History of Lexington

Early Lexington, Kentucky, like most of the nation, participated in the practice of slavery. The majority of slaves were African Americans, but slavery also encompassed many other ethnicities including Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, and several others. What is ironic however, was the fact there were more non-white people living in Lexington and Fayette County than there were white people, as Tom Eblen stated, “…by 1860, one in four residents of Lexington were slaves.” This is just more evidence of the lack of global perception and the closed-mindedness towards diversity that was characteristic of early Lexington. Eblen continues by stating further evidence of this lack of perception by talking about numerous “jailhouses” located in and around Lexington that were used to house the area’s slaves. He specifically tells of one such place, the jail on Short Street, which was used to house multi-racial women that were to be sold into the local sex trade, helping prove further the insignificance the city gave those it didn’t view worthy.
Since its founding in 1775 till the ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868, Lexington was essentially composed of two groups, White, American Citizens and Non-White Slaves. What the 14th Amendment meant, not only Lexington, Kentucky but the entire United States of America, was a new sense of cultural identity. Non-Whites were no longer counted as property or creatures, but instead as human beings who were citizens like everyone else. They were no longer slaves but were granted personal identity and the ability to be who they were and wanted to be.
Needless to say, it is evident that the Lexington of today has come a long way and is not the Lexington of the 18th and 19th Centuries. Evidence can be seen everywhere, from the statistics provided by censuses or by simply just taking a stroll through the streets of downtown and observing for yourself the obvious diversity which is Lexington, Kentucky.

Short Street, Lexington Kentucky

Bibliography

Eblen, Tom. “Short Street long on Lexington history.” Kentucky.com. 25
Dec. 2011. 8 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/25/2005644/tom-eblen-short-
street-long-on.html#storylink=misearch>.

Eblen, Tom. “Slavery in Fayette Co. photo” Kentucky.com. 8 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/25/2005644/tom-eblen-short-
street-long-on.html#storylink=misearch>.

“Lexington Population by Race and Ethnicity.” CRLSearch.com.
CLRChoice, Inc. 10 Oct. 2012. <
<http://www.clrsearch.com/Lexington_Demographics/KY/Population-
by-Race-and-Ethnicity>.

Short Street Map

Short Street Lexington KY. N.d. Photograph. Lexingtonhistorymuseum.org, Lexington.

Eblen, Tom. Slavery in Fayette County. 2011. Photograph. Kentucky.com, Lexington.

Short Street is "long on Lexington history" (Eblen). By this, Eblen means that although it may seem as just a street in downtown Lexington, this is a place full of historical importance. In his article, Eblen takes readers on a virtual tour of the street, starting on the west side and working his way east down to the opposite side of the street. He mentions the Lexington History Museum because of the places that inspired him to point out on this tour he writes about (Eblen). This museum contains much information about Lexington and its history, and is pointed out on our map of Short Street. Eblen mentions a few places, being the Mary Todd Lincoln house, the city’s original graveyard, where now the First Baptist Church of Lexington is located, and he even refers to a location where a famous slave whipping post once stood (Eblen). If it weren’t for the place maker, most people would not even know it was there at one time. This stands as a reminder that while Lexington, along with many places in America, have grown into culturally and ethnically diverse areas, racism and acts of discrimination did exist. Overcoming these behaviors and ways of thinking was not easy, either. There are some that still deal with racism and prejudice, and others who are still victims. It is important to remember our history and to recognize how far society has come. Eblen’s article is an eye opener to historical Lexington, specifically touching those who live here and have been citizens for any amount of time. Applying this to our project, we hope to show the growth and diversity that now exists in Lexington, Kentucky while comparing what we know from Tom Eblen’s article about historical Short Street.