On August 13th, more than 60 people logged in virtually to hear a panel of contributors to the Chronicle of African Americans in the Horse Industry, a new digital project website (soon to be launched) that archives and displays photos, documents, artifacts, and oral histories of African Americans who have worked, and continue to work in equine sectors. Based out of The International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the project brings together oral historians, community leaders, active horsemen and women, and educators to create a shared understanding of these experiences in the horse industry.
Panelists:
Yvonne Giles, PhD., digs deep into the past to uncover information about early African American horsemen and women. Her research at Lexington’s African Cemetery Number Two has revealed layers of rich history surrounding the birthplace of Kentucky’s racing community.
Rev. Leslie Whitlock groomed Saddlebreds as he grew up under the guidance of horse-loving mentors. He continues their tradition of building trust and building character, now as a Thoroughbred owner and trainer, and as a leader in his church and New Day Ministries.
Jeremy “Jermo” Reese teaches horsemanship to youth through his non-profit organization, Frankie’s Corner Little Thoroughbred Crusade. His work is named after and inspired by his grandfather, who was a well-known Thoroughbred handler.
Michael Phelps teaches high school social studies and is working on his Master’s degree in History, focusing his thesis on lesser-known African American horsemen. As an intern with the Chronicle project, he applied his research skills and writing to help shape the fragments of historical records into website content.
Karen Lanier, digital project manager for the Chronicle of African Americans in the Horse Industry, coordinates the collaborative team. Her diverse background includes interpretive writing, documentary production, environmental education, and community outreach.
TO Learn More:
The Chronicle of African Americans in the Horse Industry grew out of a permanent exhibition titled “Black Horsemen of the Kentucky Turf” at the International Museum of the Horse, located at the Kentucky Horse Park. The stories inspired the launch of a broader collective effort that encourages community contributions of photos, documents, memorabilia and oral histories. (You can explore the project’s recorded oral histories on the CAAHI Oral History project page at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, and learn more about the project’s background on an episode of Stories from the Lyric produced by the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center.) Most recently, the Chronicle is hiring African American women to write content for the website, based on the collected research and contributions. The digital project’s searchable archive and web-based educational materials are in the final stages of preparation before a full launch slated for the end of 2020.
To sign up for updates for the Chronicle’s launch, send an email to ChronicleInfo@ky.gov.
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If you would like to support our efforts to bring you engaging conversations about equine history, please consider making a donation following these links: Donate to the Equine History Collective or Buy an EHC Horse T-Shirt!