Arts & Culture

University Press of Kentucky Illuminates Black Voices, Stories and Experiences

variety of book cover art

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 2, 2020)  Books are one of our earliest educational resources. They help us to learn language, discover new emotions and expand our understanding of people and places different from our own.

Books are also one of the simplest ways in which we can learn about others’ lives and experiences, escaping, even for a moment, into the world of the author and allowing us to broaden our worldview.

The University Press of Kentucky is pleased to offer several titles written by Black authors, titles that focus on Black voices and stories, and titles featuring Black experiences throughout their list, including several which are part of their open access initiative in collaboration with University of Kentucky Libraries.

“The University Press of Kentucky has a long tradition of showcasing Black voices and stories. From our award-winning Civil Rights series to the struggle for equality in Kentucky, Appalachia, and beyond, these works highlight the historical and cultural impact made by BIPOC,” said Director Ashley Runyon. “UPK remains committed to publishing future diverse voices from our region and nation.”

The press’ open access initiative enables faculty and students from colleges and universities across the Commonwealth and beyond to utilize these online texts for coursework and research. The University Press books will be open to anyone who accesses the UKnowledge platform at this link regardless of their institution through the end of this summer. 

The following titles are included in the open access initiative and can be accessed at this link:

Other titles from the University Press of Kentucky available for purchase on the press' website:

The University Press of Kentucky is the scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, representing a consortium that includes all of the state universities, five private colleges and two historical societies. The press’ editorial program focuses on the humanities and the social sciences. Offices for the administrative, editorial, production and marketing departments of the press are found at the University of Kentucky, which provides financial support toward operating and publishing expenses.​

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.