By Dr. David Childs, Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
There is much work to be done in the areas of Black studies and African American history. As the title of this article suggests, much of the history has been hidden. Or in the case of the violence in Tulsa, it has intentionally not been included in much of the historical record. May 31, 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the tragic massacre of Africa Americans in the Greenwood business district in Tulsa Okahoma. We would like to revisit the topic, as we have been seeing more and more awareness brought to the subject in recent times.
(The Tulsa Historical Society)
A victim of the Tulsa race riot lays on the back of a flat bed truck outside Convention Hall as a white man with a shotgun stands on the truck.
This article was originally posted June 25, 2020.
Introduction
History is full of triumphs, innovations and inspirational stories. It is also full of stories and events that consist of heartache, tragedy and pain. A little known historical tragedy that has recently come to light is the Black Wall Street Massacre. The event is also referred to as the Greenwood Massacre, The Tulsa Race Massacre or the Tulsa Race Riot. However the title the “Tulsa Race Riot” is misleading because it suggests that there was mutual aggression between Blacks and Whites, however the term massacre is more fitting and accurate in describing the event.
Resentment of Black Wealth and Affluence
The Black Wall Street Massacre took place on May 31 through June 1, 1921 for over 18 hours, when mobs of White residents attacked black residents and businesses of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greenwood District was an area of Black affluence known as, Black Wall Street. Greenwood was at that time the wealthiest black community in the United States. The violence was a result of pent up White jealousy and resentment toward the success of the African American business district.
The Massacre and Desecration of Black Dreams
The massacre has been called by experts “the single worst incident of racial violence in American history.” The attacks were carried out both from private aircraft and from the ground, destroying more than 35 square blocks of the Greenwood district. The casualties, injuries and property damage was unconscionable. White citizens were deputized overnight and arrested as many as 6,000 black residents, putting them in makeshift internment facilities for several days. Although the Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Statistics officially recorded deaths at 36, in reality a 2001 state commission examination found that 150–300 deaths had occurred as a result of the massacre. In addition, over 800 people were hospitalized. The violence was began over Memorial Day weekend in 1921 “when 19-year-old Dick Rowland, a black shoe shiner, was accused of assaulting Sarah Page, a 17-year-old white elevator operator of the nearby Drexel Building.” Rowland was arrested and taken into custody. There was talk that the young man would be lynched. In order to protect Rowland a group of 75 armed black men descended upon the jail to stop a white mob from trying to lynch him, which triggered the violence.
(Tulsa Historical Society
These two photos show the ruins of the Frank Wellborn Building on North Elgin and Brady following the Tulsa race riot.
The Damage and No Justice for Black Citizens
White rioters wreaked havoc upon the black neighborhood that night and morning killing African Americans and burning and looting stores, other businesses and homes. The violence was only staved when around noon the next day Oklahoma National Guard troops managed to “get control of the situation by declaring martial law. About 10,000 black people were left homeless, and property damage amounted to more than $1.5 million in real estate and $750,000 in personal property (equivalent to $32.25 million in 2019). Their property was never recovered nor were they compensated for it. Many survivors left Tulsa, while black and white residents who stayed in the city were silent for decades about the terror, violence, and losses of the event. The massacre was largely omitted from local, state, and national histories.”
A Graphic Portrayal of the Event in the Atlantic
The Atlantic recently created a graphic novel to detail the events in both word and picture form. See their illustrated portrayal of the event here. For more details of this historical tragedy check out the history channel’s article entitled the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Hidden Historic Tragedy: Reviewing the Massacre in Tulsa
I think this article is important to not only read but to teach about as it shows how African American history was erased only for it to be rediscovered decades later. Personally I had never heard about the Tulsa Race Massacre until my junior or senior year in high school which it crazy to think about as it is considered the worst incident of racial violence in American History. This article gives an overview of what happened over Memorial Day weekend in 1921 which is an important part of American History. However, this article also supports that people tried to erase this event from history and downplay how many people were actually affected by this event. I am glad to see this event being talked about but I also think it needs to be focused on in school to showcase not just what happened overnight but what was hidden for decades to come.
The Massacre in Tulsa Oklahoma was something I had a little knowledge on prior to reading this article. The massacre that occurred rose from tensions between the citizens of the town, and as this article states, as a result of an assault allegation against a townsmen, a townsmen who was viewed as an outsider based on the color of his skin. The whole situation, for me, rubs me wrong in the ways it was all handled. Should the towns people approached the jailhouse armed? No. Did these towns people feel safe, knowing that their other townsmen discriminated against them? No. With it occurring during the 1920’s, and discrimination practices becoming ever more common, it is hard to say there was a way such a tragedy could have been avoided. The armed men approaching the jailhouse just happened to be the straw the broke the camels back. It’s heartbreaking that such tensions and a lack of openness between both parties led to the death of hundreds. It’s a tragedy that we, as a society, can use as a lesson to promote the idea of discussion and debate in a way that can benefit everyone.
I was intrigued to read this article because of my recent participation in the NCSS conference. During the conference I attended a seminar called, What? In My Backyard? When Pop Culture Meets Local History. This seminar opened with the events of the Tulsa Race Massacre, an event that until then I had not heard of which would make sense since according to this article many survivors were left silenced, and the massacre was not spoken about in local or state history. I chose to comment on this article because I am sure many of my peers have also not heard of this tragic event and I believe it is something that should be highlighted. With recent riots and protest throughout the country it made sense to revisit past events to further stress the cruelty many have had to endure. The events that occurred during the Tulsa Race Massacre are horrific and makes my heart break for the men and women that worked so hard to create a life for themselves only to have it destroyed in such a tragic undeserving way.
I have never heard of the black wall street massacre before reading this article. It sounded like a true tragedy and violent acts of discrimination.
I have never heard of this traffic Incident, so I had no knowledge on it before. I can’t believe a story like this has gone unheard of and also how much devastation it caused for families. It’s so sad how big of a role race played on society and it still definitely happens unfortunately but thankfully it is less heard of then it was back then.
Tragic*
I remember hearing about this horrible incident in high school, so I had some knowledge on it, and I believe more people need to know about what happened in this cruel story. There was crazy things that happened to people on that day in history and people need to realize that what happened was not okay and to remember the people that lost their lives.