Anita Arnold
Executive Director, Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC), Inc.
Air Date, May 12, 2013
Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC), Incorporated began as an idea of Dr. John Smith who had moved to Oklahoma to accept a job with the Oklahoma Symphony. After the Symphony failed, Dr. Smith accepted a job at Langston University in the Music Department. During that period, he wrestled with the problem of African Americans expressing themselves about their identity. With the support of a friend, Alfred Cohran, Dr. Smith moved forward with the idea of using the arts as a means of self-expression.
Oklahoma City’s black community responded spontaneously and collectively to affirm itself in a constructive and creative manner. The organization was incorporated as a non-profit organization on April 28, 1971. BLAC, Inc. began with a music component, a literary component, a visual arts component and, finally a theater component. The arts burst forth in festivals, arts education programs, lectures, poetry readings, theater productions and presenting programs, traveling arts programs, and finally dance programs. The Northeast side of Oklahoma City was alive! News traveled fast and soon BLAC, Inc. was capturing headlines in all of the local papers.
BLAC, Inc. earned a reputation of excellence and commanded respect from the larger Oklahoma City and Oklahoma community. BLAC, Inc. earned the coveted Governor’s Arts Award for its theater work and national and international awards it received.
Since the beginning, the organization has always had service to the community as a priority. BLAC, Inc. is known for creating leading edge programs in arts education, in presenting and producing, recognition of legends, preserving African American history in Oklahoma City and in meeting the needs of the community. To this day, BLAC, Inc. continues to receive national recognition for programs of great value to the community.