African Americans in Oklahoma or Black Oklahomans are residents of the state of
Oklahoma who are of African American ancestry.
African Americans have a rich history in Oklahoma.[1][2] An estimated 7.8% of Oklahomans are Black.[3]
African-Americans first settled in Oklahoma during the
Trail of Tears. While many of these people were enslaved Africans, around 500 chose to do so in order to escape slavery.[4]
Racism against Blacks has been common throughout the state's history, manifesting itself in scenarios such as the
Tulsa race massacre, which targeted members of Tulsa's affluent African-American
Greenwood District.[5]
History
Black slaves came with their Native American slave owners across the Trail of Tears to their new territorial home in Oklahoma.[1]
All-black towns
Entirely black towns and neighborhoods were historically common in Oklahoma, and thirteen still exist.[6][7] This is a list of all remaining African American towns in Oklahoma: