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J. Alexander Chiles: The Fight Against Kentucky’s Separate Coach Law (2022)

Mariam shares the history of Kentucky’s Separate Coach Law, and Lexington’s second African American attorney, J. Alexander Chiles, who took the fight to the US Supreme court multiple times in the 1890s and early 1900s. Kentucky’s Separate Coach Law was one of many of Kentucky’s explicitly racist Jim Crow segregation laws, and those who fought against it faced persecution, harassment and assault. J. Alexander Chiles was at the forefront of this fight for de-segregated equality. 

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About The Hosts

Tales from the Kentucky Room is hosted by David Bryant and produced by Erin West.

David is the Manager of Central Library, and has worked many years in the Kentucky Room. After several guest host spots, David moved to full time host of Tales from the Kentucky Room in 2025. Local History and Genealogy are passions of his, and he's excited to share them with our audience.

Erin is the Virtual Services Librarian. She's worked for Lexington Public Library since 2003 and began her work with audio editing in 2012 while working at the Northside Branch. Erin enjoys listening to history, true crime and tv show recap podcasts.

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