Hall of Justice

Charles W. Anderson, Jr. was the first black legislator in Kentucky and in the South.

Hall of Justice

600 West Jefferson Street

This marker is located in front on the steps of the Hall of Justice. What’s ironic about that? Charles Anderson was the first African American elected to a southern state legislature in the 20th century. A Republican from Louisville, he sponsored repeal of Kentucky’s public hanging law; funds for African Americans to attend graduate school outside Kentucky; and employment of African Americans in primarily responsible for pushing to end segregation in higher education.

One of his notable achievements was the Anderson Mayer State Aid Act which provided African American students with funding to attend college out of state due to Kentucky’s segregation laws. He served a total of six terms in the KY General Assembly.