By McKenna Horsley | Kentucky Lantern
FRANKFORT — Speakers reflected on the past, looked to the future and urged courage in the present during the annual Black History Celebration presented by the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus.
Keynote speaker, educator and researcher Roger Cleveland encouraged the crowd at the Kentucky History Center Tuesday to commit to building a future that is inclusive to all while meeting the current “uncertain times” with courage.
Black History Month is a reminder that progress is never accidental, Cleveland said. “It has always been a result of people … who acted, and people who have held themselves and their institutions accountable.” Cleveland said that Kentuckians cannot “solely rely” on public officials for leadership, but they can use their gifts to better their communities.
Cleveland ended his speech by calling for those listening to commit themselves to “more than celebration” — to “being a generation that doesn’t just admire Black excellence, but actually supports it.”
In Kentucky, 37 lawmakers who have served in the General Assembly have been Black. Louisville Republican Rep. Charles W. Anderson Jr., was the first and was elected to the House in 1936. The 138-member legislature now has eight Black members.
Tuesday’s event included speakers from all three branches of government, including Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Supreme Court Justice Michelle Keller and several Democratic and Republican state legislators.
Coleman, a former history teacher, said teaching events of the past can prepare the next generation of Kentuckians to avoid marginalizing others. She said that events like Martin Luther King Jr.’s revered “I Have a Dream” speech cannot be taught without acknowledging the brutal killing of teenager Emmett Till.
“Education and the history it teaches us is under attack in the halls of power,” Coleman said. “And I’m going to say something that I never thought I would have to say, but it is critical that when we teach history, we teach all of our history to our young people.”
Keller acknowledged fellow Justice Pamela Goodwine in the crowd. Goodwine, who joined the high court in 2025, is the first Black woman elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court.
“The people of the United States and the people of the commonwealth will have more confidence in a government that more accurately reflects who the people are, and Justice Goodwine is the perfect example of that here at home,” Keller said.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R‑Henderson, and Rep. Kevin Jackson, R‑Bowling Green, both spoke about how Black History Month is a time to remember and to share stories of resilience. Jackson, who is a co-chair of the legislature’s Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity, said the program’s theme, “The Journey Continues: History is the Foundation Toward a More Perfect Union,” is “a reflection and a call to action.”
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“It reminds us that progress is not a finished chapter in our history books,” Jackson said. “It is an ongoing journey, one that requires intention, courage and, above all, education.”
Jackson later added while celebrating Black History Month those attending the event should “recommit ourselves to education as a unifying force — a force that strengthens opportunity, fosters understanding and prepares the next generation to carry this journey forward.”
Democratic Rep. George Brown Jr., of Lexington, said during the program that he felt called to speak about attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the country. Last year, the General Assembly passed a law to eliminate DEI at public universities. During the current legislative session, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R‑Smithfield, has filed a bill to eliminate such programs in K‑12 public schools.
“DEI is not the problem in America. The people on whose shoulders we stand are not the problems in this country. The problem in this country is GIC — greed, incompetence and corruption,” Brown said.
