TULSA, Okla. — The University of Tulsa (TU) is celebrating Black History Month with an exhibit honoring three prominent Black Oklahoma natives.
“Early Oklahoma: Black Hope/Black Dreams” explores the accomplishments of Edward Preston McCabe, Roscoe Dunjee and Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher.
TU Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kelli McLoud-Schingen said the exhibit also highlights early Black settlers.
“We wanted to make sure when we talked about the experiences of early Oklahomans, specifically Black Oklahomans, that we didn’t stop at the great massacre. We wanted to talk about the hopes, the early dreams of African Americans as they moved to this territory,” said McLoud-Schingen.
TU’s President of the Association of Black Collegians Erica McAlester said it’s important for students in Tulsa to learn about Black history, because it’s part of American history.
“I think it’s important that, especially on a campus like this, that students, no matter where you come from, what your background is, you get to learn about the Black history that is here in Oklahoma,” said McAlester.
“It’s an opportunity for so many people to stop by, to take a look at and learn a little but more about Oklahoma history in ways that they hadn’t thought of, that they hadn’t experienced before, and frankly hadn’t been taught in school,” said McLoud-Schingen. “Some of the things that people enjoy about being in Oklahoma, they may not have been aware of the history and the fact that African Americans contributed to that history.”
The exhibit will be at TU’s Allen Chapman Student Union through Feb. 28.
You can see all the campus events planned in February on the University Of Tulsa Association of Black Collegians’ Instagram page.
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