So You Think Oklahoma Escaped Jim Crow? Think Again, But We'll Make You Laugh About It (Mostly)
Ah, Oklahoma. Land of tornadoes, fried onion burgers, and... Jim Crow laws? Yep, you read that right. While Oklahoma may not exactly conjure up images of segregated water fountains (thank goodness), the Sooner State had its own brand of racial discrimination during the early 20th century, and let me tell you, it was about as fun as stepping in a prairie dog hole (ouch!).
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| What Happened To Jim Crow Practices In Oklahoma |
Segregation with a Side of "Separate But Definitely Not Equal"
Oklahoma's approach to Jim Crow was a bit like their barbecue: all smoke and show, with a disappointing lack of actual meat. They didn't technically write segregation laws into the state constitution, probably because they were too busy arguing over which shade of red the state bird should be. However, that didn't stop them from passing Senate Bill No. 1, which basically said "separate but equal" for everything from train cars to water fountains (except the "equal" part was a total lie).
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Schools? Segregated. Restaurants? You betcha. Movie theaters? Yep, even popcorn was racially charged (though that might explain the questionable butter-to-popcorn ratio).
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Meanwhile, African Americans in Oklahoma were like, "Nope, not today!" They formed their own towns, Greenwood in Tulsa being the most famous, and built thriving communities. These towns were oases of opportunity and black excellence, but that's a story for another time (and another serving of fried onion burgers).
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The Not-So-Subtle Art of Voter Suppression: Enter the "Grandpa Clause"
While Oklahoma wasn't big on official segregation laws, they sure knew how to make it hard for African Americans to vote. Enter the "grandfather clause," a doozy of a rule that said only men whose grandfathers could vote could register to vote themselves. Yeah, you basically needed a time machine and a family tree that reached back to Abraham Lincoln to get on the voting rolls. Luckily, the Supreme Court was like "hold up, that ain't right," and tossed that sucker out in 1915.
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So, what happened to Jim Crow in Oklahoma? It slowly faded away, thanks to the Civil Rights Movement, Supreme Court decisions, and a whole lot of brave people who refused to be second-class citizens. But even today, the echoes of that era can still be felt.
How to learn more about Oklahoma's history with race?
- Visit the Oklahoma Historical Society [Oklahoma Historical Society ON Oklahoma History Project okhistory.org] - They have tons of resources and exhibits.
- Check out the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa - It's a great place to learn about the Greenwood Massacre and the vibrant black community that thrived there.
How to make sure Jim Crow stays buried?
- Speak out against racism and discrimination whenever you see it.
- Support organizations that promote racial justice.
- Educate yourself and others about the history of race in America.
How to make Oklahoma a more equitable state for all?
- Get involved in your community and vote in local elections.
- Support businesses that are owned by people of color.
- Promote diversity and inclusion in your workplace and social circles.
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