Resistance to busing children as part of court-ordered school desegregation led to rallies, violence and ultimately Kentucky National Guard involvement as the 1975-76 school year began in Louisville and Jefferson County. Panelists at the UofL NETWORK discussion will share their “Reflections on History – Busing, 40 Years Later.”
Speakers will be Sally Johnson, Dylan Owens and Edith Yarbrough, who attended Jefferson County Public Schools when busing began; retired Courier-Journal writer Bob Hill and photographer Keith Williams, who covered the issue for the newspaper; and retired JCPS administrator Bernard Minnis, who tried to help ease the transition to integrated schools.
The 5-7:30 p.m. event and reception will be at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.
UofL’s College of Arts and Sciences, through its Office for International, Diversity and Engagement Programs, sponsors the UofL NETWORK series with Brown-Forman Corp. NETWORK is an acronym for New Energy to Work Out Racial Kinks; the program provides a forum for ongoing discussions of community issues with university faculty, business, civic and community leaders.
Reservations and advance payment are required by April 10 for the $25 reception event by contacting Clest Lanier, 502-852-3042 or cvlani01@louisville.edu, or Marian Vasser, 502-852-2252 or mrvass01@louisville.edu.