Interview with Robert R. Jefferson, June 22, 1987

Partial Transcript: Now just for, uh, the ability for us to know who, who we're recording, would you mind, uh, saying for me your name and date and place of birth.

Segment Synopsis: Robert Jefferson is introduced. He talks about the discrimination that minority students were facing at the University of Kentucky during the 1960s, which led to a protest in which a fire was set on the campus. He talks about some of the people involved with the Office of Minority Affairs.

Keywords: Acceptance; Arson; Benny Bonds; Community leaders; Fires; Office of Minority Affairs; Subtle racism; Theodore Berry

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American leadership; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; Campus violence; Civil rights demonstrations; College environment; College integration; College students--Attitudes.; College teachers--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Student protesters; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What were, uh--I know you've talked about some of--Theodore Berry and some of the others such as, uh, Mr. Bonds who were, were students at the university--

Segment Synopsis: Jefferson discusses community attitudes regarding the University of Kentucky during the 1960s and '70s. He talks about some of the people involved in organizations like the Office of Minority Affairs, the Human Rights Commission, and the Black Action Group.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Attitudes; Black Action Group; Community involvement; Concerns; Dr. Hill; Enrollment; Human Rights Commission; Image; Institutional attitude; Jerry Stephens; Office of Minority Affairs; Recruitment; Reputation

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American leadership; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College integration; College sports.; Discrimination in higher education; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Universities and colleges--Admission; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What, what kind of, uh, actions did the group advocate to, to address these--

Segment Synopsis: Jefferson discusses the issues the Black Action Group was attempting to address. He talks about the Black athletes in Lexington that were not recruited by UK athletic teams. He talks about efforts to increase minority scholarships as well as the number of Black athletes at UK through meetings with president Otis Singletary and other university administrators.

Keywords: Academics; Athletics board; Black athletes; Commitments; Dr. Otis A. Singletary; Issues; Jerry Stephens; Meetings; Office of Minority Affairs; Relationship with community; Sanford Roach; Scholarships; Vice president

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College athletes; College environment; College integration; College sports--Scouting; College sports.; Discrimination in higher education; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Universities and colleges--Admission; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now you mentioned that, that, that, uh, your group was also concerned about the academic well-being of minority students at the university.

Segment Synopsis: Jefferson talks about how Black students were treated by the faculty at UK, giving examples from his own experiences as a student. He talks about the lack of Black faculty members at the university.

Keywords: Abilities; Academics; Attitudes; Black faculty; Commitments; Community involvement; Employees; Exclusion; Hiring; Questions; Services

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College integration; College teachers, Black; College teachers--Social conditions; Discrimination in higher education; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now you mentioned, uh, you had gotten some commitments, specific commitments from the university...

Segment Synopsis: Jefferson talks about barriers for minority students at the University of Kentucky, including low retention rates for Black students.

Keywords: Barriers; Black athletes; Implementation; Improvements; Jerry Stephens; Objectives; Office of Minority Affairs; Recruitment; Retention; Support; graduation

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College athletes; College environment; College integration; College sports.; Discrimination in higher education; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now you mentioned, uh, several times, uh, as I've listened about the, the image of the university as a barrier.

Segment Synopsis: Jefferson talks about another barrier for minority students at UK: the negative image of the university within the Black community. He talks about how coach Adolph Rupp and the UK athletics programs contributed to the poor image of the school within the community.

Keywords: "Flagship"; Adolph Rupp; Attitudes; Barriers; Image; Initiative; Perceptions; Recruitment; Reputation; Resistance; Standards; Symbolic representation; Texas Western College

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College athletes; College environment; College integration; College sports--Scouting; College sports.; Discrimination in higher education; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Universities and colleges--Admission; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What do you think about the image of the university with the Black community, uh--

Segment Synopsis: Jefferson talks about leadership within the Black community, especially during the civil rights movement. He says that the main leadership in Lexington came from two women, and that few ministers participated in the revolution.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; All-Americans; Athletics; Benjamin Bibbs; Benny Bonds; Black Action Group; Charles Livisay; Community affairs; Community involvement; Dr. Parker; Julius Berry; Leonard Hunt; Ministers; Recruitment; Reverend Jones; Reverend Powell; Ron Berry; Sanford Roach; Theodore Berry; Vertner Taylor; Visibility; Women

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American leadership; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College integration; Discrimination in higher education; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well I appreciate that. Is there anything else that--

Segment Synopsis: Jefferson talks more about the athletics programs at the University of Kentucky and the lack of Black athletes at the school. He talks about the negotiations to make basketball tickets available to the Black community and discusses why he did not purchase tickets. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Assets; Attitudes; Basketball tickets; Black athletes; Changes; Football; Jack Givens; James Lee; Joe Hall; Recruitment; Success; Support; Tolerance

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College athletes; College environment; College integration; College sports--Scouting; College sports.; Discrimination in higher education; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Universities and colleges--Admission; University of Kentucky