John A Hardin – författare

Kentucky was the last state in the South to introduce racially segregated schools and one of the first to break down racial barriers in higher education. The passage of the infamous Day Law in 1904 forced Berea College to exclude 174 students because of their race. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s black faculty remained unable to attend in-state graduate and professional schools. Like black Americans everywhere who fought overseas during World War II, Kentucky's blacks were increasingly dissatisfied with their second-class educational opportunities. In 1948, they financed litigation to end segregation, and the following year Lyman Johnson sued the University of Kentucky for admission to its doctoral program in history. Civil racism indirectly defined the mission of black higher education through scarce fiscal appropriations from state government. It also promoted a dated 19th-century emphasis on agricultrual and vocational education for African Americans. John Hardin reveals how the history of segregated higher education was shaped by the state's inherent, though sometimes subtle, racism.

The Pursuit of Excellence: Kentucky State University, 1886-2020 is a compelling examination of the most diverse public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Starting with Kentucky State University’s establishment in 1886 to train black school teachers, the book explored how the University met and successfully overcame challenges. Although created in an era of racial segregation, Kentucky State University developed an inclusive faculty, staff and student body sustained by a tradition of academic excellence. By 2020, Kentucky State University offered bachelors, master’s and doctoral degree programs as well as 1890 land grant research and service programs. The book provides background on selected notable alumni and their contributions to the Commonwealth and the world.