Focus: Black Oklahoma

This month on Focus Black Oklahoma:

Parenting is hard and determining what constitutes a family is even harder. Oklahoma Law has no precedent for a same sex custody battle. Yet, Kris Williams finds herself in the midst of a struggle for parental rights. Shonda Little has the story.

The American Dream is fairly elusive, even for the people who were born and raised in the United States. Economic inclusion and self-sufficiency for refugees are priorities of the University of Oklahoma’s Humanitarian Innovation Research Group, or OU HIRG. Anthony Cherry has the story about the organization and how they are advocating for refugee rights.

The need for representation across a variety of industries has been lacking for years. In particular, Black physicians are few and far between. Dr. Jabraan Pasha has details about the Youth Medical Mentorship Program which is working to change the disparity of Blacks in medicine.

Against the backdrop of divisive social, cultural, and political rhetoric, as the state of Oklahoma continues to see a rise in legislation banning race and gender diversity in education, restricting reproductive health and autonomy, and restricting 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, the initiatives, programs, and services of social justice organizations in the state have become increasingly sought after, especially to equip and support young people in the approach and navigation of these complex conversations.

For over eight decades, one of the state’s oldest inclusivity-focused nonprofits, Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, or OCCJ, has worked to promote understanding and mutual respect through advocacy, conflict resolution and educational programs. OCCJ started as a volunteer movement chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, formally establishing the Tulsa branch in 1958. In 2005, OCCJ became independent of that national organization. Through their initiatives and programs, they continue to do the work of elevating voices and educating world citizens. On February 6th, Phil Armstrong was officially welcomed as the OCCJ’s new president and chief executive officer. Juddie Williams has the story.

In an effort to reinvigorate Greenwood and the health of its citizens, the Historic Greenwood District Main Street is launching Greenwood Go, an initiative to ensure more people have healthy bodies to walk the historic District but also spur healthy commerce in the community. Sondra Slade shares details.

Though Tulsa’s moniker as the Rose Capital has been long gone, there are still beautiful flowers all around town that highlight the history made here. As Tulsa enjoys this renaissance in arts the people of the city have committed to give its flowers  to the artists that showcase its beauty. Chaz Stephens has the 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.

This month we start with education. No matter what you call it, a “voucher” or a “tax credit,” the end result is defunding our State’s public education system. Anthony Cherry talks with two state lawmakers about the current legislative session and the bills regarding school vouchers.

Since the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011, there has been a growing focus on the disparity between the wealthiest 1% of Americans and the other 99% of the population. A recently published report demonstrates how wealth inequality is a global issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nick Alexandrov details how the effects can be measured here in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has long been on the list of states that incarcerates a large percentage of its population. Prison conditions such as overcrowding and mismanagement are  just a few of the public's concerns. One group, the People’s Council for Criminal Justice Reform is working to ensure someone is held accountable. Shonda Little has details.

In 2019, Tulsa Mayor, GT Bynum announced a public investigation into potential mass graves of Race Massacre victims located at Oaklawn Cemetery. The documentary film, Oaklawn, produced by the Center for Public Secrets and Well-Told covers the events since that first announcement and more broadly the injustices Black Americans face daily including government and policing. Charlie Chadwick has the story.

The term Black Excellence has become mainstream in recent years just as Drag and drag culture have taken over our brunches and our Friday evenings. Jasmine Bivar Tobie shares the thoughts of global drag super stars and some local voices to get to the meaning of Black Excellence.

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.

In this episode, we begin with a story that explores the insidious aspects of implicit bias. They are an ever present part of the lived experiences of people of color in America. Black women are the most susceptible to bias through the lens of the healthcare system. Dr. Jabraan Pasha has the story about the Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative and its mission to ensure that more pregnant Black women have the medical support they need through their doula program.

Amidst the political rhetoric that surrounds banning abortions across the nation, mental health is often overlooked as an important aspect of maternal health . Shonda Little examines the case of a young Oklahoma woman who is caught in the center of the struggle between politics and an individual’s rights.

In 2018, Oklahomans voted to legalize medical cannabis. In March, they will have an opportunity to vote for the legalization of recreational cannabis. Jamie Glisson has details on a recent forum covering the issue.

Oklahoma means land of the “red people,” yet the state once contained within its borders more all black towns than any other. One of the lesser known facets of this history is the legacy of all black towns established by Freedmen of various Indigenous nations. Here’s Crystal Patrick with the first segment of an eight part series digging into the state’s historic all black towns.

Many genres of popular music in the United States have been influenced by Black culture: hip hop, R&B, jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll, soul, and more. However, contributions by Black artists to country music are often overlooked. In 2021, one woman established an organization to change that. Carlos Moreno has the 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.

Oklahoma is among the Republican led states that have banned over 1000 books since Fall 2021, with the bans disproportionately affecting works with Black characters or addressing issues of race. Focus: Black Oklahoma’s Anthony Cherry spoke with educators about the impact of restricting literature in the classroom.

With Kamala Harris holding the office of the Vice President of the United States, Black women are arguably more visible in American politics than ever. Dawn Carter reports on a national organization dedicated to increasing engagement and representation of Black women in the political process. For more reporting on the topics discussed in this story you can listen to our episode released in January 2021 wherever you get your podcasts.

Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric along with a Molotov cocktail were thrown into a Tulsa donut shop because it was hosting a Drag Queen event. This event, and others like it, indicates performers and even their allies have reason for fear and concern. Dr. Nick Alexandrov has details on the growing instances of anti-LGBTQ hate crimes.

The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark McGirt vs. Oklahoma decision in 2020 was a big win for tribal sovereignty that gave tribal nations jurisdiction over many crimes committed in their territory and by their citizens. But, working out the state of Oklahoma's role in such matters has proven extremely contentious. StateImpact Oklahoma's Logan Layden spoke with KOSU Indigenous Affairs reporter Allison Herrera about one case that highlights the complications involved.

Oklahoma health officials have surveyed high school students for decades, looking at things like their alcohol use, nutrition, and home life. StateImpact’s Catherine Sweeney reports the data have shown a spike in mental health struggles.

Being your truest self in any life situation can sometimes be challenging. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie shares the experience of attempting to honor and protect herself in an alternative space.

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.

On this episode, we start off with Anthony Cherry bringing us details on how finding representation in education is the new challenge for school districts in this story from September. Oklahoma’s teacher shortage has reached critical levels and finding Black teachers is almost impossible.

Shonda Little explores the motivations and tactics used by white supremacist gangs in the state and where they appear to be setting up shop. Here is her segment on the United Aryan Brotherhood, which we aired in January. The Washington Post picked up the story in September.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s three part series, The Battle for Greenwood, was the recipient of an award from the Oklahoma Society for Professional Journalists in the Special Programs category. This excerpt, narrated by former co-host Kolby Webster, is from the third episode, titled Reparations, and takes a deep dive into the City’s controversial efforts to identify potential mass graves that resulted from the 1921 Race Massacre. As of this recording, 19 additional adult graves and 2 child burials have been discovered at Oaklawn Cemetery.

In our November broadcast, Nick Alexandrov brought us the story of how one Tulsa Fortune 500 company has been using its money to support campaigns of politicians who proclaim, without evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Also from our November broadcast, Jasmine Bivar-Tobie shares the story of Leeman Lewis’ ongoing pledge to restore the Okmulgee Black hospital through the work of the nonprofit organization Landmark For All Generations.

It’s hard not to recognize that Black people and their contributions have touched every part of our state. In our July broadcast, Carlos Moreno reported on how the Claremore Museum of History celebrated the one year anniversary of its Black History exhibit.

In this section from our Culture Keepers series Britny Cordera takes us on a well-seasoned adventure towards decolonizing menus across the country. This story aired on Focus: Black Oklahoma in January 2022 and was further covered by The New Yorker Magazine in September.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

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.

On this episode, we start off with Dr. Nick Alexandrov examining one Tulsa Fortune 500 company that uses its money to support campaigns of politicians who proclaim, without evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. As many find themselves learning to navigate in a “post-truth” era, there’s at least one statement you can always trust: money talks.

For 2022 midterm elections, state-wide attention was focused on what the electoral outcomes would mean for issues like Indigenous sovereignty and education. Jamie Glisson reviews this year’s results for state and national offices.

A new exhibit at the Cherokee History Museum in Tahlequah explores the history of the Freedmen, the people formerly enslaved by the Indigenous nation.  FBO's Allison Herrera visited the museum with some of their descendants.

Because of Black history and a personal commitment to preserving landmarks that are tied to Black people, Leeman Lewis bought and is restoring the Okmulgee Black hospital as a labor of love for his community. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie shares the story of Lewis’ ongoing pledge to ensure it is a Landmark for All Generations.

Despite humble beginnings in rural Oklahoma, Jalen Dorsey has built a stellar music career and a booming new business venture that proves it’s not where you came from- it’s about where you want to go. Shonda Little has details on the life of Jalen aka DJ Lite Brite and his thriving music and entrepreneurial endeavors.

High school. Years many of us simply want to forget. Yet, no matter how old you get or how many years have passed there is always a reunion that brings all those feelings flooding back. FBO’s Executive Producer Quraysh Ali Lansana shares his anxieties about attending his 40th high school reunion.

The holidays are always a special time of year when families come together to celebrate. But when grandma is slipped the “special brownies” and decides to share the gift that keeps on giving, well, that's when true memories are made. Here’s Sondra Slade.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

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.

On this episode, we start off with exploring why most people believe that justice must be punitive. The Restorative Justice Institute of Oklahoma seeks to change the public’s perceptions on this issue using a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie has the story.

Next Jamie Glisson introduces us to Joshua Harris-Till. 67 years ago a 14 year old boy was murdered based on an accusation. An accusation that was deemed false at the time and then proven so decades later. Emmitt Till was dragged from the home of his Aunt and Uncle in Drew, Mississippi by two white men with shot guns, then taken to a nearby barn and tortured for hours until he was shot in the head and then thrown into a nearby river with a large fan tied to his leg to weigh him down.

Media coverage of the recent shooting at McLain High school in Tulsa, perpetuates the narrative that our communities are dangerous and rife with violence. Anthony Cherry shares a story about how Black male mentors through organizations like Men of Power are focused on making sure more young Black men are seen as thriving- not as threats.

With a written history dating back 3,000 years, China has one of the oldest cultures in the world. As the Mandarin Chinese language grows into a 21st century lingua franca, Chinese language programs have achieved success in Oklahoma despite obstacles like budget cuts and political and cultural barriers. Carlos Moreno spoke with members of the United States Heartland China Association to discuss ongoing efforts to promote Chinese language education.

An often overlooked aspect of Oklahoma history is the legacy of Jim Crow style policies that were implemented even prior to statehood. Shonda Little traveled to Elk City to hear how members of the Black community have maintained the city’s oldest cemetery by cultivating a “for us, by us” attitude for nearly 120 years.

There’s an old proverb about friendship: as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Sometimes being sharp means having as much fun as possible while keeping each other out of trouble. Sondra Slade recounts what real friendship looks like during a cross country road trip in college.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Smriti Ayengar is our associate producer. Our production intern is Torren Doss.

On this episode, we start off with a closer look at Oklahoma’s teacher shortage, which has reached critical levels, and finding Black teachers is almost impossible. Anthony Cherry has details on how finding representation in education is the new challenge for school districts.

Next Shonda Little examines recent tragic impacts that lagging mental health funding and unrestricted access to guns have on communities and shares more on the need for gun trigger laws in Oklahoma.

In the fourth installment of her series exploring candidates running for political office across the state, Jamie Glisson speaks with Congressional District 1 candidate, Adam Martin.

Historically, access to sustainable energy resources has been out of reach for many marginalized communities. Dawn Carter has the story about WeSolar a community solar firm that aims to change that.

We catch up with local students with StateImpact Oklahoma’s listening tour with youth across the state. StateImpact's Robby Korth and KOSU's Kateleigh Mills talked with a couple of Tulsa high school students about race, gender and how they interact with their peers at school.

Mikeal Vaughn, the founder and executive Director of The Urban Coders Guild is celebrating five years of ensuring Black and brown youth are reflected in the tech industry that gave him his start. Carlos Moreno has the story.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns are Torren Doss and Smriti Iyengar.

In this installment, Lydia Jeong met with leaders who are closing gaps in anti-racist education by encouraging Oklahomans to talk about issues relating to race and discrimination. Her story has more about Aware Tulsa and University of Oklahoma’s Anti-Racist Rhetoric and Pedagogies seminar.

Next up Anthony Cherry examines how most Oklahomans are unaware of the state’s early migrants from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. This often underrepresented community has long been a part of Oklahoma history. Here, he shares their story.

In our third installment of Jamie Glisson's series exploring candidates running for political office across the state, she speaks with Congressional District 4 candidates incumbent Congressman Tom Cole and his opponent Mary Brannon.

Tulsa arts organization, A Pocket Full of Hope makes big moves into a historic building so that youth can share the stage once graced by greats like Count Basie and Ray Charles. Jasmine Bivar-Tobie has details on how this organization continues to improve the lives of students in North Tulsa.

Finally we have a story about father and son dynamics. They can be challenging, but when one adds girls and snakes those dynamics can be humbling- especially for fathers. G.K. Palmer tells us his story about a kung-fu snake.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns Perla Mauricio, Torren Doss, and Smriti Iyengar.

We start this episode with taxes! Tax code is complicated and the fiscal impact of the McGirt decision on the State tax collection is also complicated. Dawn Carter has the story on how tribal tax exemptions are impacting state funded programs.

We continue discussing Native American Nations in our next story. Allison Herrera tells us about the traumatic experiences of Indian Boarding schools, painfully brought to light in a one of a kind event in Anadarko. The testimonies are putting former boarders firmly on the road to healing.

Next we revisit local nurses and new data on the long-term effects of COVID, specifically on the health of Black people-- which is significant. A lack of mental health services and patient advocates are just some of the real concerns across North Tulsa and similar communities. Nick Alexandrov has the story.

Juddie Williams has our next story: Freedom of speech is a constitutional right that still requires protection so that people can express their political views as fully as possible. Williams brings us a story about two organizations whose sole purpose is to protect our civil liberties.

Listen in as queer farmers find community through an event called Queer Farmer Convergence. Catherine Wheeler shares just how important it is to be seen, heard, and challenged by your peers.

It’s hard not to recognize that Black people and their contributions have touched every part of Oklahoma and Claremore is no exception. From Olympians to sucessful business men, Claremore has a long history of Black excellence that is now being showcased in the Black History exhibit at the Claremore Museum of History. Carlos Moreno brings us the details.

We end with an audio diary from musicians who recently performed at the Woody Guthrie Center. Crys Matthews and her wife Heather Mae graced the stage, singing songs from each of their prestigious careers, love songs they wrote for each other, and each debuting a new song for what the couple called a small but mighty audience. As the crew broke down the stage, Matthews took some time to speak about being on the road again playing music. She is a rising star in the folk music world, winning the Lincoln Center New Music competition in 2017, and recent awards at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, and the International Folk Music Awards. A preacher's kid from small town North Carolina, Matthews talked about the themes in her music of love, faith, civil rights, and social justice.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our producers are Nick Alexandrov and Vanessa Gaona. Our production interns Perla Mauricio, Torren Doss, and Smriti Iyengar.