All-Black Towns in Oklahoma

The first installment of OKSHPO's 2024 Speaker Series "Everyday Oklahoma: Fascinating Stories about Familiar Places."

Oklahoma had more than 50 identifiable All-Black towns between the end of the Civil War and 1920, with five established before 1880. Today only 13 of them still exist and a 14th town, IXL, was incorporated in 2001. African Americans created these communities in an effort to attain security and prosperity during the Jim Crow era. Collectively, they have had a significant impact on Oklahoma’s history and culture. Kory Van Hemert, architectural historian for Stantec, will speak about ongoing efforts to document historic resources associated with All-Black towns. Gina Sofola, president and owner of Sofola & Associates, will discuss her collaboration with the All-Black town of Tullahassee to restore the National Register-listed A. J. Mason Building, seen as a centerpiece to the town’s broader revitalization efforts.