Former State Senator Georgia Powers was in Bowling Green this evening.

Powers was the first African-American and first woman to serve in the Kentucky legislature.

She was a Senator from 1968 to 1989.

Powers was instrumental in pushing civil rights legislation and laws to help the handicapped.

She said she actually didn't know she was the first woman and African-American until the day she was sworn in.

"When I was sworn in and looked around, I was facing 37 white men. I was really shocked, and I thought my work is cut out for me now, but I was on a mission. It didn't matter because I was an advocate for women, for African-Americans, for poor people, for handicapped, and those without a voice," said Powers.

This was a part of the Kentucky Live lecture series at Barnes and Noble.

Professor Anne Onyekwuluje presented her book "Georgia Powers: A Grassroots Civil Rights Leader in Kentucky."