About Dr. Arnold Farr

I was born and raised in Union South Carolina.  My great grandparents and grandparents were sharecroppers.  Growing up in a working class community allowed me to experience what it is like to struggle economically.  My family experienced economic struggle and various forms of social injustice.  However, although my grandparents and parents did not have the opportunity to get much formal education, they made sure that I had the opportunity.  I studied philosophy, religion, and psychology at Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.  After college, I studied theology for two years in Louisville, Kentucky.  In 1990, I moved to Lexington to do graduate work in philosophy and social theory at the University of Kentucky.  During that time, I fell in love with Lexington.  After spending time in Philadelphia as a faculty member at St. Joseph’s University, I returned to Lexington in 2008 to accept a position at the University of Kentucky.  

Since my return to Lexington, I’ve grown to love this city even more.  In addition to teaching at UK, I have been involved in local grassroots organizing and electoral politics.  I’ve also been involved in the local music scene.  This has allowed me to interact with so many of our citizens and to learn more about them and this city.  Through my social and political engagement, I strive to give back to the city that has given so much to me and my four children.  Despite being raised in South Carolina, I have actually lived in Lexington longer than I’ve lived anywhere else.  

My working class upbringing has instilled in me a deep respect for -- and commitment to -- those who happen to be less fortunate in our society.  I have spent my entire adult life fighting for people who are marginalized and find life to be more of a struggle than it should be.  From my college days to graduate school, to my 12 years in Philadelphia, to now, I’ve participated in movements and organizations that focused on helping us bring to fruition what Martin Luther King, Jr. called the beloved community.  

Much of my academic work has focused on issues of social justice and democratic discourse.  My work in organizing and politics forces me to bring theories of justice to life in the real world.  Through my political work, I get to apply what I learned from my studies in social and political philosophy to real life situations here in Lexington.  In this way, I give back to Lexington what it gave to me.  I’ve committed my life to helping those who are in need of help.  Now I seek to do that same work as a city council member.