THE MAJOR MOMENTS IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IS REPRESENTED RIGHT HERE AT THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER. FROM THE FIRST DOCTORS AND LAWYERS TO THE FIRST POLITICIANS, AND ALSO CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS LIKE CLARA LUPER, WHO STAGED SIT INS AT LUNCH COUNTERS. JUST LIKE THIS ONE. WE SAY BLACK HISTORY IS OKLAHOMA HISTORY OR OKLAHOMA HISTORY IS BLACK HISTORY. WHAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH GIVES US IS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TO TO REMIND FOLKS OF THAT WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH UNDERWAY AND SHOT DOWN, IT’S A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND REFLECT. IT’S HARD TO FIND A PERSON WITH A BIGGER IMPACT IN OKLAHOMA THAN CLARA LUPER. WHEN YOU KNOW PEOPLE SAY CLARE LUPER’S NAME, THEY THINK, UM, DEDICATION TO FOR EQUALITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS. STATE HISTORIAN MATTHEW PIERCE, SITTING AT A REPLICA COUNTER FROM A KATZ DRUGSTORE WHERE LUPER AND MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH NAACP STAGED SIT INS IN THE LATE 50S AND 60S, IS A MASSIVE STEP IN ENDING SEGREGATION IN OKLAHOMA. TULSA, WHERE IN 1921 HISTORIANS BELIEVE AS MANY AS 300 PEOPLE DIED IN THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE THOSE EVENTS AND AND ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT THE RESILIENCE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER, FULL OF STORIES, THE HISTORY OF BLACK EXCELLENCE, HARDSHIP AND TRIUMPH. THESE TYPES OF OF EVENTS OR MONTHS GIVE US A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC AND REMIND. REMIND PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM. HOPEFULLY, THAT WAY THEY CAN TAKE THAT TIME TO TO PAUSE AND REFLECT DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL OPEN A NEW EXHIBIT ON THE HISTORY OF -- BASEBALL IN ENID AND WILL ALSO HOST WEBINARS TO DISCUSS BLACK HISTORY. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION IN THE AS SEEN ON SECTION OF KOCO. CO
Oklahoma History Center highlights most important moments of Black history in state
As Black History Month began Thursday, Oklahoma historians talked about the major moments throughout the state's history.
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Updated: 6:03 PM CST Feb 1, 2024
As Black History Month began Thursday, Oklahoma historians talked about the major moments throughout the state's history. African American history is represented at the Oklahoma History Center — from the first doctors and lawyers to the first politicians. Civil rights leaders like Clara Luper, who staged sit-ins at Oklahoma lunch counters, are also highlighted. >> Download the KOCO 5 App"We say Black history is Oklahoma history or Oklahoma history is Black history. What Black History Month gives us is that opportunity to remind folks of that," Matthew Pearce, the state historian at the Oklahoma Historical Society, said. "When people say Clara Luper's name, they think dedication to equality and civil rights."Pearce sat at a replica counter from Katz Drugstore, where Luper and members of the NAACP staged sit-ins in the late 1950s and 1960s. This was one of the massive steps to ending segregation in Oklahoma. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The Tulsa Race Massacre, where historians said as many as 300 people died, was also among the stories shared. "These types of events or months give us a chance to talk to the public and remind people, so hopefully, they can take that time to pause and reflect," Pearce said. During the month of February, the Oklahoma Historical Society will open a new exhibit on the history of Negro Baseball in Enid and will host webinars to discuss Black history.Top Headlines Suspect wanted for first-degree rape arrested in Pottawatomie County after years on the run Crash tests indicate nation's guardrail system can't handle heavy electric vehicles TIMELINE: Storms could bring a severe weather threat to parts of Oklahoma on Friday Several police officers, crews at scene of single-vehicle crash in northeast Oklahoma City February Outlook: Winter temperatures not done yet
As Black History Month began Thursday, Oklahoma historians talked about the major moments throughout the state's history.
African American history is represented at the Oklahoma History Center — from the first doctors and lawyers to the first politicians. Civil rights leaders like Clara Luper, who staged sit-ins at Oklahoma lunch counters, are also highlighted.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
"We say Black history is Oklahoma history or Oklahoma history is Black history. What Black History Month gives us is that opportunity to remind folks of that," Matthew Pearce, the state historian at the Oklahoma Historical Society, said. "When people say Clara Luper's name, they think dedication to equality and civil rights."
Pearce sat at a replica counter from Katz Drugstore, where Luper and members of the NAACP staged sit-ins in the late 1950s and 1960s. This was one of the massive steps to ending segregation in Oklahoma.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The Tulsa Race Massacre, where historians said as many as 300 people died, was also among the stories shared.
"These types of events or months give us a chance to talk to the public and remind people, so hopefully, they can take that time to pause and reflect," Pearce said.
During the month of February, the Oklahoma Historical Society will open a new exhibit on the history of Negro Baseball in Enid and will host webinars to discuss Black history.
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