Madison County origins, segregation explored
Walter Lesczynski
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
And students in the audience agreed with Burnside that, while both are college towns of close proximity, they feature very different cultures and atmospheres.
"Berea was a hundred years ahead of its time," said Burnside. "It evolved as an integrated community, quite different from Richmond. It's interesting that while in the same county, these very different cultures both had their origins in a slave-holding state."
Burnside said that Berea College was an integrated school until 1904 when Carl Day, after learning of the bi-racial learning environment, proposed a segregation bill.
The bill forced all schools, even private institutions such as Berea College, to operate on a segregated basis.
The bill had the immediate effect of excluding 174 black students in the midst of their degrees, and was appealed up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The court upheld the law and it remained in effect until 1954.
Burnside's book is part of the Black America series, which focuses on topics of regional interest.
Many of the photographs and anecdotes were obtained by word of mouth.
Joyce Clay provided numerous family photos, as did the EKU and Berea College archives.
Despite books and even classes on the subject, Burnside said oral tradition remains vital to keeping local history alive.
"As older generations pass on, we're here to keep telling the stories," she said.
"Berea was a hundred years ahead of its time," said Burnside. "It evolved as an integrated community, quite different from Richmond. It's interesting that while in the same county, these very different cultures both had their origins in a slave-holding state."
Burnside said that Berea College was an integrated school until 1904 when Carl Day, after learning of the bi-racial learning environment, proposed a segregation bill.
The bill forced all schools, even private institutions such as Berea College, to operate on a segregated basis.
The bill had the immediate effect of excluding 174 black students in the midst of their degrees, and was appealed up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The court upheld the law and it remained in effect until 1954.
Burnside's book is part of the Black America series, which focuses on topics of regional interest.
Many of the photographs and anecdotes were obtained by word of mouth.
Joyce Clay provided numerous family photos, as did the EKU and Berea College archives.
Despite books and even classes on the subject, Burnside said oral tradition remains vital to keeping local history alive.
"As older generations pass on, we're here to keep telling the stories," she said.