Oklahoma is an extraordinary state full of extraordinary people easily misunderstood. Even many Americans themselves and foreigners very concretely do have trouble finding it on maps. This geographical obscurity is reflected by the complex history and socio-political landscape that has come to shape it. Up until 2014, Oklahoma City’s public schools blacklisted these practices from their schools. Instead, they decided to preach a whitewashed version of the commonwealth’s history. This decision marks a powerful step towards healing the deep wounds of this land’s painful and violent past. Yet it has served as the indispensable testing ground for America’s better, more multiracial narrative.
Renowned for its dramatic contrasts and ideological clashes, Oklahoma was created in violence that was not accidental, but rather integral. The state has long been a collision point of various cultural and racial narratives, including the relentless fight for Black representation and governance. Though given lacking attention, the story of Edward McCabe, who imagined a Black-governed state of Oklahoma within the Continental U.S., embodies this fight. He encountered mockery and malicious interference as he fought to realize his dream. Ultimately, it went out with a whimper — underscoring the structural barriers that communities of color face in their pursuit of inclusion and visibility.
A History Written in Violence
Oklahoma’s history is rife with the very conflicts. It’s a testimony to the artistic view that the foundation of America is often laid in conflict. This state’s land was once promised to Indigenous nations. Yet it too was stolen and re-promised, highlighting a grim cycle of violated treaties and removal. That tumultuous past has shaped Oklahoma’s churning cultural identity. It serves as a tragic monument to America’s continuing difficulties with issues of race, agrarian control, and despotism.
The violence that birthed Oklahoma isn’t merely a chapter in our Hall of Fame history. It keeps doing that through the imprint it still has on the state’s identity today. The legacy of that conflict presents itself in a number of ways. Native American Tribes have endured a tragic legacy of oppression, just as Black Americans are still actively addressing civil rights issues on the ground even now. The state has been at the forefront of brutal struggles for identity and governance, where dreams of self-determination met the forces of institutionalized violence.
Though the legacy of the McCabe-led fight for a Black state is a cautionary tale, it is a very relevant one and a current example of this battle. During the late 19th century, McCabe followed his vision of developing an independent Black state in Oklahoma. He was motivated by a forward-looking and radical dream of empowerment and community for African Americans. There are many stories about how his dreams met violent backlash from the status quo. In turn, they sought to remove his achievements from public history. This story underlines the ongoing fight of communities around the country to gain their legitimate identity and independence. It simultaneously highlights a country struggling with its own image.
The Politics of Belonging
Oklahoma had become well-known as a proving ground for those zero-sum politics that still poison America to this moment. Its 77 crimson red counties serve as a backdrop for this ongoing conflict, where discussions about belonging and governance are constantly evolving. This legacy of violence and dispossession has created a longstanding battle between multiple, often contentious cultural stories. This collision often ignites intense political debates.
The legacy of McCabe’s efforts highlights the complexities surrounding Black representation in governance. His dream of a Black state went beyond borders. He wanted to create a physical, tangible space with real infrastructure where marginalized voices could be amplified and respected. The derision of his imagination exemplifies how the politics of power can silence stories that don’t fall into line with the established order.
A stark contrast to these archival battles, present day Oklahoma is filled with carrots intended to lure newcomers and encourage innovation. To entice artists to take the leap, Tulsa has undertaken measures such as providing subsidies for artists’ lofts. These initiatives are designed to recruit remote workers and create ecosystems that support innovation and industry development. These recent actions together create a series of critical questions. Who are these programs really benefiting? More importantly, do they address the state’s long-time inequities and lack of state-wide representation?
A Sanitized Narrative
Until 2014, Oklahoma City’s public schools prohibited the teaching of real historical practices including their lessons. They handpicked a history that glorified the positives while pushing the negatives—Native American genocide, slavery—under the rug. This decision reflects a broader trend in American education where uncomfortable truths are often sidelined in favor of narratives that foster a more palatable understanding of history.
The consequences of this sanitized approach are evident in Oklahomans’ disconnection from and discomfort about their own identity. By avoiding discussions about violence, dispossession, and the struggles for self-determination, educational institutions risk perpetuating a narrow view of what it means to be an Oklahoman. This narrow view does not take into account the incredible variety of experiences that make up the state and its residents.
In addition to this profound educational malpractice, this amnesia is compounded by a national amnesia that surrounds key historical figures like Edward McCabe. By neglecting his story and others like it, Oklahoma’s educational system misses an opportunity to engage students with the complexities of their state’s history and the ongoing struggles for equity and recognition.
Oklahoma had the opportunity to be a model for inclusion—a safe haven created specifically for people who have been historically oppressed. Rather, it still struggles with its past, while trying to recreate itself today to fit into a new America.