The Daily Ardmoreite
Black History week began in 1926, five years after the Tulsa Massacre, by historian, scholar, and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Dr. Woodson chose a week during February to honor the Great Emancipator President Abraham Lincoln and Scholar and Orator Frederick Douglas s birthdays. Douglass escaped slavery and became a prominent activist, author, and public speaker. He was a leader in the abolitionist movement, which sought to end slavery practices of slavery. The purpose of Black History Week was to honor the significant contributions of African Americans in U.S. history. In 1976, during President Gerald Ford s administration, Black History Week expanded to a month-long celebration.
Black Oklahomans demand accountability from Sen. Lankford
Oklahoma Senator James Lankford’s role in propelling riots by pro-Trump extremists has prompted many Oklahomans, particularly Black Oklahomans, to challenge his position on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, an organization that oversees activities related to the commemoration of this tragic event in Tulsa history. The Commission ultimately decided to allow Lankford to remain a member of their body, but many continue to call for his resignation.
Lankford was speaking on the Senate floor when a pro-Trump mob forced their way into the chamber. As this happened, Lankford was in the middle of challenging the certification of the Presidential election in Arizona, seeking to delegitimize the victory of President Biden. Courts had already thrown out allegations of fraud and irregularities and all 50 states’ election boards confirmed the election; despite this, Lankford and several other Republican senators cha
Church Creates Prayer Room Dedicated To Sharing Tulsa Race Massacre Story
Tulsa’s First Baptist Church opened a prayer room Monday dedicated to sharing the tragic history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Use your mind to travel back one full century, narrator Phil Armstrong said.
As visitors step into the prayer room, they are guided through six stops, with Armstrong s voice leading the way through their headphones. He is the project director for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. This is a significant way for our community to move forward together, said Armstrong.
He and First Baptist Pastor Deron Spoo worked together to make the room a reality and a place to visit for the next 121 days leading up to the Race Massacre centennial. The Red Cross report and newspaper articles reveal that in 1921, First Baptist church opened at least one room to help massacre victims seeking refuge.
On the Town: Programs to illuminate dark chapter in state’s history By: Lillie-Beth Brinkman The Journal Record January 28, 2021
Lillie-Beth Brinkman
Keep an eye on Tulsa as it gears up to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tragic Tulsa Race Massacre with events designed to remember this dark spot in our state’s history.
Beginning in February, the Tulsa City-County Library will host author events, panel discussions and an exhibit. Many of the programs will be offered virtually, so people from Oklahoma and beyond will be able to learn more, hear the stories, build empathy about the human cost of institutionalized racism and promote healing, a news release noted.
Virtual Sundance Film Festival Screens At Tulsa Theaters, Features Tulsa Filmmaker
Two Tulsa movie theaters could benefit from the changes happening at the Sundance Film Festival, which starts Thursday.
The acclaimed film festival is normally held in Park City, Utah, where hundreds of thousands of people usually gather. Due to the pandemic, the festival is now online and at theaters across the U.S. like the Circle Cinema and Admiral Twin Drive-in in Tulsa.
One film being shown this year is “Ghost Dogs,” the passion project of Tulsa filmmaker Joe Cappa. ’Ghost Dogs’ is like the big leap into making something big and artful and a story that I wanted to tell, Cappa said.