The Oklahoma Eagle

The Myth of the Christian State

The Gospels, with which most orthodoxies were aligned in Oklahoma, were objectively not applicable to Black Tulsans. Segregation, lynchings and mass murder were the justified responses to perceived encroachment and entitlement. No Black Tulsan man, woman or child was deserving of dignity, as represented in the state’s constitution, yet faith, Christianity, was regarded as the foundation upon which all were governed.

BTW graduates of 1921 were subject to both the legal cruelty of the state and a demand to accept that faith, a faith unlike their own, was the state’s moral foundation upon which life was governed, without objection.

By Ross D. Johnson, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/08/18/the-myth-of-the-christian-state/

Williams Named National Geographic Wayfinder

Kristi Williams, a stalwart advocate for Black culture and heritage in Tulsa, has been named a National Geographic Wayfinder. This coveted role positions Williams to amplify her brand of storytelling on national and international platforms.

By Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/08/15/williams-named-national-geographic-wayfinder/

Dennis Larsen, a stalwart of Tulsa police, takes command of the Police Department

Deputy Chief Dennis Larsen, a 45-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, was gracious, sincere, and genuine as he launched an open conversation with The Oklahoma Eagle about his succession to Tulsa’s Chief of Police on Aug. 1. He was equipped with a pile of documents ready to respond to questions. Larsen replaces Chief Wendell Franklin, who retired from the department to lead private security operations for the Bank of Oklahoma.

By Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/08/08/dennis-larsen-a-stalwart-of-tulsa-police-takes-command-of-the-police-department/

Lee To Receive Honor At National Association Of Black Journalists Convention, July 31 – Aug. 4

The National Association of Black Journalist will be presenting a special honor to one of the first Tulsans to be recognized by the national organization.

https://theokeagle.com/2024/08/08/lee-to-receive-honor-at-national-association-of-black-journalists-convention-july-31-aug-4/

TPS Offers Second Chance for High School Diploma

Tulsa Public Schools is offering a free summer program for recent high school dropouts and struggling students to get a diploma. The credit recovery program enables students to complete or make up coursework working online at their own pace, with help from certified teachers based in north Tulsa. The Bridge to Graduation program is open to former high school seniors from two years ago (2021-22) to current high school students who are behind on course credits.

John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/07/26/tps-offers-second-chance-for-high-school-diploma/

MJ The Musical Tour

We are excited to announce that tickets to the Tulsa performances of MJ The Musical Tour are now on sale!

Celebrity Attractions brings the multi-Tony award winning musical to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center (TPAC) from Oct. 15 to Oct. 20. Centered on American pop singer Michael Jackson’s making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, MJ The Musical offers a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.

For tickets: MJ the Musical – Tulsa online, call (918) 596-7111 or go to the ticket office, located at 101 East 3rd St., open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

https://www.celebrityattractions.com/shows/10123/MJ-the-Musical/Tulsa/2024

Eagle Receives Top Awards In Annual Oklahoma Press Association Contest

‘Clear Winner. Bold Cover Layouts, Almost Magazine Like. Reminds Us Of The Sunday New York Times,’ Judges Noted.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Eagle – one of America’s oldest Black-owned newspapers and an institution that rose from the ashes of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre – won a record number of top journalism honors in the Oklahoma Press Association’s 2024 Better Newspaper Contest Awards.

The newspaper won 20 awards – besting the 18 awards we won in 2023 – at the OPA Awards Banquet on June 8 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.

https://theokeagle.com/2024/07/25/eagle-receives-top-awards-in-annual-oklahoma-press-association-contest/

Eagle Publisher Honored As One Of Oklahoma’s Journalism Giants

James O. Goodwin Is The First African American To Receive OPA’s Highest Honor
OKLAHOMA CITY – James Osby Goodwin, an accomplished attorney who has dedicated his life’s work to preserving the legacy of America’s “Black Wall Street” as the owner of Tulsa’s only Black-owned newspaper, The Oklahoma Eagle, was awarded the H. Milt Phillips Award at the Oklahoma Press Association Convention in Oklahoma City on June 8.

The award is the highest honor given by the Oklahoma Press Association. The OPA Board of Directors selects the recipient based on publishing a high-quality newspaper; contribution to the profession and the newspaper industry; years of service to the community, state, and nation in various volunteer activities; and strong love and dedication to the family.

OPA President Sheila Gay, publisher of the Woodward News, presented the Phillips Award to Goodwin. He is the first Black person to receive the award in its 44-year history.

https://theokeagle.com/2024/07/24/eagle-publisher-honored-as-one-of-oklahomas-journalism-giants/

We Shall Know Them By Their Deeds

God’s place, one may objectively determine, of most early 20th century Oklahoma legislators, was to guide and protect the hand that inflicted harm, as the back upon which it fell was not worthy of His grace. Of the 21st century, one may objectively determine that Oklahoma courts and legislators are convicted to guard against demands of accountability for sins that define the state’s history and moral character.

Ross D. Johnson, The Oklahoma Eagle
https://theokeagle.com/.../we-shall-know-them-by-their.../

Quincy Monday Named USA Wrestling Athlete Of The Week Presented By U.S. Air Force Special Warfare - The Oklahoma Eagle www.themat.com By Richard Immel, USA Wrestling     Quincy Monday (Princeton, N.J./New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC) has been named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on July 10, 2024. Monday put on an exception performance at the always-tough Grand P...

New community mural spotlights North Tulsans

At the Elgin Avenue underpass, a new scene welcomes passersby as they are greeted by the faces of Greenwood’s past, present, and future. Twenty portraits decorate the walls of the Elgin street underpass located between Mt. Zion Baptist Church and ONEOK field, home for the Tulsa Drillers and FC Tulsa. The murals are a community project titled, “Doorways to Hope,” referencing the neighboring Pathway to Hope.

The project is part of a larger initiative, “Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail” in The Oklahoma Art in Public Places program, in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The goal of the public works is to honor the history of the Historical Greenwood District with installations starting this summer. Each of the six large scale artworks will be in high traffic areas around Interstate 244 as it runs through Greenwood.

Sam Levrault, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/07/11/new-community-mural-spotlights-north-tulsans/

Oklahoma Court Dismisses Race Massacre Lawsuit

The long pursuit of justice by the two last-known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre took a decisive blow on June 12, when the Oklahoma Supreme Court affirmed a lower court’s dismissal of their lawsuit seeking reparations.

By Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/07/10/oklahoma-court-dismisses-race-massacre-lawsuit/

July Fourth And Early Black Americans: It’s Complicated - The Oklahoma Eagle news.cornell.edu By Susan Kelley   On July 15, 1776, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was front-page news in the New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury. The newspaper ran the text in full and reported the declaration had been read to the Continental Army’s New York regiment, led by Gen...

Burnt Sienna, A Creative Passion & The Identity of An Artist: Charisa Dene Jacobs

Applied brushwork, the effect of technique, scale, pigment, and preferred subjects may engender a sentiment or feeling from the observer, yes, but an artist’ identity is slower to evolve.

In Charisa Dene Jacobs’ “Heritage”, “Beloved”, and “Sanctuary” collections, the underlying and grounding effect of burnt sienna is one aspect of the Tulsa, Okla. artist’s identity. Her bold brushwork, apparent connection to subjects and expressive application of color equally inform her mark.

https://theokeagle.com/2024/06/13/burnt-sienna-a-creative-passion-the-identity-of-an-artist-charisa-dene-jacobs/

Albert Lee And Marrisa Barrett Wedding

Marrisa Barrett and Albert Lee were married on May 11 in a joyous ceremony at The Clare Michael, a reception space, on Admiral in Tulsa. The bride wore a stunning pink gown, and the groom donned a classic tuxedo for the occasion.

The bride, a native of Alva, Oklahoma, attended Alba High School and Northwestern Oklahoma State University. She is a retail manager in Tulsa. The groom, a Tulsa native, is a 1985 Booker T. Washington High School graduate and attended the University of Iowa. He is an executive chef who has worked in hospitality in Tulsa and elsewhere.

https://theokeagle.com/2024/06/13/albert-lee-and-marrisa-barrett-wedding/

Muscogee Nation Supreme Court To Decide Fate Of Creek Freedmen

When Creek Freedmen plaintiffs Rhonda Grayson and Jeff Kennedy won their civil case for citizenship in Muscogee Creek Nation (MSN) on Sept. 27, 2023, they thought it would end the years-long legal battle for full recognition in the tribal nation of their ancestors. By Deon Osborne, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/05/29/muskogee-nation-supreme-court-to-decide-fate-of-creek-freedmen/

Cindy McGhee: How One Woman Built A Business From Scratch

One Of Fastest Growing Companies In The Country: Building The Next Generation Of Entrepreneurs (and Homeowners). Cindy McGhee: How One Woman Built A Business From Scratch

In 2017, Cindy McGhee formed NextGen Tax Services. The start-up had only a used laptop and a kitchen table for a desk.

But, McGhee recalls, she harbored one more invaluable resource in her entrepreneur’s tool kit. I had a “relentless work ethic to find a way to make it work (and to get my idea and company off the ground),” McGhee recalled in an interview with The Oklahoma Eagle.

By Dr. Jerry Goodwin

https://theokeagle.com/2024/05/20/cindy-mcghee-how-one-woman-built-a-business-from-scratch/

The Overlooked Black History of Memorial Day

According to David Blight’s 2001 book Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory, a commemoration organized by freed slaves and some white missionaries took place on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, S.C., at a former planters’ racetrack where Confederates held captured Union soldiers during the last year of the war. At least 257 prisoners died, many of disease, and were buried in unmarked graves, so black residents of Charleston decided to give them a proper burial.

In the approximately 10 days leading up to the event, roughly two dozen African American Charlestonians reorganized the graves into rows and built a 10-foot-tall white fence around them. An archway overhead spelled out “Martyrs of the Race Course” in black letters.

Join author Victor Luckerson on May 30 at 6 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library for the final chapter in the “Deep Greenwood” community book read series.

The event at Rudisill will extend beyond the pages of the book to discuss the future of Greenwood, and how the community evolves beyond the attention brought on by the race massacre centennial in 2021. Luckerson will be joined on stage by community leaders including educators, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, and elected representatives.

After the panels, attendees will have a chance to record short video testimonials explaining their own hopes for the future of Greenwood. These recordings will be saved in the Rudisill Regional Library archives as a time capsule of modern Greenwood.

We hope you join us at Rudisill!

Branjae, A Tulsa Singer Rises To Higher Ground

Those who know her best recognize her stories in the songs she writes. She is a storyteller as well as a gifted lyricist and performer. She is known locally for her rhythmic performances as a co-fronter with Count Tutu, high vibrational solo albums and music videos, on-stage dance energy, and multiple style changes during a performance. She brings the venue to life with every move and every word.

By Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/05/24/branjae-a-tulsa-singer-rises-to-higher-ground/

The TINA TURNER Musical Reveals Trials And Triumphs

The arc of Tina Turner’s career is well-known. Although Ike’s story is lesser known, he had a powerful influence on Tina’s life and career. They had a family together, and he witnessed Tina rise to superstardom.

Ike Turner may have had multiple sides to his personality, according to Tulsans who knew him and the actor who plays him in the musical, “Tina, The Tina Turner Musical,” coming to Tulsa next week. However, the Ike Turner the public has seen is a violent man.

By Kimberly Marsh

Article Link: https://theokeagle.com/2024/05/10/the-tina-turner-musical-reveals-trials-and-triumphs/

Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson Appointed Langston University’s 17th President - The Oklahoma Eagle www.langston.edu   The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents announced the appointment of Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson as the seventeenth President of Langston University. Dr. Jackson’s selection follows an extensive eight-month national search that attracted several qualified candidates. “Dr. Jackson’s appo...

TPS Family Affair: Angel Hurd And Daughters Ashton Blake And Landon McQuarters Were All Named Site-Level Teacher Or Support Professional Of The Year - The Oklahoma Eagle Tulsa Public Schools   Angel Hurd and her daughters Ashton Blake and Landon McQuarters were all named site-level Teacher or Support Professional of the Year for their schools this year! Angel is a teacher assistant at Mayo Demonstration School, Landon is an autism paraprofessional at Anderson Eleme...

Terence Crutcher Foundation Receives $2M Grant - The Oklahoma Eagle By Naomi Kitt KJRH     A local non-profit is celebrating a big donation that will help in its goal to create a community space in north Tulsa. Billionaire Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave $640 million to hundreds of organizations across the country, of which $2 million went to the Terence Crutc...

Following The Passing Of Nex Benedict, Serious Questions Linger

Owasso, Okla. – On the morning of Feb. 26, a group of gender equality advocates and supporters gathered on a busy intersection in this Tulsa suburb, in the shadow of Owasso High School, where two weeks earlier, three students bullied and beat Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old sophomore at the school who identified as non-binary.
By Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/03/08/following-the-passing-of-nex-benedict-serious-questions-linger/

8 Things You Need To Know For A Stress-Free Tax Season - The Oklahoma Eagle By Tia Muhammed   Tax season is here! Who’s ready for a big refund check? This girl! However, let me be honest… As a new business owner and full-time freelancer, I’m a bit nervous about filing this year. I had a lot of changes happen from moving and buying start-up equipment to traveling to c...

The Fate Of Oklahoma Race-based Law May Be Decided Soon
‘UNQUALIFIED’ JUDGE TO Make Ruling

The law, HB 1775, pushed through by conservative state lawmakers in 2021, has hampered teachers across the state from educating students about such issues as the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre that affected African Americans who were attacked and many were killed by a white mob in Tulsa or forced removal of Native Americans from the South to Indian Territory in the early 1800s.

By John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/02/23/the-fate-of-oklahoma-race-based-law-may-be-decided-soon/

Minority Opportunity Program Facing Elimination.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Is In Jeopardy

The backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is coming on strong.

The naysayers, including conservative ideologues, call it “Divide, Exclude, and Indoctrinate.” Colleges and universities are being denied use of it. Employers are laying off thousands who teach it. Public schools are losing funding to support it.

This is the story of the rise and recent decline of the set of values that have provided the tools to marginalized minorities to compete in education and to succeed in the work force. The set of values is “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” commonly known as DEI.

By John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/02/17/minority-opportunity-program-facing-elimination/

Public Funds Pay Private Education Expenses

The State of Oklahoma is doling out public funds to pay for private school tuition and other fees for school kids across the state including those from very affluent families. A $150 million special fund for parents whose children attend private schools has drawn over 30,000 applicants. There is no income limit for families who apply so the funds could potentially go to those with hundreds of thousands of dollars – or more – in annual income.

By John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle

https://theokeagle.com/2024/02/07/public-funds-pay-private-education-expenses/