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The All-Black towns of Oklahoma represent a unique chapter in American history. Nowhere else, neither in the Deep South nor in the Far West, did so many African American men and women come together to create, occupy, and govern their own communities. From 1865 to 1920 African Americans created more than fifty identifiable towns and settlements, some of short duration and some still existing at the beginning of the twenty-first century. For the next several weeks, we will focus on the following surviving towns, also known as the Thirteen Original All-Black Towns of Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon.
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Tullahassee is considered the oldest of the surviving All-Black towns of Indian Territory. In 1850, Reverend R. M. Loughridge opened the Tullahassee Mission, a Creek Nation school, along the ruts of the Texas Road. The school was established as an educational institution in the Creek Nation, Indian Territory. Near the school, a large population of Creek freedmen was increasing while the Creek Indian population was decreasing. The school was destroyed by fire in 1880 and rebuilt in 1883. The Creek council decided to transfer their Indian students to another school and gave Tullahassee Mission to the freedmen on October 24, 1881 and opened it as the Tullahassee Manual Labor School to educate their former slaves. Three African Americans, Henry C. Reed, Snow Sells, and Sugar George were appointed trustees of the school. In 1899, the all-black town was established near the Tullahassee Mission which is was named after. It was located northwest of Muskogee in Wagoner County and was incorporated in 1902 and planted in 1907.
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Please continue to remember our elderly community and our friends and family on the sick list: Sharon Johnson Patton, Elder L. C. Carson, Cornell Lucas, Marjorie Plunkett, Marguerite French, Billy Walker and Christopher Stripling. The virus is still alive, practice safe distances and wear your masks.
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Fireworks were going off everywhere in Clearview along the track and at private homes during the 4 . Yards were filled with families grilling burgers and steaks and playing games. The Homer (Tab) and Joyce Barrett family and friends celebrated July 11 with even a greater fireworks display. It was great to finally get out of the house after staying in for months.
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On Thursday, July 9, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that much of eastern Oklahoma is an Indian reservation. The decision could reshape criminal justice in the area by preventing state authorities from prosecuting Native Americans.
Read moreThe Annual Hill Family Reunion was held at the Wetumka Lake June 20, 2020. We had a beautiful day for the celebration of many of our family members. We had forty-four family members there to celebrate. Lots of visiting and catching up from the last year. Who had more grandkids and great-grand kids. Those attending from the late Sam and Alma Hill were daughter Mildred Smith of Wetumka. Daughter Evelyn Basquez of Ulan, Ok and great grandson Tyler Basquez. Daughter and husband Mike and Maxine Roe of Dustin. Daughter Faye and Bob Purdom of Dustin. Daughter Ann Rhinehart of Henryetta and her daughter Kristi, and Blake and Presliegh Atherton. Kyle Remington, Nena and Morgan Wright of Henryetta and Ammity Miller. Wife of the late Pete Hill, Luann Hill of Wetumka. Family of the late Alvin Hill were daughter Pam Williams and her daughter and grandson Alisha and Bentley Walters and Spencer Underwood of Wetumka; Daughter and husband Teresa and Gus George, daughter Sami Pierce and Shawn George of Wetumka. Family of the late Irving Hill that attended were wife Sue Hill, son and grandson Mike and Rowdy Hill of Wetumka. Daughter Kathy Hart of Blanchard, Ok. Her daughter Natasha & Johnny Wilbourn and Nate Merriman of Wetumka. Olivia and Jaxton Merriman, Ethan Gann of Holdenville. Family of the late Kenny Hill attending were Sherri Hill, both daughters, Casey and husband T.J. Carter and sons, Easton and Trey Carter of Wetumka and Brandi Cladwell and daughters Daliah and Aster Caldwell of Wetumka. Richard Roush of Wetumka. I think the late Evelyn Basquez beat everyone out on the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. She had four generations there to celebrate the Reunion. Now can’t beat that for a beautiful day! Hope to see everyone next year and more.
Read moreSeveral Wetumka seniors were awarded scholarships at the recent graduation ceremony. The following is a list of the scholarships and who they were awarded to: Warren & Helen Beavers Family Scholarship: Shawna Mae Hudson, $1,000 per year for four years; Bailey Williams, $500.00. Langston University: Toni Caldwell, Lions $1,000, General $2200; Shawna Hudson, Lions $1,000, General $3200; Meleana Nolin, Lions $1000, General $2600; Bailey Williams, Lions $1000, General $2000, Counselors $1500. Wes Watkins 13th Year Scholarship: Alyssa Berryhill, Toni Caldwell, Colt Eslick, Shelbie George, Shawna Hudson, Thierry Koger, Uriah McPerryman, Jaden Meely, Trenton Peel, Christian Potts, Aysha Travis, Bailey Williams, and Emvnvcke Yahola all receiving $1500. Oklahoma Youth Expo OYE: Cash Crump received an Eastern Oklahoma State College full tuition scholarship. This is due to his accomplishments inside the classroom, within his community, and his participation in the agricultural industry. The Oklahoma Grocers Education Foundation Proctor & Gamble Endowed Scholarship and Pruett’s Food Piggyback Scholarship in the amount of $2,000.00 was awarded to Shawna Mae Hudson. George B Mary E. Memorial Scholarship: Toni Caldwell, $1000.00; Aysha Travis, $1,000.00. East Central University: Quenton Lee, Teacher’s Promise $6000.00 given as $750 tuition waver per semester for 8 semesters; Shawna Mae Hudson, Governor’s Scholarship is a total of $18,000.00. Seminole State College: Jaxson Pack, Presidential Leadership Scholarship; Uriah McPerryman, Presidential Leadership Scholarship; Aysha Travis, Academic up to $4000.00; Cody Sparks, Academic; Quenton Lee, Academic. Tribal Grant in the amount of $100 per credit hour was awarded to Jaxson Pack. Oklahoma Academic Scholar: Shawna Mae Hudson. Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarship recipients are: Shelbie George, Shawna Hudson, Uriah Mc Perryman, Miranda Moore, Meleana Nolin, and Aysha Travis Shawna Hudson, Jaxson Pack, Trenton Peel were recognized as members of the Oklahoma Honor Society. The OBI Oklahoma Blood Institute recognized those that had donated at least six times by May 1st of senior year. Those Seniors wearing the green cord from the OBI during the graduation ceremony were: Toni Caldwell, William Storts, and Christian Potts.
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