Book Talk: Segregation and Desegregation in the Oklahoma Public Schools

February 18, 2026

STILLWATER, Okla.—Dr. Harold Aldridge, retired Northeastern State University professor and blues infotainer, will discuss his 2022 book, “What if the Past was Lost Forever? Then Who Would Pass on What? Segregation and Desegregation in the Oklahoma Public Schools,” which features interviews with Black educators from across the state, on March 2 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Edmon Low Library Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room.

During this free event, Dr. Aldridge will provide an overview of his oral history project and share clips of the video recordings that were recently digitized and donated to the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program in the OSU Library. Dr. Aldridge will be joined by Dr. Virginia Schoats, who will discuss her experience graduating from an all-Black school and later becoming a teacher during Oklahoma’s school desegregation. His presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. 

The interviews featured in the book were recorded with a High-Band 8mm camcorder, which documented 22 African American educators’ experiences before and after school integration between 1998 and 2002. Over the summer of 2025, the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program worked with Dr. Aldridge to digitize the Hi8 video recordings of his interviews as part of an effort to preserve and promote the stories of these educators.

To learn more about the Harold C. Aldridge, Jr. oral history collection on the OSU Library website.

URL: https://library-dep.okstate.edu/news/latest-news/booktalk-segregation-desegregation-ok

Last Updated: 13 March 2026