Melanie Goan

Melanie Goan, a history professor at the University of Kentucky specializing in slavery and state history, delves into Kentucky's complex relationship with slavery from its statehood in 1792 until the Civil War. She uncovers how early settlers debated slavery, the state’s unique role as a Union slaveholding border state, and notable abolitionist movements. Goan also highlights the economic significance of slavery, the violence during the Civil War, and the lasting impact on Kentucky's memory and identity, providing a nuanced view of a state caught between two worlds.