Episode 60: Boley High School

Following the end of the Civil War, former slaves of the Five Tribes began to settle together for personal and economic security throughout Indian Territory, forming what were known as All-Black towns. These towns provided freedom for African American men and women to govern themselves without the fear of White antagonism and allowed them to create prosperous communities made up of numerous businesses, newspapers, banks, churches, and schools. One of the most well-known All-Black towns was Boley, referred to by Booker T. Washington as “the most enterprising and in many ways the most interesting of the Black towns in the United States.” 

Boley was known for its booming success in the early 1900s, especially when it came to education. In this episode of Amplified Oklahoma, we’re reflecting on Boley High School’s impact on the surrounding community. We’ll hear about the various school districts that fed into the high school, the curriculum the teachers created, and the impact of the school’s presence and eventual absence.