Was Oklahoma’s first state law segregationist?

Senate Bill One was the first state law passed and enacted by the Oklahoma State Legislature on Dec. 18, 1907. The bill, also known as the coach law, mandated that all public transportation must provide and enforce separate coaches and waiting rooms for Black and white patrons.

Following Oklahoma’s Constitutional Convention, the first legislature’s greatest priorities included codifying racial segregation, which had been significantly reduced in the final Oklahoma Constitution for fear of President Roosevelt’s veto. Senate Bill One was passed as emergency legislation, allowing the statute to go into effect immediately.

The law was followed by a succession of bills during the early 20th century which effectively racially segregated all parts of public life in Oklahoma.

The U.S. Supreme Court outlawed legal segregation in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Oklahoma repealed Senate Bill One, along with all segregation statutes for public transportation, in 1965.