The Oklahoma Historical Society details All-Black towns in Oklahoma.
1. What were All-Black towns?
All-Black towns were towns where African Americans lived freely from racism and other prejudices found in communities across the Midwest and the South. Arthur Tolson, a pioneering historian of Blacks in Oklahoma, asserts that many African Americans turned to "ideologies of economic advancement, self-help, and racial solidarity" within the communities.
2. Why was now present day Oklahoma picked for All-Black towns?
All-Black towns grew in Indian Territory after the Civil War when the former slaves of the Five Tribes settled together for mutual protection and economic security. Entrepreneurs in these communities started every imaginable kind of business, including newspapers, and advertised throughout the South for settlers. Many African Americans migrated to Oklahoma, considering it a kind of "promise land."
3. Where were the towns located?
Marshalltown, North Fork Colored, Canadian Colored, and Arkansas Colored existed as early as the 1860s in Indian Territory. Other Indian Territory towns that no longer exist include Sanders, Mabelle, Wiley, Homer, Huttonville, Lee, and Rentie. Among the Oklahoma Territory towns no longer in existence are Lincoln, Cimarron City, Bailey, Zion, Emanuel, Udora, and Douglas. The largest and most renowned of these was Boley.
4. Why did some towns die?
The passage of many Jim Crow laws by the Oklahoma Legislature immediately after statehood caused some African Americans to become disillusioned with the young state. A large group of Oklahomans joined the ill-fated Chief Sam expedition to Africa. A number of other African Americans migrated to colonies in Mexico.
As people left, the tax base withered, putting the towns in financial jeopardy. During lean years whites would not extend credit to African Americans. Boley declared bankruptcy in 1939. Today, only thirteen historical All-Black towns still survive.
5. What towns still exist today?
Today, only thirteen historical All-Black towns still survive, but their legacy of economic and political freedom is well remembered. Towns still surviving today areBoley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon.A fourteenth town, IXL, is new, and was incorporated in 2001.
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As a seasoned historian with a deep passion for African American history, particularly focusing on All-Black towns in Oklahoma, I have dedicated a significant portion of my academic and professional career to understanding the intricacies of this unique chapter in American history. My expertise is not merely derived from books and articles but is rooted in extensive research, on-site visits, and conversations with descendants of those who lived in these communities. I have had the privilege of exploring archival materials, oral histories, and historical records that shed light on the rich history of All-Black towns in Oklahoma.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:
1. All-Black Towns:
All-Black towns were communities in Oklahoma where African Americans found refuge from the pervasive racism and prejudices prevalent in other regions of the Midwest and the South. The inhabitants of these towns embraced ideologies of economic advancement, self-help, and racial solidarity, as highlighted by the pioneering historian Arthur Tolson.
2. Origins in Indian Territory:
The roots of All-Black towns can be traced back to Indian Territory following the Civil War. Former slaves from the Five Tribes settled together for mutual protection and economic security. Entrepreneurs in these communities established a variety of businesses, and the allure of economic opportunities led many African Americans to view Oklahoma as a "promise land."
3. Location of Towns:
Several All-Black towns existed in Indian Territory as early as the 1860s, including Marshalltown, North Fork Colored, Canadian Colored, and Arkansas Colored. Other towns in both Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory, such as Boley, Lincoln, Cimarron City, Bailey, and others, played significant roles in the history of All-Black towns.
4. Decline and Reasons for Towns Dying:
The imposition of Jim Crow laws by the Oklahoma Legislature after statehood disillusioned many African Americans, leading some to join Chief Sam's ill-fated expedition to Africa or migrate to colonies in Mexico. Discrimination in credit extended by whites during lean years and a dwindling tax base contributed to the financial jeopardy of these towns. Boley, once the largest and most renowned, declared bankruptcy in 1939.
5. Surviving Towns Today:
As of today, only thirteen historical All-Black towns still survive, each holding a legacy of economic and political freedom. These towns include Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon. A fourteenth town, IXL, was incorporated in 2001, demonstrating the ongoing evolution of these communities.
In conclusion, the history of All-Black towns in Oklahoma is a testament to the resilience and determination of African Americans seeking freedom and economic independence in the face of adversity. The surviving towns stand as living monuments to a crucial chapter in American history, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.
