Black History Month 2 - Black Wall Street

 

Have you ever heard of "Black Wall Street"? At the turn of the 20th century, African Americans founded and developed the Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma built on what had formerly been Indian Territory, the community grew and flourished as a Black economic and cultural mecca . . . until May 31, 1921.

On May 30, 1921, a young Black man named Dick Rowland, who worked shining shoes, rode the elevator of Tulsa's Drexel building to use one of the few available segregated public restrooms downtown. After the female elevator operator screamed, Rowland fled the elevator and rumors quickly spread of an alleged sexual assault. The next day, he was arrested, leading to an armed confrontation outside the courthouse between a growing white crowd and Black men hoping to defend Rowland from being lynched. As things became heated and shots were fired, the vastly outnumbered African Americans retreated to the Greenwood District. The white group followed, and as the night unfolded, violence exploded. 

The white mob began a rampage through some 35 square blocks, decimating the community known proudly as "Black Wall Street." Armed rioters, many deputized by local police, looted and burned down businesses, homes, schools, churches, a hospital, hotel, public library, newspaper offices and more. While the official death toll of the Tulsa race massacre was 36, historians estimate it may have been as high as 300, and as many as 10,000 people were left homeless. 

Throughout that night and into June 1, much of Greenwood became enveloped in billowing dark smoke, as members of the mob went house to house and store to store, looting and then torching buildings. Fleeing residents were sometimes shot down in the streets. Many survivors reported low-flying planes, some raining down bullets or inflammables.  

By noon of June 1, Oklahoma Governor Robertson declared martial law and sent in the Oklahoma National Guard. Officials arrested and detained thousands of Black Tulsans, shepherding them to the local convention center and fairgrounds. 

Officials rounded up Greenwood's Black residents, deeming them to be the primary threat to law and order . . . instead of any members of the white mob who had murdered and pillaged. Indeed, for decades after, the incident was erroneously characterized as a "race riot," implying that it had been instigated by the Black community. No one was ever held to account for the destruction or loss of life.

Many Black Tulsa residents fled the city, and never returned. But many stayed and started from scratch - some housed in Red Cross tents until they could rebuild their homes and, later, community landmarks like the Dreamland Theater. In 2001, the Tulsa Race Riot Commission report recommended that survivors be paid reparations, calling it "a moral obligation." The pursuit of restitution continues to this day!