Episode 81: Muskogee African American Heritage

The roots of the town of Muskogee go back nearly 200 years. People first began to gather in the area in the 1820s when Indian Removal treaties and land allotments forced many Creek tribes west, such as the Muscogees. With them came a variety of slaves and freedmen that were the foundation for the thriving African American community that later sprang up in the town. In 1872, the Missouri-Kansas & Texas Railroad became the first rail to cross Indian Territory, as it was known then. With the advent of the railway, the town of Muskogee began to grow as everyone from railroad workers to boarding house owners to outlaws made their home in Muskogee. Many of those who came to Muskogee were African Americans who had learned of good economic opportunities there after the Civil War. When the town became part of Oklahoma with statehood in 1907, there were the beginnings of a thriving African American community that is still remembered today by many residents for its opportunity and tight-knit community.

Today, we’re exploring the memories of African American residents of Muskogee from booming businesses to the Manual Training School to the changes that came with desegregation. We’ll also talk with Muskogee historian Jonita Mullins about the history of Muskogee’s African American population.