OKLAHOMA CITY, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 – The Oklahoma City Thunder will celebrate Black History Month through February in-game presentations, its annual Black Heritage Creative Contest, amplifying historical and modern-day Black voices, and community events. Throughout the month, the Thunder will also highlight the life and legacy of Oklahoma educator and civil rights leader Clara Luper who would have turned 100 years old on May 3.
Game-night activations
The Thunder tips off the celebration by hosting HBCU Night at the Feb. 4 game against the Houston Rockets where the team will pay tribute to Langston University, Oklahoma’s only historically Black college/university (HBCU) and the HBCU culture.
The night includes a performance by Friends Chorale with Montrae Tisdale of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black national anthem. Members from the Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma fraternities will also treat fans to a step performance. Stepping is a cultural art form of spoken word and dance choreography widely performed by historically Black fraternities and sororities. Halftime entertainment will feature the Langston University Marching Band and guest DJ Steve Nice will spin tunes during a post-game party in the southwest entry lobby at Paycom Center.
During all February home games, fans can enjoy elements such as history-making moments in the life of Clara Luper along with other Black history facts and artwork created by Black artists on the arena digital board in section 113 and the chalk wall in section 312.
At the Feb. 26 game, local activist/entrepreneur and Emmy award-winning artist Jabee will perform at halftime. Feb. 28, the Thunder will announce the winners of its annual high school student Black Heritage Creative Contest, sponsored by Sprite, during halftime.
Community engagement and player appearances
In addition to in-game presentations, the Thunder will also celebrate Black History Month through player and community appearances.
Feb. 3, Thunder broadcast and digital reporter Paris Lawson will read and distribute copies of “Someday is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Sit-Ins” to students at Millwood Elementary during a Reading Time Out, presented by American Fidelity Assurance Company. Throughout the month, the Thunder will also distribute other books by African American authors through the Rolling Thunder Book Bus and Little Library.
Feb. 3, Thunder players and historian Bruce Fisher are scheduled to join fifth grade students at F.D. Moon Middle School to share the historical impact of notable African American Oklahomans. The Thunder will also provide every student in the school with a copy of Fisher’s “We Remember...Before and Beyond: An Oklahoma African American History Coloring Book.”
Feb. 12, the Thunder and Homeland will treat a local family to a grocery shopping spree at Homeland’s NE 36th and Lincoln location. Thunder players are scheduled to assist the family during the spree.
Feb. 25, the Thunder and Google will host a coding camp for Martin Luther King Elementary students. Thunder Coding Camps offer hands-on curriculum for youth ages 7-14. Participants expand their skills in coding, design and collaboration by creating their own robot.
“We recognize that Black history is being made every day,” said Natasha Stamper, Thunder vice president Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “This time of year provides an opportunity to use our channels to bring more awareness to trailblazers and figures who paved the way, modern-day Black voices and help drive community engagement toward equity and inclusion.”
For more information about the Thunder’s Black History Month celebration, visit https://www.nba.com/thunder/bhm.