ARIZONA HISTORY – THE OKEMAH COMMUNITY
Arizona History, the Okemah Community – a reflection on years past, which records the history and rich culture of an African-American community in South East Phoenix. This record is designed to amplify the historical understanding of life in this small community.
Okemah was a fascinating community in which to live and grow. It was indeed a unique community where honest, hard-working men were proud to be their brother’s keeper. Women were respected and demonstrated a sense of pride in the care of their homes and children. Children were loved and nurtured by family, and the community willingly served as their extended family.
The community valued respect for self and others and held in high esteem the desire for academic pursuit. These values, taught at an early age, were the essence of its vision of a better brighter future for its youth.
We retained many values from preserving Okemah’s history. As we read about those who lived there, we share some of their experiences and learn from their mistakes as we look to the future.
Knowledge of a productive history helps us to understand where we have been, value where we are, and recognize the need to continue to grow. A profound debt of gratitude is acknowledged here to all who have aided in the preparation of this brief, yet important chapter of Arizona history.
Dr. Josephine Hill Pete
OKEMAH COMMUNITY TRIBUTE
William “Willie” Henry Davis
Los Angeles Dodgers legend, Willie Davis, was an outstanding athlete who spent many years of his youth in Okemah. His journey to the top was a winding road that began with his grandparents……………”
Click Here to read Willie’s story.
Ghaazi Burt Named Okemah’s 2024 Scholarship Awardee
L to R: Bill Mosley, Doris Lamkin-Burt Johnson, Ghaazi Burt, Gloria Williams, Nelson Mitchell, James Boozer
(Dr. Josephine Hill-Pete & Steven L. Johnson not in picture)
The Okemah Community Historical Foundation is proud to announce its 2024 $2,000 scholarship recipient. The 2nd Annual Scholarship has been awarded to Ghaazi Sadiq Burt who is a graduate of Maricopa Institute of Technology. He plans to attend college in the fall at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Ghaazi is an Okemah community descendant. His great-grandparents, Ed Davis and Classie May Davis, moved to Okemah in 1946. With them was Ghaazi’s other great-grandmother, Ozaree Davis Burt. His great-grandfather, Winford Burt, joined them after serving in the military. Winford and Ozaree had six children—three boys and three girls.
Ghaazi’s grandfather, William “Bobby” Burt, was the oldest child of Winford and Ozaree. Bobby was the Okemah historian. His book, Arizona History—The Okemah Community, was first published in 2001. Bobby married Doris Lamkin and she’s carrying on his legacy as the president of the Okemah Community Historical Foundation. The Bobby and Doris union resulted in three children—Jamal, Safiyyah, and Hanif.
Ghaazi, the son of Hanif and Quita Burt, plans on pursuing a degree in environmental engineering. His goal is to create concepts to help and benefit the environment. His choice of this degree comes from the steadfast encouragement of his parents. His father is a mechanical engineer, and his mother was a senior producer for ABC News in Arizona. His parents formed GreenDesert.org that focuses on teaching self-sufficiency and ways to lower our carbon footprints, and provides sustainable living suggestions and solutions.
Ghazi worked as an intern with a podcast which promoted ideas for making environmentally-friendly decisions.
Ghaazi’s long-term goal is to contribute meaningfully to society and leave a positive environmental footprint.
Family
Church
Community
The Beginning of The Okemah Community and its Growth Through the Years
Okemah is no longer what it used to be. The community is nestled between 32nd street and 48th street, from Broadway to the South and Salt River to the North. The community was changed from residential to industrial but the hearts, souls, and spirits of Okemah did not.
Click here to read the full story.
Click here to watch the Channel 15 News Interview.
Okemah Community Recognition Day
October 20, 2018
