Even though post-Civil War we were considered free and legally allowed to read and write, basic community services like libraries were not accessible to us. One town sought to change that.
The city of Louisville, Kentucky, would be the home to the first public library for Black people. Educator and Louisville civil rights leader Albert E. Meyzeek knew the importance of a public library being accessible to our people, especially for Black children. So he took action.
Meyzeek and other community leaders pressured the city to open a library branch for Black residents as many Black children did not have access to adequate books and services at their schools. Their demands worked.
The Louisville Free Public Library opened in 1905 and it included funding from Andrew Carnegie to open the western branch that would be ours. Finally our people had a library of our own. This sparked more libraries opening for us across the country.
Our ancestors fighting for the opening of the Louisville Western Branch Library shows that when we work together as a community, nothing is impossible. Together we can force the system to bend to our wants and needs.