Go West! Kianna Alexander, Piper Huguley and I are hosting a reader conference next year. A Page From Our History:Tulsa isn’t your ordinary reader event where you slog from author panel to author panel. This is a one-of-a-kind experience where you’ll discover the rich history of Black Oklahoma. We’ll walk through Tulsa’s famous Black Wall Street and tour one of the houses that survived the Race Riot of 1921. We’ll leave Tulsa to tour three of Oklahoma’s all Black Townships and even be treated to a bowl of gumbo prepared by the citizens of Grayson. Want to know more about the Buffalo soldiers or the first black U.S. Marshall, Bass Reeves? Then you’ll love our tour of Fort Gibson, which will be led by park ranger and historical reenactor, Omar Reed.
Tour cost (includes transportation and entrance fees): $96
Host Hotel: Aloft Tulsa Downtown $99 a night (king/double), $124 suites
Hosts & Historical Romance Authors: Kianna Alexander, Koko Brown, and Piper Huguley
Weekend Itinerary
Friday
Noon – 4pm Reader Check In @ Aloft Tulsa Oklahoma
5pm Board Charter bus for Historic Greenwood/Black Wall Street District Tour
Highlights include guided tour of Greenwood Cultural Center, Meet Tulsa Writer author Jennifer Latham who’s published a book on Tulsa’s Black Wall Street, Tour Mabel Little Heritage House, Meet with Oklahoma Eagle Newspaper Team, Walk through John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park and Healing Walkway Labyrinth
Saturday
Book Signing
2pm Board Charter bus for Fort Gibson
Highlights Include Tour of Fort Gibson led by a Buffalo Soldier (renactor). Black predecessors of the Buffalo Soldiers served in the Indian Territory during the Civil War and were largely responsible for the Union victory over the Confederate forces in that region. Stationed at Fort Gibson, the First Kansas Colored Volunteers Infantry Regiment (later supplemented with the Second Kansas) fought at Cabin Creek and at the pivotal engagement of Honey Springs in July 1863.
