The theme for 2026 Black History Month is “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” honoring its 100th anniversary.

This theme emphasizes 100 years of intentional efforts to honor, study, and preserve the rich history, diverse culture, and numerous contributions of African-Americans.

Here’s a bit of the history behind the celebration:

• Dr. Carter G. Woodson (a Harvard-trained historian and founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNHL)) inaugurated the first Negro History Week on February 7, 1926, with the goal of boosting public awareness of Af- rican American history and achievements.

• The second week of February was chosen because of its closeness to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14).

• In 1970, under the leadership of Black educators and students at Kent State University, Negro History Week grew into a month-long celebration: Black History Month.

• In 1976, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial, Black History Month was recognized by President Gerald Ford, who encouraged all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”.

Approximately 7.87.9% of Oklahoma’s population is African-American. The culture’s history has deep roots in the state’s frontier, territorial and statehood periods.

This article is the first of four that give a brief overview of Oklahoma’s rich African-American heritage.

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DAPHANIE HUTTON STAFF REPORT

Oklahoma, Where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain And the wavin’ wheat Can sure smell sweet When the wind comes right before the rain.

Those lyrics from the Ro d ge r s and Hammerstein mu s i c a l “Oklahoma!” are what most people think of when they hear anything about our beautiful state.

But what most people don’t know about the state of Oklahoma is one aspect of its rich history. From the 19th century through the turn of the 20th century, Oklahoma was home to more than 50 historically All-Black towns and settlements more than any state in the country.

The settlement of these towns was closely tied to the Trail of Tears, due to many African-Americans being slaves of the Five Civilized Tribes and making the journey as well.

After the Civil War, those slaves became “Freedmen” and were allotted land. Many Freedman chose land near each other. Thus, Al l – Black towns began to grow across Indian Territory. Within Oklahoma Territory, many African-Americans settled close to each other after the land runs.

In those towns, African- Americans found an escape from the brutality and prejudices their counterparts faced in other parts of the country. Neighbors could depend on each other for financial help and also have open markets for crops.

Immediately after statehood in 1907, with the passage of a series of statutes – the Jim Crow laws, which forced racial segregation – many Af r i c an- Ame r i c an members of those towns became disheartened. As a result, a large number relocated to Canada, settling in the country’s western plains; many joined an ill-fated expedition to Africa, while another group migrated to Mexico.

The economic upheaval caused by the Great Depression of 1929-1939 devastated most of the All-Black towns, forcing many residents to relocate in hopes of finding work. This exodus from Oklahoma caused a large decrease in the population of those towns.

From their founding, some of these towns and settlements were of short duration. There were 13 still in existence at the beginning of the 21st century. A fourteenth town, IXL, founded in Okfuskee County in the 1900’s, was officially incorporated in 2001.

The legacy of these All-Black towns and their cultural importance in both America’s and Oklahoma’s histories will always be well remembered.

A list of both Indian and Oklahoma Territory All-Black Towns: 1860s, Indian Territory: Arkansas Colored, Canadian Colored, Marshalltown, and North Fork Colored Other Indian Territory towns included Homer, Huttonville (Nerotown), Lee (Wellington), Mabelle (Santown), Rentie, Sanders and Wiley Among the Oklahoma Territory towns are Douglass City, Emanuel, Lincoln City (Lincoln), Udora and Zion Oklahoma’s most notable All-Black towns: Boley (the largest & most renowned), Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon