There are more notable African Americans with Kentucky roots and ties than any one person knows about. Very little has been written about many of them and it is a challenge to find what was written in the past. For some, their stories have only been told by word of mouth. The Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (NKAA) has been developed as a finding aid to bring together a brief description of pertinent names, places, and events, and to list the sources where additional information may be found. This is not currently an all inclusive database, but we are working toward that goal and suggestions are welcomed.

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Miller, Martha

In February 2018, Martha Miller became the first African American to be sworn in as a county clerk in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She served as the…

Winchester sun

"Jim Crow Car"

In 1902, Mrs. Lulu Thurman won her lawsuit against Southern Railroad in the Lexington, KY, courts. She had originally asked for $10,000 in damages…

Statistical Abstract of the United States

Women in Kentucky

Pulling together for productivity a union management initiative at U.S. West, Inc

Mordecai, Harry

Harry Mordecai, a plasterer, was one of the early freemen in Frankfort, KY, and he was a prominent member of the small community of Colored free men…

Harrison, Lisa

Born in Mount Washington, KY, Lisa Harrison was a 6'1" forward when she played high school basketball at Louisville Southern, where she scored more…

Hampton, Kym

Born in Louisville, KY, Kym Hampton graduated from Iroquois High School in 1980, where she was a basketball and track star. She played college ball at…

Griffith, Darrell A.

Darrell A. Griffith was born in Louisville, KY. He was invited to the 1976 Olympic trials as a high school basketball player. As a 6' 4" guard at the…