Shumate New Black Caucus Chairman

Rep. Jabar Shumate, Tulsa Democat, is the new chairman of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus this year, the group announced today.

“As chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, I will work to reduce the disparities that exist for African Americans in education, health, and income,” said Shumate. “I also plan to focus on crime reduction and lowering Oklahoma's incarceration rates, as well as improving restorative justice programs in the state.”

The caucus recently met and selected its leadership team, which also includes Reps. Mike Shelton (D-Oklahoma City) and T.W. Shannon (R-Lawton), who will serve as treasurer and co-treasurer, respectively.

The Caucus will develop its legislative agenda at the group’s fall retreat.

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Caucus Calls On Cherokees To Restore Freedmen

Members of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus today called on the Cherokee Nation to reverse its decision to eject Freedmen from tribal rolls.

"We have always been supportive of tribal sovereignty and the Cherokee Nation, but we oppose the way they are treating the Freedmen," caucus members said in a joint statement. "The Black Caucus is united and committed to working with the Freedmen to regain their proper place on tribal rolls."

In a vote conducted in early March, members of the Cherokee Nation voted overwhelmingly to strip the decedents of former slaves (known as "Freedmen") of their place on tribal rolls. The Freedmen have been citizens of the Cherokee Nation for more than 140 years thanks to the terms of a treaty signed by the Cherokee Nation in 1866 that admitted former slaves as tribal members.

The Black Caucus has introduced resolutions in the House and Senate celebrating the unique heritage and rich contributions of the Cherokee Freedmen to the State of Oklahoma and the Black Caucus has approved a resolution denouncing the actions of the Cherokee Nation.

When members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives honored leaders of the Cherokee Nation during a brief ceremony Tuesday morning, members of the Black Caucus expressed their objections by walking out. "The Cherokees' action was wrong - it's that simple," caucus members said in a joint statement. "They need to honor their treaty and recognize the rights of the Freedmen."

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