Focus: Black Oklahoma

For people convicted of a crime, punishments can extend beyond time behind bars. They can lose the right to vote, own a gun, or lose access to certain career fields- and with colleges and universities screening for criminal history on admission applications, they can lose access to higher education. However, a legal movement is working to change that. FBO’s Dr. Nick Alexandrov has more. A curfew prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 to be in downtown Tulsa on weekends was established in late June. The new policy was implemented in response to downtown business owners telling city leaders  they believe the presence of youth near their establishments is harmful. A recent string of violent incidents this year involving young people downtown was the catalyst for this curfew. We hear from some young people who say that there is much more to consider with this policy. Carlos Moreno has the story. When the Trump administration cut nearly $400 million dollars in AmeriCorps grants – almost half the agency’s budget – it left programs across the country reeling. In Guthrie, the impact was immediate: volunteer capacity plummeted, youth and education programs stalled, and staff morale sank as the community’s safety net frayed. FBO’s Jordan Sinkfield has more. A new chapter of international friendship is unfolding. In April 2024, Tulsa signed its ninth Sister City agreement with Mwanza, Tanzania—its first new partnership in nearly 20 years. For Tulsans and Tanzanians alike, this connection offers a chance to deepen cultural ties, build business relationships, and challenge the stereotypes that often cloud perceptions of the African continent. FBO’s Zaakirah Muhammad has more. Turns out, finding out you’re allergic to coconut after eating half your birthday cake isn’t the best party favor. For 11-year-old Sondra Slade, what started as the perfect day of pancakes, bike rides, and backyard BBQ ended with a dramatic faceplant into the condiment table – and a family still convinced that “just wiping it off” fixes everything.  Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music. Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jordan Sinkfield, Jess Grimes, & Roma Carter. You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK. You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Despite a valiant effort by KOSU listeners and public media supporters nationwide, Congress has voted to rescind $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This money had already been promised and budgeted for at KOSU and public media stations across the country. Losing it is devastating, and one NPR estimate shows that roughly 18% of the country’s public radio stations will close imminently, and nearly a third of listeners would lose access to NPR programming. The rescission package is expected to be signed by President Trump soon, as he initially requested the move from Congress. To be clear, this does not mean KOSU is going away. Thanks to you, KOSU is set up well for the future. However, this loss of foundational funding will likely result in a reduction of programming or local news without additional support. WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? 1. Support KOSU directly by making a donation, or increasing your existing monthly or annual gift [https://kosu.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ebed252d9047a5e18a973a9b1&id=9328667eeb&e=8fb9953f97]. This is the most effective thing you can do for KOSU. Support from people like you makes up the largest part of KOSU’s budget. 2. Sign up for email alerts from KOSU so you never miss an update. You can do that here [https://subscribe.kosu.org/daily]. 3. Spread the word. Share this page [https://www.kosu.org/cuts] with your family and friends, and tell them what KOSU's news, information and music service means to you and our community. Still have questions about how you can help? Please reach out to us at director@kosu.org [director@kosu.org].

In the next few days, the U.S. Senate will consider a package that would devastate many public radio stations by clawing back two years of previously approved funding. At KOSU, it would significantly impact our ability to provide emergency alerts and Oklahoma news. You can help by calling Senator Lankford and Senator Mullin to ask them to resist the rescission because of the impact it would have on Oklahoma. Here is a sample script [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/04/c1/39acfd564317a9b312e9bcb834ce/kosu-advocacy-printable-call-script.pdf]. Sen. James Lankford: 202-224-5754 Sen. Markwayne Mullin: 202-224-4721 Don't live in Oklahoma? Check this listing [https://protectmypublicmedia.org/rsc-calls/] for your Senator's contact information. Find out more on how you can make a difference at kosu.org/cuts [http://kosu.org/cuts].

This past month, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols announced the creation of the Greenwood Trust, a $105 million private fund dedicated to repairing and restoring the Greenwood District—site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. In an address rich with history and a call for shared courage, Nichols described the fund as the city’s next step in righting past wrongs and investing in a more just and equitable future. Let’s listen to this historic moment. A young man locked up for a minor probation violation is dead—his body battered and his family left in the dark. The case of Marquiel Ross, a 24-year-old from Tulsa, raises serious questions about a broken prison system and the deadly consequences of a culture of neglect and mismanagement. Jeremy Kuzmarov has details. In the conclusion of our broadcast of Tribal Justice: The struggle for Black Rights on Native Land (full story can be found on Audible.com), we hear about Michael Hill, a Cherokee Freedmen who was arrested by the Okmulgee Police in the fall of 2020. He fought to have his case transferred to tribal court because he's an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. After all, this was right after the McGirt decision which returned criminal jurisdiction to tribal nations in Oklahoma when they involve Native people-like Michael. But Michael's case was complicated-because of his status as a Black man with no blood quantum, his case did not qualify to be transferred. In this series, we've been exploring how centuries old laws have impacted people like Michael, and his brother Mikail, who was murdered in 2016. His case was transferred out of state court even though, like Michael, he is an enrolled Cherokee Freedmen. Listen as Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez conclude the story. In the first months of President Trump’s second term, the phrase "constitutional crisis” has routinely made headlines, but for United States military veterans it’s not just another media buzzword. Across the country a new movement has formed to give veterans a public forum to address concerns about the erosion of the federal government’s system of checks and balances and civil rights established by the U.S. Constitution. One town hall meeting was recently held in Enid. Venson Fields has the story. Tulsa City-County Library’s, or TCCL's, annual summer reading initiative "One Book, One Tulsa" is in full swing. With the goal of promoting literacy and community conversations, the novel This Great Hemisphere by author Mateo Askaripour has been selected for the program. G. Vickers speaks with the author and brings us details on the program. Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio and Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by The Commemoration Fund and Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music. Focus: Black Oklahoma’s executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana and Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, and Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jordan Sinkfield, Jessica Grimes, and Roma Carter.  You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com and on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOk and on Facebook at facebook.com/FocusBlackOk. You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or where ever you get your podcasts.

For decades, homeschooling in the U.S. was largely associated with white, religious, or affluent families. But as Danielle A. Melton reports, a growing number of Black families are turning to homeschooling, seeking a more rigorous, culturally relevant education for their children. In our penultimate installment of Tribal Justice: The struggle for Black Rights on Native Land (full story can be found on Audible.com), we hear about Michael Hill, a Cherokee Freedmen who was arrested by the Okmulgee Police in the fall of 2020. He fought to have his case transferred to tribal court because he's an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. After all, this was right after the McGirt decision, which returned criminal jurisdiction to tribal nations in Oklahoma when they involve Native people-like Michael. But, Michael's case was complicated-because of his status as a Black man with no blood quantum, his case did not qualify to be transferred. In this series, we've been exploring how centuries old laws have impacted people like Michael, and his brother Mikail, who was murdered in 2016. His case was transferred out of state court-even though like Michael, he is an enrolled Cherokee Freedmen. Listen as Allison Herrera and Adreanna Rodriguez give us the story. While return-to-office mandates make headlines in the United States, Kenya is developing the infrastructure and policy to become a global remote work destination. The capital, Nairobi, has earned a distinct nickname thanks in part to investment in telecommunications, education, and technology tailored to meet local needs. Here’s Zaakirah Muhammad with more. Generosity often battles for space amid profit margins but here in Oklahoma, one small nonprofit in has managed to turn second-hand treasures into first-class impact. Park Avenue Thrift, a thrift store in Enid, didn’t just settle for selling used clothing and furniture—it became a lifeline for other nonprofits, a backbone for community arts, and a catalyst for change. Recently, Park Avenue Thrift took home a major award from the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP). Venson Fields spoke with the prize winners. This year’s Ride to Remember and Ride for Equity cycling events kick off Saturday May 31st in Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District. Osborne Celestain, founder of The Community Light Foundation which hosts Ride to Remember, and Linda Jackson of the Major Taylor Oklahoma Cycling Club will be cycling from Black Wall Street in Tulsa to Wall Street in New York City for the 1645 mile Ride for Equity. FBO’s Bracken Klar pulled up with Celestain and Jackson. Throughout United States history, music has been the heartbeat of political movements, marches, and protests. For Black Americans especially, music has been a source of comfort and strength in the face of systemic injustice. For the second part of FBO’s Culture and Music series, Tulsa musicians David B. Smith and Charlie Redd share music's power to heal, inspire, and fuel social change with Francia Allen.  Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music. Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar & Naomi Agnew. Our production intern is Alexander Evans. You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK. You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.