Interview with Richard Gentry, June 11, 2019

Partial Transcript: Today is June 11th--Tuesday June 11th.

Segment Synopsis: Gentry introduces himself, giving brief information on his background. He describes growing up in Lexington and going to the original site of Dunbar High School during the first half of the 1960s. Gentry also discusses his parents' support for his education while he was going to school. He notes that while he went to segregated schools, the quality of the teachers was good because they wanted to encourage students to learn.

Keywords: African-American Lexingtonians; African-American families; Black high schools; Desegregation; Historic Black Colleges; Integration; Kentucky education; Kentucky public schools; Lexingtonians; Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, Kentucky); Retirees; Tennessee State University; University of Kentucky Law school

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Wow. What year were you born?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry begins with noting his birth year and his status as an only child. He describes his parents' education levels and backgrounds, including his father's service as a circuit riding minister and stone mason.

Keywords: African-American Lexingtonians; African-American families; African-American ministers; Circuit riders; Elizabeth Gentry; Kentucky rural churches; Lexington stone masons; Paris Pike; Paul S. Gentry; Rural churches

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: How did you choose where you would attend?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry explains his decision in choosing Tennessee State University through connections with his high school marching band director. He acknowledges he did not apply to the University of Kentucky until he came to UK for his law degree. He notes that he came to the University of Kentucky for law school to encourage more minorities to go to law school.

Keywords: Black college students; Black colleges; Historic black colleges and universities; Marching band; Tennessee State University; University of Kentucky College of Law

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Okay, talk to me about that. Why was that important to you?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry describes the few black students and black lawyers in the University of Kentucky law school, noting that he had always had an interest in the law since high school. This interest in the law was based off of his experience seeing the civil rights issues and desegregation occur.

Keywords: Black fraternities; Black law students; Black lawyers; Civil rights movement; Desegregation; Lexington black fraternities; University of Kentucky desegregation

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Did you have any concerns about attending UK [University of Kentucky]?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry discusses his concerns with attending the University of Kentucky. He acknowledges the poor reputation UK had in terms of race, especially considering how athletics still remained segregated. He ends the segment by describing starting law school the day after his graduation from Tennessee State University.

Keywords: Black experience at University of Kentucky; Black law students; Civil Rights Era; Law school segregation; Racial issues at the University of Kentucky; Segregated athletics; Segregation; Tennessee State University; University of Kentucky reputation

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Do you remember that day at all? What it was like for you?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry describes his first days at the University of Kentucky as a foreign environment, where he was unsure what to expect from a majority white school. He notes that he felt more comfortable after a few days. He discusses how he felt no sense of discrimination from the professors and that he lived at home despite spending a lot of time on campus.

Keywords: Black experience at University of Kentucky; Black law students; Civil Rights Era; Law school segregation; Racial issues at the University of Kentucky; Segregated athletics; Segregation; University of Kentucky compared to Historic Black colleges and universities; University of Kentucky during the Civil Rights Era; University of Kentucky professors; University of Kentucky reputation

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Um, but, any memorable experiences? What stands out, uh, during that time here at UK [University of Kentucky]?

Segment Synopsis: While asked about memorable experiences, Gentry describes the general state of the civil rights movement and protests during that period. He describes a couple of notable professors. He also acknowledges that while he joined the marches and protests at Tennessee State, he chose not to do that while in law school.

Keywords: Black experience at University of Kentucky; Black law students; Civil Rights Era; Law school segregation; Racial issues at the University of Kentucky; Segregated athletics; Segregation; University of Kentucky compared to Historic Black colleges and universities; University of Kentucky during the Civil Rights Era; University of Kentucky professors; University of Kentucky reputation

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lawson, Robert G., 1938-; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Okay. So, um, talk about recruiting. How did you all go about recruiting more minorities to the program?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry describes the process of recruiting black students to come to the University of Kentucky. He notes that he and others would visit other schools within the region to convince students to join. Gentry acknowledges that this recruitment drive was mostly self-funded with no official support from the University. He notes that they brought at least ten students to come to law school at UK. Because of UK's reputation in terms of race, he discusses having to convince black students to come.

Keywords: Black experience at University of Kentucky; Black law students; Civil Rights Era; Law school segregation; Marshall University; Morehead State University; Racial issues at the University of Kentucky; Recruitment efforts; Segregated athletics; Segregation; University of Kentucky during the Civil Rights Era; University of Kentucky professors; University of Kentucky reputation

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Awesome. Um, well did you participate in of the, um, extracurriculars on campus when you were here?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry discusses being a part of several black organizations on campus. In particular, he notes being part of the first Black Voices organization as well as his time with the Black Student Union. He mostly discusses his time with the Black Law Students Association. He notes that he did not remember much about most of his extra-curricular activities.

Keywords: Black Law Students Association; Black Student Union (BSU); Black Voices; Black experience at the University of Kentucky; Extracurricular activities; University of Kentucky African-American organizations; University of Kentucky black organizations; University of Kentucky black student union

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: Got you. Were there any black professors while you were on campus? Attending law school?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry says that there were no African American professors while he was at the University of Kentucky for law school, nor was it necessarily emphasized by his student groups. He notes that the focus was on studying and succeeding in their own classes. He also could not recall any specific instances of racism or discrimination, but believed that if there were some general experiences that he felt black professors might be able to explain or relate to them in clearer ways.

Keywords: African-American experience at the University of Kentucky; Black experience at the University of Kentucky; Black law professors; Black professors; Law students; Racism at the University of Kentucky; Racism on campus; University of Kentucky professors

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College graduates; College integration; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law

Partial Transcript: So, you came out, I'm thinking now, in, uh, '72. What did you do after law school?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry describes working for the United States State Department following his graduation from law school. He notes that he worked with immigration services and would travel to Canada. He acknowledges that he felt prepared by his time at UK.

Keywords: Diplomatic service; Immigration law; Post-law school; United States Department of State; United States Foreign Service; Washington, D.C.

Subjects: Employment; Occupations; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Um, were you ever at all involved in, um, any legal work here in Lexington, Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry discusses his time doing legal work for the city of Lexington. He describes working as a legal clerk for the city. He also notes that he worked for the Kentucky Highway Department in the legal section. He acknowledges that he has had no continued association with the University of Kentucky, and that he retired in 2012.

Keywords: Kentucky Highway Department; Lexington law clerks; Lexington law department; Lexington legal work; Retirees; University of Kentucky law school

Subjects: Employment--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Occupations

Partial Transcript: Anything you feel like I have not asked you today that, you know, you feel like people need to know about you, or your time at UK [University of Kentucky]?

Segment Synopsis: Gentry discusses some of the students he recruited, though he acknowledges he does not recall most of their names nor has kept in continued contact with them. He discusses how they generally encouraged each other during their time in law school. He also answers a question about their study habits, noting that at the time the white and black law students generally studied among themselves and separate from the other group.

Keywords: Black law students; Brenda Haymer; Recruiting black students; Segregation in University of Kentucky law school; University of Kentucky law school

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College integration; College students, Black; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Schools; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Law