KY Legislature Honors Owensboro Native With 2026 Living Legacy Award

Yesterday, my friends Emmy Woosley, Rhondalyn Randolph, Drew Hardesty, and Rafe Buckner took a little road trip to Frankfort. We are part of a group that has been working to honor and remember a special man who was born and raised right here in Owensboro.

That man's name is Moneta Sleet Jr., and while Johnny Depp gets all of the attention around here, I believe Mr. Sleet is the most influential person to hail from the city of Owensboro. He was a photographer for Jet and Ebony magazine who took pictures of superstars like Muhammad Ali and Billie Holiday.  He was also side by side with Martin Luther King Jr., documenting the civil rights movement.

When we think about Black History Month and make more of an effort to learn about black leaders, black excellence in our country, Mr. Sleet is up there with the greats. He captured peaceful protests like the march to Selma and moments like MLK's I Have a Dream speech. Without him, we may not have an accurate representation of what happened. That's huge.

Moneta was the first black man to win the Pulitzer Prize in photography for a picture he took at Martin Luther King Jr's funeral. You have probably seen that picture before, but the story behind it is incredible as well. Unfortunately, that story and countless others aren't celebrated as often as they should be, but our group is trying to change that.

Kentucky State Senator and Democratic Floor Leader, Gerald Neal, invited the Moneta Sleet Jr. committee to the annual Black History Month celebration hosted by The Kentucky Historical Society and the Legislative Black Caucus. The event was packed with incredible speakers, motivational leaders, and stories of notable Black Kentuckians.

The choir had us all in tears and singing along! Governor Beshear, Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Col. Pamela Stevenson, Justice Keller of the KY Supreme Court, and keynote speaker Dr. Roger Cleveland all gave moving tributes and reminded us of the importance of education and remembering where we came from. Finally, the Living Legacy Award was announced.

It's an honor given to a Kentuckian who has made a significant impact on the Commonwealth, and I think it's safe to say Moneta Sleet Jr. and his work have made a significant impact on the entire world. "A picture is worth a thousand words" is especially true when the person behind the lens is as gifted as he was.

I'm beyond proud to say he is from Owensboro. I hope it inspires you and future generations to see the world "through Sleet's eyes." To learn more about Moneta Sleet Jr. and the work we are doing to pay tribute to his work and his memory, follow "Through Sleet's Eyes" on Facebook. We'll have some exciting announcements very soon!