Dominique Gray lost his safety net at 17. He was sleeping outside of the Ralph Ellison Library in Oklahoma City. Beneath the book drop. For a full year, he experienced homelessness until a librarian connected him to a pathway home. How had things gotten so severe? Bouts of depression, constant bullying and fights at school […]
Camille Landry
Posted inNews
Deadly force
Isaiah Lewis, an unarmed 17-year-old, was shot and killed by police on April 29 following an on-foot chase through a residential neighborhood. At this stage in the investigation, little is known about the circumstances surrounding Lewis’ death. Edmond Police spokesperson Jenny Wagnon identified two of the officers involved as Sgt. Milo Box and officer Denton […]
Posted inNews
Beyond February
After the abolition of slavery, black Oklahomans continued struggling in the fight for equality. They faced Jim Crow laws, which suppressed their voting rights and segregated the state, until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 gradually began to dismantle those laws. Though Jim Crow laws were overruled, years of court challenges continued to tackle institutional […]
Posted inNews
Black Oklahoma
The history of black Oklahomans is tied to the Trail of Tears, as slaves came with their Native American masters to what became known as Oklahoma. Slavery continued until the Civil War era, but the oppression of black people continues far beyond that. Today, black Oklahomans still deal with racism and oppression stemming from those […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Strong spines
Maybe you can’t get everything from Amazon — like connections and understanding. “Most bookstores — cool bookstores at least — are much more than just a place to go and buy a book,” said Camille Landry, who recently re-opened Nappy Roots Books with her husband, Banbose Shango. “It’s a place to hang out. It’s a […]