The Culture of Oklahoma

As a native Oklahoman who has returned after a 35 year absence I found The Culture of Oklahoma to be very enlightening. The essays reinforced each other in an image of a state full of people who undervalue their strengths and whose devotion to individualism and populism keep them underachieving relative to much of the rest of the country. The same culture creates people who are warm, helpful, friendly and perservering. An image which stands out is the contrast of the "dust bowl" image with the reality of a state which is, by and large, lush, green and water rich. One hopes that younger generations of Oklahoma will grow out of the backwards parts of their past while retaining the positives.