Interesting reading: Oklahoma City African-American Discovery guide by Kendrick Moore
In 2001, State of Oklahoma officially
apologizes for 1921 Tulsa race riot; endorses reparations for the riot victims.
In 1980, President Ronald Reagan appointed Ms.
Lennie Tolliver to be Director of the U.S. Commission on Aging.
Freddye Williams served on OK City Board of
Education 1975-1979, OK House of Reps 1981-1990 ow.ly/hlYZj
1958 - Clara Luper and students participate in
the first lunch counter sit-ins at Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City.
Valree Fletcher Wynn. 1st black to teach at
Lawton High School and at Cameron University. ow.ly/hlFMv
In 1970, Coretta Banks becomes the first
African American to participate in the Miss Oklahoma Beauty Pageant.
Betty Hopkins Mason, 1928- Tulsan, 1st black
& 1st woman Supt of OK City Public Schools, 1992-95 ow.ly/hlAez
Book: Journey Toward Hope: A History of Blacks
in Oklahoma by Jimmie Lewis Franklin
Mazola McKerson. Owner Gourmet Restaurant,
Ardmore. 1st black/woman elected to City Council & Mayor...
Willa Johnson-1st black woman elected 2 OK
City Council, Ward 7; now OK County Commissioner. See ow.ly/hlDfA
1970, Coretta Banks becomes first black to
participate in the Miss Oklahoma Beauty pageant.
Leona Mitchell, 1949- . Renowned
African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano. OCU graduate. ow.ly/hlEZy
Marie Rogers Gray (1900-1999). A life-long
educator, she founded schools in Fay, Geary, & Eudora, Oklahoma.
Maxine Horner- With Vicki Miles-LaGrage,1st
Black woman elected to OK Senate (1987). Helped found OK Jazz Hall of Fame
Anita Hill. Law professor's testimony addressed sexual
harassment at Clarence Thomas hearing ow.ly/hlCG7
Judith Horton, told she couldn't use Guthrie's
white library, founded 1st black library, Excelsior Library, in 1908.
In 1982, Democrat Shirley Darrell in Oklahoma
County became the first black elected as a county commissioner.
Rubye Hibler Hall 1912-2003 1st black
appointed to OK State Regents for Higher Education (1974-80) ow.ly/hlBu0
Okie Vicki Miles-LaGrange is Chief US District
Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma ow.ly/hl65D
Dorothy Moses DeWitty, 1926-2012, 1st black
woman principal of Tulsa school & Tulsa City Council. ow.ly/hlaKz
Zelia Page Breaux 1880-1956 Musician/educator,
influenced Charlie Christian. Co-owned Aldridge Theater ow.ly/hllmq
Juanita Kidd Stout, 1919-1998, 1st black woman
admitted to OK Bar, served on PA Supreme Court ow.ly/hjI7v
Emma Jones-Freeman won lawsuit against OK City
School Board resulting in equal pay for teachers regardless of race
Check out this lovely interview with Rosa
Parks on the Academy of Achievement site:achievement.org/autodoc/page/p…
Nancy Randolph-Davis educator, activist, 1st
black student to enroll at OK State University ow.ly/hldwI
Hannah Diggs Atkins (1923-2010) 1st black
woman in OK House of Reps. OK Secty of State, more: ow.ly/hlabl
Opaline Deveraux Wadkins 1912-2000 health
activist helped desegregate nursing schools in Oklahoma ow.ly/hlcFB
Evelyn LaRue Pittman, 1910-1992, music
teacher, choral conductor, composer of music drawn from black history
Beulah Jacobs Ponder was 1st black to work in
Office of Governor; receptionist for Henry Bellman ow.ly/hlZkT
Lena Lowery Sawner, 1874-1949, principal of
segregated Douglass HS in OKC, one of Oklahoma's first black activists.
Okie Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) was the
world's 1st licensed black aviator. Read about her at ow.ly/hjH44
Okie educator Clara Luper (1923-2011) was
pioneer in American Civil Rights Movement. Watch video ow.ly/hl6SC
