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History of African Americans in Kentucky
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History of African Americans in Kentucky
Black Kentuckians are residents of the state of Kentucky who are of African ancestry. The history of Blacks in the US state of Kentucky starts at the same time as the history of White Americans; Black Americans settled Kentucky alongside white explorers such as Daniel Boone. As of 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans make up 8.5% of Kentucky's population. Compared to the rest of the population, the African American census racial category is the 2nd largest.
The first white explorer of the Ohio valley, Christopher Gist, who surveyed territory along the Ohio river in 1751, was accompanied by a Black "servant"; they found another Black man, enslaved in an Indian village, on the Scioto River (now Ohio). Daniel Boone, on his exploratory trips to the west, also had African Americans in his groups. One of them guided him across the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1760, and a number of them were included in the group that tried to settle with him in Kentucky in 1773. In 1775, Boone led another group of settlers into Kentucky, including many Black people. They settled near present-day Richmond where they encountered several attacks by Native Americans. Blacks played an integral role in the defense of Boonesborough in 1778. Alongside the whites, African Americans fought to protect their frontier. They knew that if they fled, they could die from wild animals, Indian attacks, and starvation. Instead they stayed, enduring a life of slavery.
In 1792, Kentucky drafted up its first constitution, a close reflection of Virginia's. When it came to slavery, those who were considered slaves in Virginia were also slaves in Kentucky. In addition to the constitution, in 1798 the Kentucky legislature enforced slave codes which stated that all black people of Kentucky, free or enslaved, were inferior in status of all aspects of life. Much of their slave work was steps to improving civilization. This included clearing trees to build cabins and fences.
The black population grew as more people came along with their slaves. As early as 1777, Blacks made up about 10% of Kentucky residents. In 1784, Kentucky was estimated to have 4,000 Blacks. In 1790, the black population grew to 16% with 11,830 slaves and 114 freemen. Then in 1800, the population was up to 19% with 41,084 black residents. The freeman population also increased to 741 people within that decade. After 1790, the population of blacks steadily increased by 2% each decade, hitting its highest point of 24.7% in 1830. There were 165,213 slaves and 4,917 freemen. At this point, Blacks were growing faster than the white population, but soon after, there was a slow decline. This was a result of a lesser need for a large labor force as well as a law in 1833 banning the importation of slaves and southern slave trade. In 1860, Kentucky's black population was at 20% with 236,167 Blacks.
Most people started settling beyond the mountains of eastern Kentucky. In almost all counties, the black population was fewer than 10%. Many Blacks settled in towns, rather than the countryside, signifying that they were laborers or household servants. The northern counties had undesirable soil, making it hard to grow crops. Western and Central Kentucky with fertile soil and southern climate developed large tobacco plantations with the use of slave labor. Slave labor in these areas made the black population grow slowly. From 1830 to 1860 the population of Blacks only grew from 7,920 to 9,982.
From the start of the war, Kentucky slaves had the goal of obtaining their own freedom for the benefit of themselves and their families. Newspapers were documenting numerous slave runaways. In May 1861, the states were fearful of slave revolts. As Northern troops arrived into Kentucky, slaveholders attempted to keep the slaves from hearing abolitionist ideas. Blacks learned about the war anyway, and how it would have an effect on slavery. They gained this information by eavesdropping on council meetings and getting literate women to read to them stories from the war.
Large groups of slaves were fleeing Kentucky to north of the Ohio River, in search for freedom. Other slave groups were escaping to Indiana. Despite the orders of the army in Kentucky, soldiers would let Blacks join the lines. September 1862, reports from an Ohio soldier said that about 600 slaves entered the Union troops in Lebanon, Kentucky. Slaves realized that they had authority and protection now that they were with the army.
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, ending slavery. Kentucky, however, did not ratify the amendment until 1976. This is because there was resistance from both the government and the slave owners in Kentucky. They believed that since they did not all betray the Union and fully side with the Confederacy as there was dueling Unionist and Confederate state governments in Kentucky, that they would be able to keep their slaves. Despite the resistance Abraham Lincoln tried to negotiate with them, even offering 300 dollars per slave to owners, but this was turned down. In the end they got nothing and had to ratify the amendment in 1976.
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History of African Americans in Kentucky
Black Kentuckians are residents of the state of Kentucky who are of African ancestry. The history of Blacks in the US state of Kentucky starts at the same time as the history of White Americans; Black Americans settled Kentucky alongside white explorers such as Daniel Boone. As of 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans make up 8.5% of Kentucky's population. Compared to the rest of the population, the African American census racial category is the 2nd largest.
The first white explorer of the Ohio valley, Christopher Gist, who surveyed territory along the Ohio river in 1751, was accompanied by a Black "servant"; they found another Black man, enslaved in an Indian village, on the Scioto River (now Ohio). Daniel Boone, on his exploratory trips to the west, also had African Americans in his groups. One of them guided him across the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1760, and a number of them were included in the group that tried to settle with him in Kentucky in 1773. In 1775, Boone led another group of settlers into Kentucky, including many Black people. They settled near present-day Richmond where they encountered several attacks by Native Americans. Blacks played an integral role in the defense of Boonesborough in 1778. Alongside the whites, African Americans fought to protect their frontier. They knew that if they fled, they could die from wild animals, Indian attacks, and starvation. Instead they stayed, enduring a life of slavery.
In 1792, Kentucky drafted up its first constitution, a close reflection of Virginia's. When it came to slavery, those who were considered slaves in Virginia were also slaves in Kentucky. In addition to the constitution, in 1798 the Kentucky legislature enforced slave codes which stated that all black people of Kentucky, free or enslaved, were inferior in status of all aspects of life. Much of their slave work was steps to improving civilization. This included clearing trees to build cabins and fences.
The black population grew as more people came along with their slaves. As early as 1777, Blacks made up about 10% of Kentucky residents. In 1784, Kentucky was estimated to have 4,000 Blacks. In 1790, the black population grew to 16% with 11,830 slaves and 114 freemen. Then in 1800, the population was up to 19% with 41,084 black residents. The freeman population also increased to 741 people within that decade. After 1790, the population of blacks steadily increased by 2% each decade, hitting its highest point of 24.7% in 1830. There were 165,213 slaves and 4,917 freemen. At this point, Blacks were growing faster than the white population, but soon after, there was a slow decline. This was a result of a lesser need for a large labor force as well as a law in 1833 banning the importation of slaves and southern slave trade. In 1860, Kentucky's black population was at 20% with 236,167 Blacks.
Most people started settling beyond the mountains of eastern Kentucky. In almost all counties, the black population was fewer than 10%. Many Blacks settled in towns, rather than the countryside, signifying that they were laborers or household servants. The northern counties had undesirable soil, making it hard to grow crops. Western and Central Kentucky with fertile soil and southern climate developed large tobacco plantations with the use of slave labor. Slave labor in these areas made the black population grow slowly. From 1830 to 1860 the population of Blacks only grew from 7,920 to 9,982.
From the start of the war, Kentucky slaves had the goal of obtaining their own freedom for the benefit of themselves and their families. Newspapers were documenting numerous slave runaways. In May 1861, the states were fearful of slave revolts. As Northern troops arrived into Kentucky, slaveholders attempted to keep the slaves from hearing abolitionist ideas. Blacks learned about the war anyway, and how it would have an effect on slavery. They gained this information by eavesdropping on council meetings and getting literate women to read to them stories from the war.
Large groups of slaves were fleeing Kentucky to north of the Ohio River, in search for freedom. Other slave groups were escaping to Indiana. Despite the orders of the army in Kentucky, soldiers would let Blacks join the lines. September 1862, reports from an Ohio soldier said that about 600 slaves entered the Union troops in Lebanon, Kentucky. Slaves realized that they had authority and protection now that they were with the army.
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, ending slavery. Kentucky, however, did not ratify the amendment until 1976. This is because there was resistance from both the government and the slave owners in Kentucky. They believed that since they did not all betray the Union and fully side with the Confederacy as there was dueling Unionist and Confederate state governments in Kentucky, that they would be able to keep their slaves. Despite the resistance Abraham Lincoln tried to negotiate with them, even offering 300 dollars per slave to owners, but this was turned down. In the end they got nothing and had to ratify the amendment in 1976.