Two area all Black communities are part of what will become the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail.
Clearview and Grayson are included in the trail that is designed to highlight the Black towns across the state.
Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, authored the bill that is providing $1.5 million for a revolving fund to develop the trail. Legislation creating the framework was approved in the 2023 session and signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Matthews said SB 1356 will enable the project to move forward.
“These communities and sites are part of Oklahoma’s identity, and the trail will shine a light on that history, the importance to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, and inspire future generations,” said Matthews.
“This will help us educate our own citizens about that history and will also attract tourism dollars from across the country and around the world.”
Matthews said the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail will begin at Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center in Ponca City, then proceed to the site of the 1920s “Osage Reign of Terror,” in Fairfax. The trail will continue through the state’s all Black communities, including Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon. The trail then moves to Greenwood Rising and the Pathway to Hope, in Tulsa, before ending at the Clara Luper Center, to be built in Oklahoma City.
SB 1356 now moves to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, is the principal author, with co-author, Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City.