A court ruling affirming tribal authority over hunting and fishing rights on reservation lands has renewed conversations about sovereignty, citizenship, and belonging; It has also raised concerns among Freedmen descendants who remain excluded from certain tribal rights and benefits, including hunting and fishing privileges in some nations. Focus: Black Oklahoma correspondent Deon Osborne explores what justice looks like for descendants of formerly enslaved people who were once part of tribal communities. A recent protest organized by Tulsa's chapter of Food Not Bombs, or FNB, has renewed debate about free speech and public demonstration. What began as a public action focused on the issue of hunger ended with multiple arrests and citations issued to participants. What happened that day, and what does it reveal about the relationship between local government, law enforcement, and grassroots activism? FBO’s Aristotle Orsini has the story. What does it mean to live in a place that was never meant to feel like home? Across the country, extended stay hotels have become a last resort for individuals and families navigating housing instability. Behind those doors are stories often overlooked: of stress, isolation, resilience, and the quiet toll that instability takes on mental health. For those living on the margins, where access to care is limited and community can feel out of reach, how do people cope—and what support truly exists? Here’s Nick Alexandrov with more. This segment is taken from a one hour podcast which is part of a larger quarterly effort from Oklahoma media addressing mental health. Find the rest of the quarterly and more stories and coverage from Tulsa Flyer, The Oklahoma Eagle, KOSU, La Semana, and The Frontier at https://tulsaflyer.org/snapshot/mental-health/. Each year Tulsa pauses to remember one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history—the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Today, that memory rests largely in the voice of one woman: Mother Lessie Benningfield Randle, the last known living survivor. Mother Randle has become a powerful advocate–testifying before the House Judiciary Committee on May 19, 2021, sharing her experiences, and calling attention to the lasting impact of the massacre more than a century after it occurred. Her testimony serves as both a personal account and a national challenge to remember, reckon with, and pursue justice. Music can entertain, inspire, and spark change—and few artists embody that power more than Rocky Dawuni. Born in Ghana and celebrated around the world, Dawuni blends Afro-roots music, reggae, and global influences to create songs that promote unity, social justice, and cultural understanding. During a recent stop at New York University, or NYU, Acra, FBO’s Zaakirah Muhammad profiles the artist, activist, and United Nations ambassador behind the music, exploring how his sound bridges continents and how his message continues to resonate with audiences across the globe. Sometimes love looks less like grand gestures and more like a long drive down the highway. When her son needed to move between Texas and Tulsa, one mother didn't hesitate—even though the car making the journey was far from road ready. Equiped with determination, patience, and a mother's unwavering commitment, Sondra Slade took on the challenge to help her son reach his next chapter. Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music. Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Roma Carter, Jess Grimes, & Anna Wilson. You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK. You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://linktr.ee/focusblackok
