Interview with Ed Hamilton, July 2, 2016

Partial Transcript: This is Betty Bayé.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton discusses his experiences growing up during the height of the civil rights movement, but not playing a part in the movement himself. His mother was immensely protective over him. He became acquainted with many activists through his church.

Keywords: Abbie Clements Jackson; Activism; Charles Tachau; Coming of age; St. George's episcopal church; Urban renewal; White activism

Subjects: African American churches--Kentucky; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Housing; Childhood; Louisville (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And, Ed, what are, what are we--tho, those names that you mentioned, Abbie Clements and all of those--

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton describes the activists, white and black, that he became acquainted with through St. George's Episcopal church.

Keywords: A. D. King; Anne Braden; Black America; Black Louisville; Frank Stanley Sr.; Georgia Davis Powers; Jasper Ward; Louis Coleman; Lukey Ward; Lyman Johnson; Martin Luther King Jr.; Mattie Jones; White America

Subjects: African American churches--Kentucky; African American leadership; African Americans--Civil rights; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: But, but what was this, Ed the young man, you're looking at these people, you can't go out there, but what is it doing for you?

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton looks back on what it was like growing up around the well-dressed activists and being proud of the dignity that the African Americans in Louisville portrayed. He also comments on how all different kinds of ethnicities worked side-by-side running their own businesses and creating a community of diversity.

Keywords: Community; Dignity; Ethnicity; Mammoth building; Pride; Urban removal; Urban renewal

Subjects: Clothing and dress; Louisville (Ky.); Neighborliness; Race Relations--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now, Ed, talk about how this early movement, this sort of dignified African Americans and, and white people of conscience, uh, making this movement.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton began to find himself after finishing his education in art and became a part of the Old Louisville Art Workshop to exercise his artistry skills. Once he became a part of the workshop, Hamilton became an active member of the civil rights movement.

Keywords: Art school; Bob Douglas; Caliman Coxe; Coming of age; Downtown Potpourri; Fred Bonn; Old Louisville Art Workshop; blackness; community

Subjects: African American leadership; African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky; African Americans--Race identity.; Artists--Kentucky; Discrimination in employment; Education; Louisville (Ky.); Protest movements; Race discrimination

Partial Transcript: So, let's talk about your commissions.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton describes how he received his first commission as a sculptor, which is what he is known for, rather than an abstract artist.

Keywords: 10th Street Library; Abstract; Afrocentrism; Booker T. Washington; Ceremonial; Confinement; Hampton Institute; Junkology; Sculpting; W. E. B. DuBois

Subjects: Africa; African Americans--Civil rights; African Americans--Politics and government; Art; Artists--Kentucky; Passive resistance

Partial Transcript: So, we go from Booker to another complacent brother who with this could knock you out and yet, he had to be so humble and not rock the boat and I'm talking about the Brown Bomber.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton discusses how his Booker T. Washington sculpture, his first public work, led to the advancement of his career as a sculptor.

Keywords: "Brown Bomber"; Art organizations; Booker T. Washington; Cobalt Hall Arena; Heroic; Joe Lewis; Kentucky Arts Council; Memorials; Tuskegee Institute

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; Art; Artists--Kentucky; Boxing; Detroit (Mich.); Migration, Internal

Partial Transcript: Now, how did the Amistad come about?

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton tells the story of La Amistad, the progression of the project, and how it changed him as an artist.

Keywords: 10th Street Library; Abolition; Freedom; Joseph Cinque; La Amistad; Mende; Narrative; Sengbe Pieh; Slave ship

Subjects: Africa; African American churches--Kentucky; Fisk University; Nashville (Tenn.); New Haven (Conn.); Race discrimination; Slavery; United States--Trials, litigation, etc.

Partial Transcript: Okay, Ed, well, let's, let's, let's move on up.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton reflects on his time working on the Spirit of Freedom sculpture in Washington, D.C. and the different tactics he used to approach the commission.

Keywords: African America sailors; African American soldiers; Architects; Committee; Family; Research; Site; Spirit of Freedom; Union

Subjects: African American; Artists--Kentucky; Slavery; Soldiers; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: So, Ed, we've talked about the narratives that your work took.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton discusses the evolution of his work and the influence he hopes that it has on the people that see it. He elaborates on the dialogue about the truth he wishes to create between people through his art.

Keywords: Abraham Lincoln; Ceremonial; Common ground; Dialogue; Hamilton York; Humanity; La Amistad; Lincoln Memorial; Ohio river; Public arts; Purpose; Spirit of Freedom

Subjects: African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--social conditions; Artists--Kentucky; Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Views on slavery; Slavery

Partial Transcript: A question occurs to me, Ed.

Segment Synopsis: Growing up in Louisville has influenced Hamilton's work and he discusses what Louisville represents to himself as an artist.

Keywords: Black America; Exploration; Freedom; Harlem renaissance; North star; Place; Urban renewal

Subjects: African Americans--Race identity.; African Americans--Segregation; Artists--Kentucky; Louisville (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Now, Ed, do you know w, w--in, in your work in the, in the Spirit of Freedom, you bought into women.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton discusses how women influenced his life and their role in empowering men to think logically and fight discrimination.

Keywords: Community; Fear; Freedom; Maleness; Nature; Nurture; Strength

Subjects: African American families; Women

Partial Transcript: And yet, the women had their own kind of fear.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton discusses his opinions on the influence that women have had on the civil rights movement.

Keywords: Boycotts; Domestic violence; Fear; Livelihood; Marriage; Nature; Nurture

Subjects: African American families; African American women civil rights workers.; Civil war; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Partial Transcript: Well, if there's any man who, um, has a compassion for a women, um, it's you, Ed Hamilton.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton discusses his reactions to finding out that he was adopted after the passing of his adoptive mother. He reasons through why his adoptive mother was so protective of him.

Keywords: Adoption papers; Birthplace; Fear; Possessiveness; Protection; Sphere of influence; Wisdom; Working class

Subjects: Adoption; Cincinnati (Ohio); Family--history

Partial Transcript: So, after I discover that, I go to the, uh, family court and file a petition to see my records, you know.

Segment Synopsis: Hamilton describes the process of finding his biological mother as well as the relationship that developed between them once they found each other. He also relates his experiences with his religion and with the idea that everything is meant to work out.

Keywords: Fate; Fear; Love; Motherhood; Petition; Possession; Power; Strength

Subjects: Adoption; African American families; Art; Dayton (Oh.); Louisville (Ky.); Religion