Focus: Black Oklahoma

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 (mawhfet) 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.

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.

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.

Tulsans will head to the voting booths on August 27th to choose a new mayor in a non-partisan, general election. Two-term incumbent mayor G.T. Bynum has declined to seek re-election to a third term in office. This segment covers some of the seven mayoral candidates' remarks at two recent public forums.

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. An 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.

With Oklahoma ranking in the bottom 10 states for education and child well-being, teachers, administrators, and elected officials responsible for affecting these outcomes are under increasing levels of scrutiny. At the center of it all is State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Here's Shonda Little with details.

At the Indigenous Roots Symposium representatives from various tribes united to share resources and foster education, highlighting the strength of intertribal collaboration. The event showcased a commitment to preserving Native American history and culture, with discussions centered on the importance of navigating the complexities of tribal identity and heritage. Francia Allen has the story.

A collaborative initiative known as the 111 Project is leveraging technology and community engagement to address the child welfare crisis. By partnering with over 700 churches and utilizing the CarePortal platform, the project aims to connect families in need with vital resources, ensuring that every child has the support of a family. Zaakirah Muhammad shares details in part two of her three part series on the foster care system.

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. Gabby Requer is our production assistant.

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.

In Oklahoma City, frustration mounts as state officials highlight a $400 million dollar, funding shortfall for Langston University, the state's only Historically Black College & University. Despite a $5 billion dollar State budget surplus, Langston continues to receive a fraction of the support given to other state universities, prompting renewed calls for equitable funding. Anthony Cherry has details.

In Oklahoma, where over 9,000 children are in foster care, Quinton and Danielle Melton have opened their hearts and home to more than 35 foster kids since 2016. For this Tulsa couple, it's about creating lasting memories and providing stability during uncertain times. Their journey reflects a broader effort to support foster children through innovative initiatives and community engagement. Zaakirah Muhammad has the story.

Tulsa bid Kamren Larsen,  the first Black BMX Olympian, farewell in style. USA BMX hosted a send-off party at their headquarters on July 16th, offering fans a final chance to meet and cheer on four of the five Olympians before they departed for France to compete for gold. Larsen sat down with FBO to share his excitement about this historic first.

Jazz legend Freda Payne will be at Tulsa’s The Church Studio July 27th for a book signing of her new biography “Band of Gold.” Payne spoke with FBO’s Quraysh Ali Lansana about her legacy and the upcoming event.

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. Gabby Requer is our production assistant.

We are releasing this interview ahead of the full podcast so fans and fans-in-the-making will have time to listen before the Paris 2024 Olympic BMX Racing events, which begin on August 1st and finish on August 2nd.

Tulsa bid Kamren Larsen, the first Black BMX Olympian, farewell in style. Although this will be his first Olympic competition, Kam is an accomplished rider, having won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games. USA BMX hosted a send-off party at their headquarters, located in the historic Greenwood district, on July 16th. Fans were offered a final chance to meet and cheer on four of the five Olympians before Team USA departed to compete for gold in the Paris Olympics. Larsen sat down with FBO to share his excitement about this historic first.

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. Special shout out to The bART Center for Music for granting us temporary residence to produce this podcast.

In May, Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 4156, the controversial immigration legislation, into state law. The United States Justice Department reacted quickly by keeping its promise to file a lawsuit deeming the measure unconstitutional under the Supremacy clause. Proponents and opponents agree the law will drastically change the landscape of immigration in Oklahoma. As Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond prepares to defend House Bill 4156 in federal court and the federal government prepares to react days later in the same court, Shonda Little brings us statements from those fighting on both sides.

In workplaces across the nation, many women quietly struggle with menstrual health issues that affect their well-being and productivity. Despite the impact of menstrual pain and the stigma that often surrounds it, necessary support and facilities like private restrooms and free sanitary products are often lacking. This gap highlights the urgent need to destigmatize menstruation and adopt more inclusive workplace policies. Zaakirah Muhammed has the story.

Whether it's finding purpose, developing new skills, or giving back to the community that once cheered them on, Beyond the Ball is there to ensure that no athlete is left behind, reminding them that the game may have ended, but their journey has just begun. Anthony Cherry has more.

Retirement usually signals a shift towards leisure, but for Katherine Penny Mitchell and Deborah J. Hunter, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the Tulsa art scene. Mitchell now crafts stunning jewelry, including a permanent art installation at Vernon AME Church and Hunter has embraced spoken word, collaborating across genres. Their bold reinvention inspires women reimagining their own retirements. Here’s Francia Allen.

The Legacy Open Rodeo on June 29th will be produced by Oklahoma's only female rodeo producer. Tiffany Guess spoke with FBO’s Jamie Glisson about how she got started in rodeo and what she hopes her legacy will be.

Have you noticed the rising prices of, like- EVERYTHING these days?? Sondra Slade shares her unique perspective on gas and egg prices that blends humor with the practical realities of managing a household budget and the subtle ways in which rising costs influence family life and decision-making.

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. Gabby Requer is our production assistant.

The Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, considers a new way to alert the public when adults go missing. The tool looks a lot like the Kasey alerts that launched five months ago as a way to address the Missing & Murdered Indigenous People, or MMIP, crisis in Oklahoma. Both are similar to the AMBER alert & Silver alert system. KOSU / OPMX’s Sarah Liese reports on how the Kasey alert system is doing & what the new FCC tool could mean for Indigenous Nations throughout the U.S.

At the end of April, Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1854 into law, criminalizing homelessness with the potential to incur misdemeanors & face a possible 15 days in jail. The new law, taking effect in November, does not provide new funding for housing Oklahomans without shelter. While Stitt & some Republicans tout the bill as a means for public protection, some Democrats say it will only amplify the problems unhoused Oklahomans face as well as add to already overburdened & overcrowded jails across the state. Shonda Little speaks with State Representative Forrest Bennett & a former unhoused Oklahoman about the law.

During the pandemic, schools received a big boost from the federal government through the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER Fund. ESSER Funds are scheduled to end soon. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis reports, when that money ends, so may the after-school programs made possible by those funds.

The recent recall election of Judd Blevins in Enid, which received national attention for his alleged ties with Nazi & white supremacist groups, led to a win for Republican challenger, Cheryl Patterson. All while Garfield County gears up for elections to be held on June 18. The Garfield County District One Commissioner seat is open- current Commissioner Marc Bolz stepped down. Three candidates are running for that position; Chris Bigbey, Assistant Lead County Foreman & Assistant Volunteer Fire Chief in Covington sat down with Venson Fields, while Joe Kegin & Jamie Hedges did not respond to an interview request. In the race for Garfield County Court Clerk, the current Court Clerk, Janelle Sharp, was run against challenger Kathy Voth, the current Accounts Manager for the Garfield County Criminal Justice Authority. Voth discusses her first campaign experience & what made her decide to run for office with Fields. Sharpe was unavailable for comment.

Colon cancer is a major concern, especially for higher risk groups, like BIPOC communities. Zaakirah Muhammad speaks with local experts Dr. Christina Booth, University of Oklahoma's Associate Professor of Surgery & Chris Evans, president of the Colon Cancer Coalition, who emphasize early detection & addressing risk factors. While Katherine Anderson, the virtual director at City of Hope (formerly known as Cancer Treatment Centers of America), & Dee Terrell, Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, & Assistant Dean at the Hudson College of Public Health, & Alana Woodson, Dallas based co-creator at the Rare Company Collective speak about the colon cancer experience & mitigation.

Thinking about protecting the environment, most of us focus on nature- plants, animals, ecosystems... For Michelle Cullom, it goes deeper. She sees it as protecting human life & spirit. From childhood vacations, bomb biscuits, & family rivalries, she connects everything through the nurturers keeping her safe. Michelle's story shows how maternal protectors guided her sometimes "boujee" journey.

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.