At the end of last week, Hopkinsville played humble hosts to the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame Class of 2024 induction, as well as the quarterly meeting of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.
Raychel Farmer, executive director for Hopkinsville-Christian County’s Human Rights Commission, called it “a completely special moment” — not just for her, but for the city, and for the family of late Louis Porter McHenry.
A hall-of-fame class hadn’t been announced since pre-COVID 2019, and McHenry’s admittance — accepted by his daughter, Linda, and grandson, Louis III — helps complete the state’s story and timeline regarding equality issues.
His Hopkinsville legacy, Farmer added, is strong.
Meanwhile, Farmer noted that having the state’s commission in the area only improved what’s been a good, fruitful relationship for her office and the Commonwealth’s leadership.
Farmer was only part of last week’s welcoming team, as Hopkinsville Community College President & CEO Dr. Alissa Young emceed the Hall of Fame announcement, while local talents in poet Jada Poindexter and soloist Chassity Mumford offered their veritable skills to the celebration.
Young detailed what’s actually been a short, but important, history for the esteemed celebration. After all, it’s been less than 60 years since many of Kentucky’s, and the nation’s, civil statutes have come into effect.
Poindexter, now at Murray State University after a tenure with the Hopkinsville-Christian County HRC, shared her stanzas from “A Legacy of Change.”
Mumford, a winner-now-judge for the annual Hoptown Idol, belted “A Change is Going to Come” and “I Know Where I’ve Been.”
Fox, in closing, was gracious of west Kentucky’s hospitality, but also urged that the issues of civil rights are more than the colorful concerns of black-and-white.
Governor Andy Beshear, by video, also offered emotional thanks on behalf of the late Virginia Moore — who was part of this year’s class after having served nearly 30 years in the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Moore garnered immense popularity and brought considerable attention to public access in the last half decade, after offering her services during Beshear’s weekly online updates during the pandemic.
