WiNK

by: Vladimir Schwindeman-Romano

Tulsa on Fire

The 1921 riots in Tulsa, Oklahoma were prompted by racial tension in the Greenwood district. It was also known as "Black Wall Street," a prosperous Black community with bustling businesses, banks, schools, and churches. The race massacre began on May 31, and the area was destroyed by white mobs that attacked 35 blocks of the economic and cultural center. A new documentary produced by the History Channel recaps the horrible history of Tulsa, where around 300 people died, and about 10,000 were left homeless.

The region flourished despite Jim Crow laws and the prevalence of the KKK in Oklahoma. Mobs of whites journeyed to the area and were responsible for the murders and destruction of the businesses.

In Oklahoma, in the years leading up to statehood in 1907, twenty-seven all-Black towns were created and escalated the quality of life in Black residences. Tulsa became a bastion of success for Black residents. With the discovery of oil in the area, people flocked to the region. Nonetheless, Jim Crow laws burdened the state with racism. After the domestic terrorism in Tulsa, many Black people fled the state.

Following the fiery riots, Black folks were denied compensation and slowly tried to restore the area. The Mount Zion Baptist Church was rebuilt as a symbol of strength and solidarity. Tulsa blocked the upheavals from memory; the leadership did not talk about it or include it in the history books. That may be changing. There is now a monument to commemorate "Black Wall Street."

On Tuesday, President Biden flew down to Tulsa to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. This has sparked many activists to start a conversation to learn more about these incidents with hopes to undo the smoke screen that has obscured historiography for years.