BLACK WOMEN IN STATE LEGISLATURES: THE VIEW FROM OKLAHOMA

Over the past 20 years the number of black women elected  to public office has increaseddramatically. However, beyond  the act of holding office comes the ability to directly affect change in public policy. In order to bring about policy change, elected officials have to becomean integral part of the policy-making process. This article examines the level of incorporation black women have achieved within the Oklahoma State Legislature. Through interviews conducted with members of the legislature, we attempt to see how well black women have adjusted to the legislative process. The results show that black women appear to have becomeeffective  members of the Oklahoma Legislature.