African Americans in Oklahoma facts for kids
Elderly African American Sharecroppers in 1914
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| Total population | |
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| 289,961 |
African Americans have a rich history in Oklahoma. A estimated 7.8% of Oklahomans are Black.
African-Americans first settled in Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears. While many of these people were African slaves, around 500 chose to do so in order to escape slavery.
Racism against Blacks has been common throughout the state's history, manifesting itself in scenarios such as the Tulsa race massacre, which targeted members of Tulsa's affluent African-American Greenwood District.
All-black towns
Entirely black towns and neighbourhoods were historically common in Oklahoma, and thirteen still exist. This is a list of all remaining African American towns in Oklahoma:
Notable residents
- Green Currin, first African American to serve in the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature
- Lelia Foley, first Black female mayor in the United States
- A. C. Hamlin, first African American in the Oklahoman legislature
- Edward P. McCabe, politician
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African Americans in Oklahoma Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.