To honor Oklahoma’s first black Senator, E. Melvin Porter, the Legislative Black Caucus is creating a $10,000 endowed scholarship at Langston University. Porter recently passed away in July at the age of 86.
“Oklahoma became a state in 1907 but until 1964 no black citizens had ever been elected to the Senate. E. Melvin Porter broke that barrier and was an important figure in Oklahoma’s civil rights movement,” said Senator Kevin Matthews. “It is the hope of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus that this scholarship will ensure his lifelong work will always be remembered.”
A memorial service will be held this Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
Flags have been ordered to half-staff over the weekend to honor Porter.
Porter was a major civil rights figure for Oklahoma. He participated in the sit-ins and boycotts with civil rights leader Clara Luper. While in office, he introduced the Anti-Discrimination Act which was the state’s version of the federal Civil Rights Act.
