Cherokee Freedmen

This episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma features reports on a Tulsa company supporting political candidates who push misinformation, a museum exhibit exploring the history of Cherokee Freedmen and the rural beginnings of DJ LiTEBRiTE.

A new exhibit at the Cherokee History Museum explores the history of the Freedmen, the people formerly enslaved by the tribal nation.

Leaders and representatives of the Five Tribes in Oklahoma testified before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in a first of its kind discussion about rights of the Freedmen, citizenship and the U.S. government's role and responsibility.

Members of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services heard testimony about the issue of the Freedmen as they prepare to reauthorize a bill that would provide housing stability and access to tribal nations across the country.

Focus: Black Oklahoma is a one-hour news and public affairs program on various topics relevant to Oklahomans across the Black diaspora that airs on KOSU monthly. Listen to March's episode now.

Last week, the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled unanimously to remove the phrase “by blood” from the tribe’s constitution and laws.The decision is…

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about…

The wording in the Cherokee Nation's legal doctrine has been used to exclude Black people whose ancestors were once enslaved by the Cherokees — known as Freedmen — from their full tribal rights.

The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled the nation must remove "by blood" from its tribal constitution in response to a U.S. government decision to include descendants of those enslaved by the tribe.

In an historic ruling on Monday, the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court struck the term "by blood" from its constitution and laws. The decision effectively…