Black mayors from across the state gathered in Oklahoma City on Saturday for the second-annual conference addressing issues their communities face and projects that are being planned in their towns.
A century ago, Oklahoma was home to more than 50 Black towns, many of which were created before Oklahoma became a state.
The years since then have seen a population decline, resulting in a loss of culture and history.
The Oklahoma Conference of Black Mayors hopes to change that.
Leon Anderson, the Mayor of Grayson, says this event is a special opportunity for people like him.
“The idea of preserving and being knowledgeable of our history and that all of us make a contribution to the state of Oklahoma in some manner,” Anderson said. “It’s a positive thing for us to come together and share this information because we all make up this great state of Oklahoma.
Those population changes have also negatively impacted the tax bases for many of these towns, leaving them unable to pay for necessary projects.
One of the organizers says today was a special opportunity for people like him.
News 9’s Matt McCabe shares more, at 10 p.m.
