These are not photos that you will find on postcards in a souvenir shop, but they reflect realities of Tulsa as many people see and experience the city.
In our mind's image of Tulsa there are two points on which we focus. One is our own neighborhood. This is what best represents the city to each of us because it is where we live and it is the Tulsa with which we most identify.
The other focus is on iconic landmarks that we have been trained to see as symbols of our community. These are places we show visitors from out of town: "Look! …This is the city of which we are proud.""
Both are valid ways of seeing Tulsa, but they leave us with a picture that is incomplete. Unless we look at the details around us that we typically overlook, unless we travel beyond familiar places, we are missing important stories waiting to be uncovered.
This collection of photos is an example of things we may see but may not notice. To find these scenes we will need to travel beyond the parts of the city we frequent, but doing so will reveal other sides of Tulsa ready for our discovery.
Prof. Rodger Randle
"someone who has never seen anything like the sertão has no idea what it is."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"Lampião Died in the State of Sergipe"
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The conquest of Paraíba."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The Story of the shoemaker that god visited three times."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The woman that sold her husband for $1.99."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The funeral of the gossipy church lady."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The Worker President."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The Day Hate Put a Crazy Man in the White House."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The Synagogue of the Corrupt."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The bad boss who had to answer to the devil."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
"The Bible Cordelized."
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
An excerpt recited...
For most of us, downtown is a place where we feel comfortable and at home. It is full of people like us. For others, however, downtown and its businesses, bars, and restaurants are distant and unreachable. A barren divide of privilege separate them from the downtown you and I know.
Closing Text Title
These are not photos that you will find on postcards in a souvenir shop, but they reflect realities of Tulsa as many people see and experience the city.
In our mind's image of Tulsa there are two points on which we focus. One is our own neighborhood. This is what best represents the city to each of us because it is where we live and it is the Tulsa with which we most identify.
The other focus is on iconic landmarks that we have been trained to see as symbols of our community. These are places we show visitors from out of town: "Look! …This is the city of which we are proud.""
Both are valid ways of seeing Tulsa, but they leave us with a picture that is incomplete. Unless we look at the details around us that we typically overlook, unless we travel beyond familiar places, we are missing important stories waiting to be uncovered.
This collection of photos is an example of things we may see but may not notice. To find these scenes we will need to travel beyond the parts of the city we frequent, but doing so will reveal other sides of Tulsa ready for our discovery.
Prof. Rodger Randle
OU Center for Studies in Democracy and Culture
Prof. Rodger A. Randle, Director
The University of Oklahoma Tulsa
4502 East 41st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
E-mail: randle@ou.edu
