Interview with Eli Capiluto, February 11, 2020

Partial Transcript: Okay. So, we're here with President Capiluto. Uh, we're conducting this interview for the Wisdom Project Podcast.

Segment Synopsis: Capiluto talks about his introduction to the story of Lyman T. Johnson and naming one of the residence halls at the University of Kentucky after him. He talks about meeting Lyman T. Johnson's family and the annual dinner with Imar Hutchins. He talks about his personal connection to the anniversary of UK's desegregation and his life experience in Alabama. He talks about the different events leading up to the civil rights movement and a bus boycott. He talks about where he was during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama and the demographics of his public high school. He talks about how the university started desegregation earlier than most and what Alabama has done to remember the history of slavery.

Keywords: Alabama; Anniversary; Art work; Awards; Boycotts; Busing; Civil Rights Movement; Community; Demographics; Desegregation; Education; Events; Family; Hate; Life experience; Life lessons; Lyman T. Johnson; Martin Luther King Jr.; Montgomery, Alabama; Museum; Race; Remembrance; Selma, Alabama; Slavery; Wisdom Project Podcast

Subjects: African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Civil rights demonstrations; Civil rights movements--United States; College integration; Desegregation; Diversity; Education.; Integration; Montgomery (Ala.); Race discrimination.; Race relations--Alabama; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism; Selma (Ala.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I read this weekend in one of the national newspapers, I can't remember which one, myths about slavery.

Segment Synopsis: Capiluto talks about the politicization of history in high school education and the importance of understanding history through the Louie B. Nunn Center. He talks about the difference between reading a book about Lyman T. Johnson and listening to the oral histories. He talks about Lyman T. Johnson's family background and the way slavery tore families apart. He talks about needing to remind society about the history of hate, ignorance, and fear in this country.

Keywords: Civil War; Education; Families; Family; High school; History; Imar Hutchins; Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History; Lyman T. Johnson; Memorials; Oral histories; Politicized history; Slavery; Story; Students; United States history

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions.; Desegregation; Diversity; Education.; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: One of the things I'll always remember, I think, is you, when we met on the sidewalk that day, you pulled out your phone.

Segment Synopsis: Capiluto talks about McCarthyism and how the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) would target different groups. He talks about the death of Viola Liuzzo and the history of the FBI during the Civil Rights Movement. He talks about Lyman T. Johnson's interactions with the FBI and his analogy of the leaky roof. He talks about how some of the sentiments from the past are coming back in the present day and how the university is able to teach those history lessons. He talks about the importance of oral histories and how technology has impacted how people consume information.

Keywords: Activism; Alabama; Analogies; Analogy; Beliefs; Black community; Civil Rights Movement; Country; Education; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Fiction; History; Information; J. Edgar Hoover; Jewish community; Knowledge; Lessons; Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History; Lyman T. Johnson; McCarthyism; Metaphors; Montgomery, Alabama; Nonfiction; OHMS; Oral histories; Oral history; Patriotism; Politicization; Primary sources; Quotes; Reality; Selma, Alabama; Story; Technology; United States; Viola Liuzzo; Writing

Subjects: Activism, Student; African Americans--Social conditions.; Desegregation; Diversity; Education.; Race discrimination.; Race relations--Kentucky; Racism; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: There was an article in UKNow that raised my curiosity.

Segment Synopsis: Capiluto talks about an article he read and the different stories that he has heard about incidents of racism and combating prejudice. He talks about worrying about avoiding or erasing stories and the faculty's curiosity. He talks about visiting high schools in Lexington and the structure of his public school system during the period of busing. He talks about the lack of diverse neighborhoods and schools and hoping to have an impact on the school system. He talks about meeting with high school faculty and bringing people together through shared interests. He talks about the university's goals and being a positive force of change in the state.

Keywords: Anniversary; Burning crosses; Busing; Civil Rights Movement; Community; Court cases; Curiosity; Desegregation; Discomfort; Diverse; Diversity; Faculty; Family; Fear; High school; History; Inquiry; Integration; Kentucky; Ku Klux Klan (KKK); Lexington, Kentucky; Lyman T. Johnson; Merger; Next steps; Normandy; Oral histories; Stories; Storytelling; Trust; White academies

Subjects: Activism, Student; Desegregation; Diversity; Education.; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky