Fear is rising as politicians nationwide target immigrants with their Trump-inspired rhetoric and policies. KOSU's Lionel Ramos reports Oklahoma’s Latino immigrant community has been stirred into a panic. Translations in this story were voiced by Sierra Pfeifer. To read more about this legal clinic and immigration enforcement in Oklahoma, visit KOSU.org.

In Oklahoma, as in many places, addiction carries a heavy stigma, particularly within the Black community. But as Focus: Black Oklahoma’s Cory Ross reports, the Oklahoma Harm Reduction Alliance is working to change that perception, offering resources and support to reduce the harms associated with drug use.

In this story Allison Herrera, one of the creator's of Tribal Justice: The struggle for Black Rights on Native Land (The full story can be found on Audible) we hear about Michael Hill, a Cherokee Freedmen who was arrested by the Okmulgee Police. He fought to have his case transferred to tribal court because he's an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. But, Michael's case was complicated-because of his status as a Black man with no blood quantum, his case did not qualify to be transferred. In this series. We've been exploring how centuries old laws have impacted people like Michael...and his brother Mikail-who was murdered in 2016. His case was transferred out of state court-even though like Michael, he is an enrolled Cherokee Freedmen.

In an era of shifting political landscapes and renewed focus on cultural identity, the stories of three Kenyan-American women offer a compelling lens through which to examine the immigrant, and emigrant, experience. From the challenges of navigating a new political climate in the U.S. to the surprising benefits of life in Kenya, they share their unique perspectives on culture, connection, and tradition. Zaakirah Muhammad has details.

Easter is a holiday steeped in tradition, often marked by new clothes and family gatherings. But for FBO correspondent Sondra Slade, the experience of shopping for the perfect Easter dress with her mother became a cherished memory that captures the spirit and anticipation of childhood.

 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production intern is Alexander Evans.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez. This is our fifth installment of the documentary.

Affordable housing and community development took center stage in Enid during a recent town hall meeting addressing a rezoning proposal. While some viewed the proposal as an opportunity for revitalization and affordable living, others raised concerns about taxes and the potential impact on their land. Venson Fields has details.

In the heart of Kinondo, Kwale County, the Al Walidayn Center stands as a beacon of hope, transforming lives through its free services amid a backdrop of high rates of sexual violence and teenage pregnancy. The center has dramatically reduced cases of gender-based violence offering young girls a sanctuary and a pathway to empowerment in a community once plagued by drug trafficking and exploitation. Zaakirah Muhammad reports from Kenya.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a steep hill nicknamed "Big Bertha" has become more than just a physical challenge. It's the centerpiece of a grassroots fitness movement led by Isaac Bennett, a local health coach and community activist. Every Saturday morning, Tulsans of all ages gather to conquer this formidable incline, finding not just a workout, but a sense of community and personal growth. Anthony Cherry has the story.

Whether it’s your fly boots or your open-toes, apple bottom jeans or boots with the fur, some outfits are meant to turn heads, but this story from Sondra Slade about a winter wardrobe malfunction will leave you in stitches.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production intern is Alexander Evans.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Recent studies have shown increasing suicide rates in the United States, particularly among Black youth. Experts in Oklahoma advocate for addressing cultural norms that prevent at risk youth and their families from seeking mental health treatment. Dawn Carter has details.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the fourth installment of FBOs broadcast of the documentary.

We speak with Kristi Williams about Black History Saturdays and how she's working to close education gaps in the Sooner State.

From runaway enslaved African to federal law enforcement officer, Bass Reeves lived a long and legendary life. In early January, Reeves was commemorated with a new bronze statue at the Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee. Carlos Moreno has the story.

Getting your first real job is a rite of passage growing up. Sondra Slade's story about her children finding jobs and getting their first paychecks will have you laughing all the way to the bank.

In November, Monroe Nichols was elected Tulsa’s first black mayor. On December 2nd, Nichols was sworn into office at the Cox Business Convention Center where he outlined his vision for the city over the next two years. Cory Ross has more.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the third installment of FBO's broadcast of the documentary.

Medical gaslighting can impact patients with a range of conditions and some women experiencing menopause are vulnerable. Multiple factors contribute to accurate diagnosis and treatment for a process all women will go through. Francia Allen shares the details.

FBO’s Sondra Slade reminisces with her Aunts Mae Frances Stidham Stevenson, former queen of Oklahoma City's Eastside Roundup Club, and Lovenia Marie Stidham Moham about African American rodeo culture and its vibrant community, highlighting a rich legacy of horsemanship and family values. This series, as well as a photo exhibition featuring Black Rodeo photos by Jamie & Richard Glisson of ImpressOK Studio, is funded by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities. Please visit rodeo.kosu.org and sign up to receive further details on the February 1st, 2025 exhibition opening event.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund and Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich and Naomi Agnew.

On November 5th, Monroe Nichols was elected Tulsa’s first Black mayor in the city’s 129 year history. FBO’s Jamie Glisson followed Nichols and his team for the day.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the second installment of FBOs broadcast of the documentary.

Though the holiday season can be a time of joy and celebration, for some families it can be a time of struggle and stress. The Tulsa Dream Center works to address some of these disparities. Here’s Danielle A. Melton with details.

Bishop Silvester Scott Beaman, the 139th Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the AME Church, and chair of the White House's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement and longtime spiritual advisor to President Biden, reflects on his role in fostering connections between African Americans and the broader African diaspora. Here’s our recent interview at Tulsa's historic Vernon AME Church, where Beaman shared his vision for strengthening ties and addressing challenges facing Black communities both in the U.S. and across the African continent.

Greenwood Rising: The Rise of Black Wall Street is a new full-length motion picture that was released October 11th on the Fawesome and Future Today streaming platforms. This movie centers on O.W. Gurley, a visionary and trailblazing businessman whose hard work laid the groundwork for Tulsa’s Greenwood District and the prosperous Black Wall Street. The film’s director, Aaron L. Williams, and lead actress Fatima Marie, who plays Emma Gurley, spoke with FBO’s Cepeda Cheeks about the film.

Medicine, fashion, and film converge as Dawn Carter brings us the second of a three part series on Oklahoma's Black Rodeo and Culture.This series, as well as a photo exhibition featuring Black Rodeo photos by Jamie & Richard Glisson of ImpressOK Studio, is funded by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities. Please visit rodeo dot kosu.org and sign up to receive further details on the February 1st, 2025 exhibition opening event.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund and Press Forward.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producer is Jesse Ulrich.

Dueling Visions for Oklahoma & the United States at the 2024 RNC & DNC

In this special episode we reflect on the distinct political climates of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions held this year. In this special episode we highlight the contrasts of the two events: the RNC's urgent call to defend traditional American values and the DNC's optimistic vision for an inclusive future. Delves into how each party's platform impacts marginalized communities, women's reproductive rights, and Oklahoma's economic challenges. Through interviews with delegates and politicians, we show the stark differences in ideology and policy proposals between the two major parties with a particular focus on Oklahoma and Oklahomans.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by The Commemoration Fund and Press Forward. 

This one hour special was made possible with support from KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Special thanks to Rachel Hubbard, Ryan LaCroix, Robby Korth and Lori Walden. Special thanks to FBO correspondents Jamie Glisson and Shonda Little, who brought us this reporting on location in Milwaukee and Chicago.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producer is Jesse Ulrich. 

You can visit us online at KOSU.org, focusblackoklahoma.com, and on YouTube at Tri-City Collective. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOk and on Facebook at facebook.com/focusblackok.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand for free at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Greenwood Rising: The Rise of Black Wall Street is a new full-length motion picture that was released October 11th on the Fawesome and Future Today streaming platforms. This movie centers on O.W. Gurley, a visionary and trailblazing businessman whose hard work laid the foundation for Tulsa’s Greenwood District. The film’s director, Aaron L. Williams, and lead actress Fatima Marie, who plays Emma Gurley, spoke with FBO’s Cepeda Cheeks about the film.

 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar & Jesse Ulrich.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On October 8, an Oklahoma City man who was born in Afghanistan was charged in federal court for an alleged terror plot. 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi faces one count of conspiring to conduct a terrorist attack, according to an affidavit filed by the FBI. While the story has made international news and went viral on social media, few are examining the potentially negative impact it could have on Oklahoma Muslims, including over 1,000 Afghan refugees who resettled in Oklahoma after the Taliban seized power.  Shonda Little spoke with representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Western Oklahoma about the positive impact this community brings to Oklahoma.

In a state grappling with the boundaries of religion in public education, State Superintendent Ryan Walters' directive to incorporate Bible teaching in classrooms has sparked controversy and confusion. As schools reopen, the implementation of this mandate remains unclear, with educators, students, and religious leaders voicing diverse opinions on its appropriateness and constitutionality. Venson Fields has the story.

⁦Tuesday, November 5 as people across the country head to the polls to vote for President, and in other federal and local elections, history will be on the ballot in Tulsa. Monroe Nichols is running for mayor. FBO was at Nichols’s election watch party as the results came in showing Nichols had won the most votes in the mayoral primary. If he wins the vote on the first Tuesday in November, he will be the first Black Mayor of Tulsa in the city’s history.

In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his own front yard. When trying to get his case heard in tribal court he was rejected because though he has tribal citizenship, he has no blood quantum and by federal law is not legally an Indian. His story is told in a newly released Audible Original documentary called Tribal Justice: The Struggle for Black Rights on Native Land, reported and written by two award-winning indigenous journalists, Allison Herrera  and Adreanna Rodriguez. The following excerpt is the first installment of FBOs broadcast of the documentary.

Ever been thrown from a horse? If you have, congratulations! You’ve just experienced the rodeo rite of passage: the ground’s unwavering embrace. It’s a lesson  learned from Chaz Stephens’ father, a retired cowboy with a knack for sage advice and questionable humor. But while rodeos might seem like a wild ride of bucking broncos they’re also vibrant celebrations of Black culture, where community ties are as strong as calving ropes. Chaz Stephens brings us the first of a three part series on Oklahoma’s Black Rodeos This series, as well as a photo exhibition featuring Black Rodeo photos by Jamie & Richard Glisson of ImpressOK Studio, is funded by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities. Please visit rodeo.kosu.org and sign up to receive further details on the February 1st, 2025 exhibition opening event.

 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar & Jesse Ulrich.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollective.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Opposition to Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters continues to grow, including among some Republican lawmakers. Allegations of abuses of office also continue to mount. Attorney General Gentner Drummond has now ordered an emergency opinion for Walters to immediately release security funds for schools. Shonda Little brings us an update on the impeachment battle and thoughts from lawmakers in support of removing Walters.

This year, the two new Latinos who ran for seats in the Oklahoma legislature lost their races early in the election season. They’d hoped to use a new civic energy among immigrant communities to propel them into office. But as Lionel Ramos reports, that energy didn’t carry voters to the polls during this year’s June primaries.

With high barriers to fostering children in the US, Muslim children are especially at risk of not receiving adequate support. With some children being fostered by non-Muslim parents or experiencing life in a non-Muslim society for the first time, some organizations are stepping up to ensure their needs are met.  Here’s Zaakirah Muhammad with the final part of her three part series on foster care.

The oldest continually-run Black rodeo in the U-S takes place each year in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The Roy LeBlanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo draws competitors from across the country. This year hundreds of attendees watched events such as the “mutton busting competition”… where kids ride sheep…The “Pony Express”… a relay race on horseback… And the “ladies steer undecorating”… where horseback riders tear tape or ribbon off a steer. Anna Pope was at the invitational and brought back this audio postcard. This audio postcard was produced by KOSU’s Anna Pope for Harvest Public Media. Harvest Public Media is a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains including KOSU.

In Enid, the Booker T Washington Community Center, once a segregated high school for Black students, is now gaining recognition as a vital community hub. Nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, this building, steeped in history since its construction, continues to serve as a beacon for local youth and a testament to resilience amid a legacy of segregation and inequality. Venson Fields has the story.

You might remember this lesson from science class: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Cepeda Cheeks made sure a schoolyard bully learned this lesson with a hands-on experiment in this next story.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.

The Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice, or FCJJ, was raided on Friday morning July 12th. Investigators with several law enforcement agencies spent an entire day and night removing boxes and electronic equipment from the Center, located at 500 W Archer St. in Tulsa. Investigators have begun working under a warrant, issued by the Tulsa Police Department, with the goal of finding evidence related to two recent arrests of FCJJ staff and a federal lawsuit filed in May of this year.

One of the most controversial issues that local candidates have been weighing on is the federal investigation surrounding allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the Tulsa County juvenile detention facility. A Focus: Black Oklahoma investigation looks into a potential conflict of interest regarding an Oklahoma City based company hired by Karen Keith’s mayoral campaign with ties to the state Office of Juvenile Affairs. Keith, who has served as one of three Tulsa County Commissioners since 2008, has touted the building of the FCJJ, which opened in 2019 in downtown Tulsa, as one of her great achievements as commissioner.

For more information on these allegations, check back with us during September’s broadcast. Meantime, check out Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice’s report titled Heinous Allegations: Abuses in Youth Custody in Tulsa County, Oklahoma at okappleseed.org/investigation-into-abuses-in-tulsa-county-juvenile.

If your child has been hurt by any type of child abuse or trauma, contact Family & Children’s Services at 918-587-9471. Oklahoma State law requires every person, private citizen or professional, who has reason to believe that a child under the age of 18 is a victim of abuse or neglect, to immediately report the matter to the Department of Human Services. If you believe a child is being abused or neglected, call the Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-522-3511.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar and Jesse Ulrich.