[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Next Gen: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_color=”#353754″ custom_padding=”2%|0px|2%|0px||” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Time of Covid Row: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”15px|0px|22px|0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||” custom_width_px=”1280px”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”NextGenRadio” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Oswald|||||on|||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”60px” header_letter_spacing=”5px” header_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font_size=”27px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center”]<\/p>\n
Finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”In the time of COVID: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#6c82a3″ header_2_font_size=”35px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_3_font=”|700||||on|||” header_3_text_color=”#6c82a3″ background_layout=”dark” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Texts: DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” header_font=”Oswald||||” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” max_width=”600px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-30px|||” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n A collection of audio and digital stories highlighting the experiences of people in the 100-year aftermath of what is believed to be the single worst incident of racial violence in American history.<\/p>\n This project was produced in April 2021 in partnership with Oklahoma State University School of Media and Strategic Communications and KOSU. Our reporters are students in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/Qe9YCJA-qMA” admin_label=”YouTube Video” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16px”]<\/p>\n What started out as giving friends haircuts in high school ended with a successful barbering career. From a student, to service-industry worker, to full-time barber, Willie Sells, the owner of Tee\u2019s Barbershop, has cut hair and fostered a sense of community for almost six decades in Tulsa\u2019s Greenwood District.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”HERO IMAGE OPTION 1: Background image: DELETE IF NOT NEEDED” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/T_Emily_Final.jpg” background_blend=”multiply” custom_margin=”-2px|||||” custom_padding=”12%||39.4%|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”6px||3px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”3px||6px|||”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Illustrator credit” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Illustration by Emily Whang [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px||35px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_post_title date=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font=”Oswald||||||||” title_font_size=”42px” title_letter_spacing=”2px” title_line_height=”1.2em” meta_text_color=”#04a3e3″ meta_font_size=”18px”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n An inherited barbershop and 57 years later, Willie Sells finds himself caring for his community almost every day.<\/p>\n Sells, 77, owns Tee\u2019s Barbershop in Tulsa\u2019s Greenwood district, and his shop has flourished as a Black-owned business since 1985. The years leading up to this successful barbershop is what makes its existence important.<\/p>\n In the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, rioters bombed and destroyed every business on Black Wall Street. Sells and his barbershop are an example of what success on Black Wall Street looks like after it was rebuilt.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been cutting hair actually 57 years,\u201d Sells said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s not counting my high school when I had to cut my friends hair in school.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/6-T_MASTER-2.mp3″ title=”LISTEN TO THE STORY” artist_name=”Taryn Johnson” album_name=”Next Generation Radio | Oklahoma Newsroom | April 2021″ image_url=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Barber_04.jpg” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#353754″ hover_enabled=”0″ title_text=”6 – T_MASTER 2″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_audio][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n Before working in Tulsa, Sells lived in Tullahassee, the oldest all-Black town in Oklahoma. From there, he started his hair-cutting journey once he attended barber college in Tyler, Texas, in 1962. He received his barbering certificate and became a certified barber in Tulsa the next year. Although he moved forward in pursuing a career as a barber, he said it had its ups and downs.<\/p>\n \u201cBarbering is no joke,\u201d Sells said. \u201cPeople think it’s just easy and like falling off a log, but you need to learn about it in order to take care of your people.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to Sells\u2019 appreciation for cutting hair correctly, he effortlessly curates a safe environment in his business where Black people can gather.<\/p>\n There is a sense of warmth in the four walls that surround Sells\u2019 craft of cutting hair. When his shop is open during the day, it fills with members of the community who have known Sells for years.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve got some customers that go all the way back to the \u201860s,\u201d Sells said. \u201cNot many of them, but a few, and I look forward to \u2026 I know one day they’ll stop in. It’s never a dull day because you never know what will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n It is clear that when Sells\u2019 clients come in, they are happy to sit and talk while waiting for their haircuts. Some even peak their heads in to chat for a second, say hello or bring food.<\/p>\n Tee\u2019s Barbershop wasn\u2019t always like this.<\/p>\n \u201cWe call this a million dollar square that was renovated,\u201d Sells said. \u201cAs you can see, we wore out in 30 years, but thank God it\u2019s still here.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Barber_15.jpg” alt=”Daniel Marks standing next to gym equipment.” title_text=”Willie Sells of Tee’s Barbershop” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.7.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n As he cuts a client’s hair, Willie Sells talks and laughs across the room to his good friend who\u2019s dropping off donuts at the shop for the day. (Photo by Taryn Johnson)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n Over the course of three decades, the stations in his shop have accumulated small mementos, and pictures of family, past barbers and clients. Sells also keeps a coffee pot and Keurig right next to his station for his daily coffee and tea. Sells says his shop is worn out, but some would say it is modest and comfortable.<\/p>\n Tee\u2019s Barbershop was not always in the building it\u2019s in now. The shop had to relocate in 1984 after the city of Tulsa declared eminent domain on office buildings on Black Wall Street.<\/p>\n Sells got his start at the shop\u2019s original location in the 1000 block of North Greenwood. D.M. Mims, the original owner of Tee\u2019s Barbershop, accepted Sells as a barber, trained him and gave him a job. He cut hair at Mims Barbershop until William Tecumseh purchased it in the \u201870s. Tecumseh was Sells\u2019 mentor, and he pushed for Sells to come with him when the barbershop had to relocate.<\/p>\n Sells\u2019 start as a barber wasn\u2019t always smooth. He got married and had four children, and he soon discovered simply cutting hair wasn\u2019t enough to take care of his family.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em”]<\/p>\n \u201cPicked up another job, because at $1.50 a haircut in 1964, I couldn’t hardly feed a baby and a wife,\u201d Sells said.<\/p>\n While working for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company from 1965 to 1998, Sells continued to cut hair part time. Greenwood not only gave Sells an opportunity to cut hair, but it also helped him stay afloat financially.<\/p>\n Aside from helping him overcome his financial trials, Sells said he is grateful for Greenwood because of the people in it and the people who came before him.<\/p>\n He is a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, and has been since the 1960\u2019s. He pointed out why this church is so important to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I came to town as a youngster, they took me right in, and I’ve been here ever since,\u201d Sells said. \u201cI was able to raise my children and spiritually educate them, and which is a blessing, and so I appreciate the ones that stayed.\u201d<\/p>\n The original Mount Zion was burned down in the Tulsa Race Massacre, but its members did what they could to rebuild it. Sells explained his forefathers suffered and still managed to rebuild. So to him, Black Wall Street is a holy ground.<\/p>\n Today, Tee\u2019s Barbershop is open five days a week. The shop has shorter hours and has scaled down one staff member due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got some future plans after Coronavirus is over,\u201d Sells said. \u201cI’ll probably stick around another four or five years as long as my health last[s].\u201d<\/p>\n He said he plans on training another barber to cut hair in his shop, the same way he was taken in and trained to cut hair in the same place.<\/p>\n \u201cThe barbershop was a blessing to me,\u201d Sells said. \u201cGreenwood has been good not only to me, but to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Barber_06.jpg” alt=”Weighted plates on a rack at a gym” title_text=”Barber_06″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.7.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Willie Sells prepares his station for the day before he gives his first haircut. At this time, he often makes a cup of coffee or tea from the coffee pot or Keurig next to his station. <\/b> (Photo by Taryn Johnson)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Barber_10.jpg” alt=”Weighted plates on a rack at a gym” title_text=”Barber_10″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.7.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Willie Sells (left) uses a straight blade on his client Buddy Tate to finish up his haircut.\u00a0(Photo by Taryn Johnson)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Barber_08.jpg” title_text=”Barber_08″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Willie Sells starts off his first appointment of the day with client Buddy Tate. Sells has cut Tate\u2019s hair for years, and some of Sells\u2019 loyal clients date back to the \u201860s. (Photo by Taryn Johnson)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Barber_09.jpg” title_text=”Barber_09″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”992px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Willie Sells (left) cuts hair next to William Tecumseh (right) in Tee\u2019s Barbershop when they worked together. Tecumseh was a mentor and father figure to Sells. (Photos Courtesy of Willie Sells)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Barber_12.jpg” title_text=”Barber_12″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”992px” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Willie Sells (far left) cuts Royce Johnson\u2019s hair (second from left). Three other clients sit and wait for their appointment. <\/span>(Photo by Taryn Johnson)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Footer – DO NOT EDIT BELOW HERE” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_color=”rgba(43,2,0,0.77)” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” disabled=”on” global_module=”73″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Footer Row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px||” animation_style=”fade” make_fullwidth=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_color=”#fc7058″ background_image=”https:\/\/okla.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2021\/04\/Tulsa_OK_Map_1920.jpg” background_position=”top_left” background_blend=”overlay” custom_padding=”100px|10%|100px|10%” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Oswald||||” link_font=”||||||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”||||||||” quote_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#04a3e3″ header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#353754″ header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||4%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Texts” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”Nunito||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”Oswald|||on|” header_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_font_size=”16px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#DCA57D” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||6%|” locked=”off”]<\/p>\nCentennial of the<\/h3>\n
1921 Tulsa Race Massacre<\/h2>\n
<\/em><\/p>\nAbout NextGenRadio<\/h2>\n