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Oklahoma
State Senate State Senator Constance N. Johnson says the African-American Centennial Plaza to be built at the State Capitol will reflect and honor Oklahoma’s rich African American history. On Tuesday, the full Senate passed Senate Bill 1919, co-authored by Johnson, (D-Oklahoma City) and Rep. Jabar Shumate, (D- Tulsa), which expresses the Senate’s support for the creation of the plaza. The bill now goes before the House for consideration. The plaza will be built on grounds south of the State Capitol and will be completed in May 2007. “African-Americans have had a long and unique history in Oklahoma,” Johnson said. “This plaza will reflect and preserve that for generations to come.” In June 2005, Clara Luper, a well-known Oklahoma civil rights leader, and Thelma Parks, a long-term Oklahoma City school board member, began meeting with community leaders from across Oklahoma to gather ideas for the plaza. Themes for the plaza will include Oklahoma’s African American military history such as black Civil War soldiers in Indian Territory; the founding and development of historically black towns like Langston, which houses Langston University; Tulsa’s Black Wall Street and Deep Deuce in Oklahoma City which was the home of some of the most prominent African-American jazz musicians in the country. “Accomplishments of African-American Oklahomans in every field imaginable will be recognized via this project,” Johnson said. The project is being funded in part through a fundraising campaign which hopes to raise $2 million. It is hoped that the private funds will be matched by state dollars. “This plaza creates an educational
opportunity for visitors to learn about the pioneering
spirit and unique contributions of African-American
Oklahomans on the state, the nation and the world,”
Johnson said. 
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