Mareo Johnson- People You Should Know

Cover and Inside photo: Mareo Johnson. The activist, minister and Executive Director of Black Lives Matter, Tulsa is making a huge difference in his community.

Keeping Black History in the Forefront

By Buddy Sampson

Activism and particularly Black activism, in an era that seems to be reversing civil rights advances that have been achieved over the last 50 years, is needed more than ever. Mareo Johnson, a Tulsa, Oklahoma native and Executive Director of Black Lives Matter Tulsa is one of those activists, making a huge difference in Tulsa, Oklahoma by keeping its history in the forefront. A community leader and public servant, Mareo Johnson focuses on several initiatives to move his community and city forward.

One of his initiatives, along with many other historians and activists is bringing awareness and attention to Black Wall Street, a cultural mecca of Black history and the location of one of the most terrible events in American history, The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. The New York Times reported that the massacre “killed hundreds of residents, burned more than 1,250 homes and erased years of Black success.” However, it not only erased years of Black success, it also eliminated generational wealth for many Black families. The effects of the massacre still reverberate today. “One main reason why people should know about it, it lets African-American people know what Black people accomplished, especially here in Tulsa,” said Mareo Johnson, when asked about the legacy of Black Wall Street.

“It also shows what we (Black people) are capable of accomplishing when we work together. It also will bring entitlement and strength to a lot of people because when people become under the awareness of what once was in Black Wall Street here in Tulsa, then it encourages other people, ‘like wow, that really was here, that really happened,’ people were millionaires, there were blocks of businesses- Black-owned and they didn’t have to leave their communities for anything- they had it all right there and were self-sufficient.”

What happened on Black Wall Street, a history that several politicians want to sweep under the carpet, ranks among the most senseless tragedies, an attempted genocide that wiped out many Black families and had a cumulative effect on the generational wealth that could have been accumulated by many Black families, which would have given their children head starts in prosperity for the future. “Knowing what happened in the past, the type of situation that led to it- of course it was imbedded in racism- and that’s the thing- people being able to look at that and say ‘that was terrible, well I don’t want anything like that to happen to people,’ whether they’re Asian, Hispanic or whatever that’s just sad for certain people to be done that way.”

Mareo, the Executive Director and founder of Black Lives Matter, Tulsa, became involved in the organization after the senseless deaths of Philando Castile of St. Paul Minnesota and Alton Sterling of Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the hands of police personnel. “When Philando Castile and Alton Sterling were murdered, that was when I decided we needed something here in Tulsa,” he said. “So, we started marching, even though that didn’t happen in Tulsa, we were in solidarity as a people, with the people in those places where that happened. In the midst of marching and gathering, I saw the passion- not only within myself, but with the people that were there.” He saw that as an opportunity, an opportunity to create something special in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mareo reached out to some of the people in the rallies and began putting together the first meetings of the Tulsa chapter of Black Lives Matter. “I felt that it was needed because there were people saying ‘we don’t know where to go, who we can trust, if we wanted to file a complaint against an officer,’ things like that,” he explained. “So having something like that gave the community something they can rely on.”

A strong advocate for criminal reform, Mareo is the Social Justice Chair of the United Nations of Eastern Oklahoma’s Board, a board member of the North Regional Health Center Advisory Board and the former Legal Redress Chair/Vice Chair of the NAACP Tulsa Branch. But what inspired Mareo Johnson to go in the direction of criminal reform, police reform and social justice?

“In my past, I’ve been wrongfully incarcerated, and assaulted by police myself,” said Mareo, who was also the former Workforce Chair of the North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative (NTEDI). “I’ve been jumped on and beat up by the police. A police dog, a German Shepard bit me. I had surrendered and they let the dog go. There was no reason to let the dog go to start biting me.”

He also recounted an incident he has when he was young, seeing a friend of his that was wrongfully convicted of murder when he was young. “I was seventeen years old, we were minding our own business, when we heard gunshots and my friend went to help the man that got shot,” he reflected. “As a youngster, I didn’t have enough sense to say, ‘I don’t feel good about this.” His friend insisted, and the man died. His friend was convicted of the murder. “He got a life sentence,” he said. “He got out two years ago, but I went on the stand in his jury trial and volunteered, because I know this guy didn’t do this, we don’t know who did it, but I know he didn’t do it. I got on the stand and he still got convicted. So, I’ve seen up close and personal how an innocent man did twenty-eight years in prison for something he didn’t do.”

Mareo Johnson.

Mareo is a strong advocate for Criminal justice Reform, Economic Development, Police/Community Relations, and public safety. He is also a mentor who encourages adults and youth to stay out of gangs and shows them ways to elevate their lives so they stay out of prison.

A graduate of Victory Bible College, who also studied Psychology/Social Psychology at Tulsa Community College, Mario has been featured in the racial literacy book “Tell Me Who You Are,” used by thousands of teachers in the US and abroad and has been featured in Tulsa People’s Magazine, THE VOICE and The Business Insider. He is also a minister, the founding Minister of Seeking The Kingdom Ministries Inc.

Mareo Johnson is spearheading an event in September 2023, The Oklahoma Birth of Legends, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Mareo Johnson has also been instrumental in the early stages of Tulsa’s Hip Hop, where he influenced several artists. A recording artist who writes about real-life struggles and positivity, Mareo has sponsored and hosted many events of different types. On September 17, 2023 he’s producing an event- titled Oklahoma Birth of Legends. The Legends Movement is a vision that has come into fruition after many years. It consists of Oklahoma pioneers of hip hop and music, combining old school with new school. This first free event will have free food and several community-based vendors. Sponsored by Guthrie Green, the event time is from 2PM to 6PM.

Social activism, criminal justice reform and making a difference in the Black community is something we needs lots more of. With many politicians trying to erase Black history, Mareo Johnson is an important figure, setting an example that many of us should follow. It is for those reasons why Mareo Johnson is a lock to be one of the People You Should Know.

For more information about Mareo Johnson visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MareoMr.MinistaJohnson. He may also be reached by telephone, at (918) 209-1565.