CONTENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS HISTORY, SO INTRODUCING NEW PEOPLE TO THIS HISTORY IS AMAZING. Y’ALL PROBABLY DRIVE THROUGH THIS PART OF TOWN EVERY DAY AND DON’T KNOW THE DEEP, RICH HISTORY BEHIND IT. AND BRINGING THAT HISTORY TO NEW EYES. THIS VIDEO GOING VIRAL ON TIKTOK. DEEP DEUCE, WAS THE EPICENTER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE. TREY SMITH TYPICALLY MAKES VIDEOS REVIEWING LOCAL RESTAURANTS. THEY SAY IF YOU WANT THAT QUALITY MEXICAN FOOD, YOU GOT TO COME OUT TO THE SOUTH SIDE. I DIDN’T SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING TO THE RESTAURANTS THAT I LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN PARTICULARLY THE BLACK OWNED RESTAURANTS. HEY, THIS NEXT PART WE’RE GOING TO HAS THE BEST BURGER IN THE CITY. FEBRUARY 1ST, THE START OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. TREY TRIED SOMETHING NEW, A DEEP DIVE INTO THE DEEP DEUCE DISTRICT HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THE ALDRIDGE THEATER, WHICH ATTRACTED TOP MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS SUCH AS ELLA FITZGERALD, BILLIE HOLIDAY AND DUKE ELLINGTON. EVEN THE LEGEND HERSELF, MISS FLORENCE KEMP, STARTED HER RESTAURANT, FLORENCE’S IN THE DEEP DEUCE DISTRICT. FUN FACT ABOUT THIS SPOT IS IN 1951, A YOUNG MAN NAMED MARTIN LUTHER KING CAME TO CALVARY BAPTIST LOOKING FOR A JOB. VIDEO TREY GAVE US A TOUR STARTING AT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE HE SAYS, MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR GAVE A SERMON AS PART OF A JOB INTERVIEW. PRETTY EARLY IN HIS CAREER. JUST HOW DOES IT FEEL WALKING UP THESE STEPS? YOU KNOW, WE’RE GETTING CLOSE TO WHERE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ONCE WAS. YEAH. STOP HERE. ABSOLUTELY MAKE YOU FEEL. IT KIND OF GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS. YOU KNOW, JUST TO, YOU KNOW, WALK THROUGH THESE STREETS. I MEAN, I DRIVE PAST HERE ALL THE TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, I EVEN HANG OUT IN THIS AREA SOMETIMES. AND IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW THAT I’M AWARE OF THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS AREA. HE SAYS A FRIEND FIRST TOLD HIM ABOUT THE HISTORY IN DEEP DEUCE, AND FROM THERE HE DID HIS OWN RESEARCH. DEEP DEUCE WAS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY BACK IN THE 1920S. YOU KNOW, THEY HAD EVERYTHING YOU COULD ASK FOR AS FAR AS BUSINESS GOES, AS FAR AS THEIR OWN NEWSPAPERS, THEIR OWN RESTAURANTS, BARBERSHOPS, DOCTOR’S OFFICES, ATTORNEYS PRACTICE HERE. SO WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THE DEEP DEUCE, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THESE SIGNS THAT SAY HISTORICAL JAZZ DISTRICT, RIGHT? BUT IT WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF OUR OTHER STOPS, JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS FROM THE CHURCH, TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. SO WE ARE ACTUALLY AT THE LYONS MANSION, AND THIS WAS OWNED BY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR SIDNEY LYONS. AND HE HAD THIS MANSION BUILT IN 1926. HE WOULD SELL ANYTHING FROM HAIR GROWTH SERUM TO FACE POWDERS, SOAPS, PERFUMES, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND NOT ONLY WAS HE SUCCESSFUL IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT HE ALSO DID WELL INTERNATIONALLY. THE DEEP DEUCE DISTRICT IS NOT JUST A PLACE. IT’S A LIVING TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND VIBRANT HISTORY OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY. TODAY’S VIDEO, SEEN BY MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE AND MOST OF THE COMMENTS THANKING HIM FOR THIS HISTORY LESSON, AND TREY HOPES TO KEEP IT GOING. BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS HISTORY. SO INTRODUCING NEW PEOPLE TO THIS HISTORY IS AMAZING. YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THIS HISTOR
OKC content creator’s viral TikTok video highlights Deep Deuce’s African American history
Tre’ Smith’s TikTok video on the Deep Deuce district’s rich history goes viral, educating thousands about its cultural significance
Updated: 10:22 PM CST Feb 25, 2025
Tre’ Smith, an Oklahoma City content creator, has gone viral on TikTok with a video showcasing the rich history of the Deep Deuce district.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel”Y’all probably drive through this part of town every day and don’t know the deep, rich history behind it,” Smith said in his video.The video, which has been viewed by over 100,000 people, highlighted Deep Deuce as the epicenter of African American culture in Oklahoma City. Typically known for his local restaurant reviews, Smith decided to delve into the history of Deep Deuce to mark the start of Black History Month on Feb. 1.”I didn’t see a lot of people going to the restaurants that I like and in particularly the Black-owned restaurants,” Smith said. Smith’s video features notable landmarks such as the Aldridge Theater, which attracted top musicians and performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington. He also mentioned the Calvary Baptist Church, where a civil rights icon once gave a sermon as part of a job interview early in his career.”The fun fact about this spot is, in 1951, a young man named Martin Luther King came to Calvary Baptist looking for a job,” Smith said. Smith’s tour begins at Calvary Baptist Church, where he reflects on the significance of walking the same steps as Martin Luther King, Jr.”It kind of gives me goosebumps, you know,” Smith said. “It’s surreal just to walk through these streets. I mean, I drive past here all the time, and you know, I even hang out in this area sometimes, and it feels good to know that I’m aware of the history behind this area.”Smith’s interest in Deep Deuce’s history was sparked by a friend’s tip, leading him to conduct his own research.”Deep Deuce was a vibrant community back in the 1920s. You know, they had everything you could ask for as far as business goes, as far as their own newspapers, their own restaurants, barbershops, doctor offices, attorneys practiced here,” Smith said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.One of the stops on Smith’s tour is the Lyons’ Mansion, built in 1926 by successful entrepreneur Sidney Lyons. “He would sell anything from hair growth serums to face powders, soaps, perfumes, things like that. And not only was he successful in the United States, but he also did well internationally,” Smith said. His video has been seen by more than 100,000 people. Many of the comments were from people thanking him for the history lesson. “The Deep Deuce district is not just a place. It’s a living testament to the strength, resilience and vibrant history of the Black community right here in Oklahoma City,” Smith states.Smith said he hopes to continue sharing this history with new audiences.”Because, like I said, a lot of people don’t know this history, so introducing new people to this history is amazing. I feel like this history needs to be told,” Smith said. Top Headlines 3D Model: Expert says these aircraft features saved lives in the Toronto plane crash Federal worker in Oklahoma says colleagues have been fired by OPM without manager’s knowledge 3 in custody after incident prompts large police presence in northwest Oklahoma City Person rushed to hospital after hammer attack in northwest Oklahoma City Tinker Air Force Base bracing for looming layoff of probationary workers
Tre’ Smith, an Oklahoma City content creator, has gone viral on TikTok with a video showcasing the rich history of the Deep Deuce district.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
“Y’all probably drive through this part of town every day and don’t know the deep, rich history behind it,” Smith said in his video.
The video, which has been viewed by over 100,000 people, highlighted Deep Deuce as the epicenter of African American culture in Oklahoma City.
Typically known for his local restaurant reviews, Smith decided to delve into the history of Deep Deuce to mark the start of Black History Month on Feb. 1.
“I didn’t see a lot of people going to the restaurants that I like and in particularly the Black-owned restaurants,” Smith said.
Smith’s video features notable landmarks such as the Aldridge Theater, which attracted top musicians and performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington.
He also mentioned the Calvary Baptist Church, where a civil rights icon once gave a sermon as part of a job interview early in his career.
“The fun fact about this spot is, in 1951, a young man named Martin Luther King came to Calvary Baptist looking for a job,” Smith said.
Smith’s tour begins at Calvary Baptist Church, where he reflects on the significance of walking the same steps as Martin Luther King, Jr.
“It kind of gives me goosebumps, you know,” Smith said. “It’s surreal just to walk through these streets. I mean, I drive past here all the time, and you know, I even hang out in this area sometimes, and it feels good to know that I’m aware of the history behind this area.”
Smith’s interest in Deep Deuce’s history was sparked by a friend’s tip, leading him to conduct his own research.
“Deep Deuce was a vibrant community back in the 1920s. You know, they had everything you could ask for as far as business goes, as far as their own newspapers, their own restaurants, barbershops, doctor offices, attorneys practiced here,” Smith said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
One of the stops on Smith’s tour is the Lyons’ Mansion, built in 1926 by successful entrepreneur Sidney Lyons.
“He would sell anything from hair growth serums to face powders, soaps, perfumes, things like that. And not only was he successful in the United States, but he also did well internationally,” Smith said.
His video has been seen by more than 100,000 people. Many of the comments were from people thanking him for the history lesson.
“The Deep Deuce district is not just a place. It’s a living testament to the strength, resilience and vibrant history of the Black community right here in Oklahoma City,” Smith states.
Smith said he hopes to continue sharing this history with new audiences.
“Because, like I said, a lot of people don’t know this history, so introducing new people to this history is amazing. I feel like this history needs to be told,” Smith said.
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This article was originally published by a www.koco.com . Read the Original article here. .