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Reviews
| Oklahoma: A History, by W. David Baird and Danney Goble. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2008. 352 pages. $24.95, cloth.
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| Oklahoma: A History is the product of the team work of two scholars native to the 46th state; David Baird, Professor of History at Pepperdine University, and the late Danney Goble, Professor of Classics at the University of Oklahoma. Despite their academic background, the authors waste no time before they state this volume is not intended exclusively for an academic audience, but rather is designed with the general public in mind. The goal of their work is simple and straightforward: to provide a readable and yet well-researched overview of the history of Oklahoma from prehistoric times down to the present under one cover. |
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Faithful to this goal, the authors begin this text with a prologue dedicated to the physical geography of Oklahoma before delving into their historical marathon by reaching back into the pre-Columbian past of the state. The first two chapters of the twenty in which the book is divided cover the development of Native American societies in the region before contact with Europeans. Far from disappearing from the narrative once European explorers enter the picture, Native American peoples continue to receive much attention in the following sections. After discussing the European arrival and the early contacts between the United States and the Native tribes, the authors take us temporarily out of Oklahoma with a chapter about Southeastern Native American nations such as the Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Creek. This is done in an effort to provide a context for one of the great historical events to shape the history of Oklahoma in the 1800s: the removal of many defeated Native American societies from east of the Mississippi River to this part of the country. |
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The pace of the book speeds up considerably from this point onward. In the remaining chapters, covering the time period from the mid-1800s to the present, the authors address a wide variety of topics. Among them we find the colonization of Oklahoma by American settlers, the major political events within the state over the last century, the oil boom, the impact of the Great Depression and both World Wars, as well as a very insightful analysis explaining how Oklahoma has moved away from its allegiance to the Democratic Party and has morphed into one of the most conservative states in the nation. An equally interesting, albeit short, section covers the role of religion in the region. On a more lighthearted note, some space is given to the celebrities who have called Oklahoma their home, and to the athletes who have competed for the state's top teams. African American history is also discussed, particularly in those pages dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement. In addition to paying proper attention to ethnic themes, the authors are equally mindful of gender issues as it is evidenced by their descriptions of the sometimes different lives of men and women in Oklahoma's past and present. |
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Toward the end of the book, Baird and Goble display a gutsy willingness to tackle one of the main problems negatively impacting living conditions within the state: the nearly phobic opposition to taxes, which results in a lack of social programs to counter the very troubling statistics affecting the residents of Oklahoma. The authors point to the dire data indicating how Oklahoma is among the leaders in the nation in the rates of childhood mortality, poverty, teenage pregnancy, child abuse, and lack of medical insurance. In doing this, Baird and Goble clearly indicate that, even though they clearly love the state where they grew up, they are not blind to its flaws. |
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Overall, this volume is a well-written state history. Although it is meant for a general audience, it is also suitable for high school and possibly college courses focusing on Oklahoma. Furthermore, it also serves as a useful reference for the history of many American Indian tribes. The book contains no footnotes, but includes a chapter-by-chapter list of recommended further readings, and is illustrated with some black and white photos as well as maps. An appendix offers traveling advice to people wishing to see some of the places where the events of historical significance discussed in the book took place. |
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The only puzzling aspect of this volume is the relatively little space dedicated to the contemporary period. After doing an excellent job with the state's early history, the authors skim through the last sixty years in less than fifty pages. A dramatic event such as the Oklahoma City bombing is only mentioned in the epilogue, and its political implications are not discussed at all. Content-wise, this is the main problem in an otherwise well-researched text. |
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| California State University, Long Beach |
Daniele Bolleli |
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