Miles J. Dean is traveling cross-country from New York to California in hopes of bringing awareness to the African-American experience.

Dean is taking his journey on horseback, visiting historically black colleges in several states.

While in Kentucky, he hopes to inform others on the history of African-American involvement with the Kentucky Derby.

He says many students fail to realize the significance African-Americans have had on American society.

"The textbooks in the Northeast where I teach don't do justice to the African-American involvement and contribution to the expansion and development of the U.S. I'm trying to not just think outside the box, but act creatively out of the box," Dean explained.

Dean started his adventure in September and plans to make it to Los Angeles by the third week of February.