Jessalyn Brown met Kyra Higgins through theater. “I saw her on stage and I was just like, ‘This girl is so good!’ She was just amazing.” So when it came time for Brown, 21, to direct a play for her senior project at Kentucky’s Georgetown College, she knew she wanted Higgins, 22, to be in […] By Sydney Boles Jan 15 Democracy & Civic Life Black Lives In Red States: Art And Life Converge For Two Women In A Tumultuous Year Sydney Boles
Dec 14 Democracy & Civic Life Billboard In Western Kentucky Town Calls For School District Superintendent’s Termination A new billboard in a western Kentucky town calls for the termination of a local school district superintendent after an old photo of the school official in blackface resurfaced. The billboard in Paducah, Kentucky shows a picture of Paducah Public Schools Superintendent Donald Shively in blackface and states “race is not a costume.” The billboard […] By Liam Niemeyer Dec 14 Democracy & Civic Life Billboard In Western Kentucky Town Calls For School District Superintendent’s Termination Liam Niemeyer
Dec 11 Democracy & Civic Life A Blackface Photo Resurfaces, And A Kentucky Town Confronts Its Racial Trauma Holiday light displays are spread out across Bob Noble park in Paducah, Kentucky, lighting up the barren trees at night for the community to drive by. The park has long been a gathering place for the small city, with performances at an amphitheater and swimming during the summer. Shirley Massie, 76, sits at one the […] By Liam Niemeyer Dec 11 Democracy & Civic Life A Blackface Photo Resurfaces, And A Kentucky Town Confronts Its Racial Trauma Liam Niemeyer
Nov 3 Democracy & Civic Life Can You Wear “Black Lives Matter” Clothing To The Polls? Yes. Some voters in Ohio and Kentucky expressed concern that poll workers were advising them that “Black Lives Matter” attire was not allowed in polling locations. But according to both state’s laws on the subject, BLM clothing is perfectly fine to wear while casting your ballot. The voters shared their concerns using the tipline operated by […] By Alana Watson Nov 3 Democracy & Civic Life Can You Wear “Black Lives Matter” Clothing To The Polls? Yes. Alana Watson
Jun 23 Democracy & Civic Life Meet the Teen Leading This Kentucky Town’s Discussion of Racism in Appalachia The courtroom was silent as 19-year-old Dayjha Hogg approached the lectern at a Letcher County fiscal court meeting, stared down a panel of county magistrates, and spoke. “I know COVID’s going around right now, so just imagine, there’s no COVID, normal society, and imagine you walk around and it’s like you have the plague.” Hogg […] By Sydney Boles Jun 23 Democracy & Civic Life Meet the Teen Leading This Kentucky Town’s Discussion of Racism in Appalachia Sydney Boles
Jun 19 Democracy & Civic Life Sherman vs. Lee: How One Man Sparked A Fight To Take Down A Confederate Statue In His Kentucky Town Toddlers yelling, running around the hardwood floors and leaving cracker crumbs on the ground. A laptop screen dented by a soup can dropped by a kid. At one point, a room covered from ceiling to floor with hand prints after kids were left alone with a paint can. But for the moment, Sherman Neal’s kids […] By Liam Niemeyer Jun 19 Democracy & Civic Life Sherman vs. Lee: How One Man Sparked A Fight To Take Down A Confederate Statue In His Kentucky Town Liam Niemeyer
Jun 8 Democracy & Civic Life Small Towns Host Black Lives Matter Marches As Movement Spreads Beyond Cities By now it’s become a familiar scene: Marchers fill the streets with placards proclaiming “Black Lives Matter,” and chants fill the air as the demonstrators recite the names of those lost. But there’s something different about some of these protests around the Ohio Valley in the past week. They’re not just happening in the larger […] By Liam Niemeyer and Staff Jun 8 Democracy & Civic Life Small Towns Host Black Lives Matter Marches As Movement Spreads Beyond Cities Liam Niemeyer and Staff