Black History
Tulsa Race Massacre: Devastating Attack on Black Wall Street
The Tulsa Race Massacre was a catastrophic event in American history that erupted in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921. Incited by a baseless accusation of assault against an African-American man, a mob of white people launched a devastating attack on the predominantly African-American Greenwood District, known as “Black Wall Street.” The assault, which lasted for two days, resulted in the deaths of up to 300 individuals, the destruction of more than 1,000 homes and businesses, and the displacement of over 10,000 African-American residents. This tragic incident is one of the most severe instances of racial violence in U.S. history and had lasting repercussions on the community.
The Tragic Incident in Tulsa
The tragic events leading up to the Tulsa Race Massacre began on May 30, 1921. A young African-American man named Dick Rowland was accused of assaulting Sarah Page, a white woman, in an elevator. This accusation, which was later found to be false, incited a mob of white people to gather outside the jail where Rowland was being held. Fearing for Rowland’s safety, a group of armed African-American men went to the jail to protect him. This act of solidarity sparked a confrontation between the two groups, escalating into violence.
For the next two days, white mobs attacked the Greenwood district of Tulsa, an affluent African-American community known as “Black Wall Street.” The mobs used guns, incendiary bombs, and even airplanes to destroy homes and businesses in the area. The Oklahoma National Guard was eventually called in to quell the violence, but this occurred after up to 300 people had been killed, and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed.
The Tulsa Race Massacre had a devastating effect on the African-American community in Tulsa. Over 10,000 people were displaced, and the Greenwood District was left in ruins. The massacre was largely forgotten and ignored in American history books for decades. However, it has since been recognized as a significant moment in American history. In 2021, the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission was established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the massacre. The Commission aims to work towards racial justice, reconciliation, and to raise awareness about the events of 1921 and their impact on the African-American community in Tulsa.
Today, the memory of the Tulsa Race Massacre serves as a poignant reminder of the history of racial violence in the United States and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. Efforts to educate and memorialize this event continue to play a crucial role in the broader movement for civil rights and social justice.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_massacre
Further Information and references
- Ellsworth, Scott (1992). Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press.
- Franklin, Buck Colbert (August 22, 1931). “The Tulsa Race Riot and Three of Its Victims”. National Museum of African American History and Culture. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018. Full text. Archived October 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
- Hirsch, James S. (2002). Riot and Remembrance: The Tulsa Race War and Its Legacy. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-10813-0. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- Parrish, Mary E. Jones (1922). “Events of the Tulsa Disaster”. University of Tulsa, Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- Hate Crimes in the Heartland (2014), a documentary by Rachel Lyon and Bavand Karim that provides an in-depth examination of the riot.
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