Tulsa Still Faces Historical Trauma from 1921 Riot That Left 300 Dead on Black Wall Street

democracynow.org - As protests continue over the police killing of Terence Crutcher, we look at how Tulsa, Oklahoma, is no stranger to racial strife. On May 31, 1921, a white mob killed as many as 300 people, most of them black, after a black man was accused of assaulting a white elevator operator. Over two days, white mobs set fire to homes, businesses and churches in Greenwood, a thriving African-American business district known at the time as the Black Wall Street of America. When the smoke cleared, the area lay in ruins. Many blacks left and never returned. The National Guard rounded up thousands of others and held them at various locations around the city. We speak with author and attorney Hannibal Johnson, who examines this history in his book, "Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District."
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[@signedup2462]

What's secondly important is to study how the black entrepreneurs came to success. It is obvious that this seemed to be a model much like immigrant ethnicities to build a self reliant community. Somebody did not like that

[@krisc3543]

Would they have even been entrepreneurs of it wasn’t for slavery ? Or would they still be in Africa ?

[@SmackYaMama]

It was called segregation, the way of life was to keep to yourself back then, just like it is still around the world. Integration was a trade-off insteading of paying Blacks what they were owed.

[@Uzi-k4u]

It's wasn't that long ago

[@pcc1471]

You are right, it wasn't. People in the south want to hold onto events and symbols of the Civil War, which was longer ago. But events like this, less than a hundred years ago, if you bring it up you're living in the past.

[@atownshawtypimp1]

Not long enough

[@steventhauriaux195]

Maji Krstophir E'el right make it sound like that and there was 6000 hurt

[@martinhumble]

Agree, shouldn't started out saying it was long ago. Makes it unreal, but the racism still exists

[@rextrek]

white americans have some nerve.......esp. those complaining about keapernecht

[@atownshawtypimp1]

This is their best tactic since they started their run. Reflect and select, if someone says you're wrong, you tell them they are wrong and then you ask them why they are victimizing you......

[@atownshawtypimp1]

Well you can't participate, enable, allow, or stay silent and still claim to be clean of this. You are not until you too are part of the fight against this! Just sitting on the sideline while someone you know spews this hate is just as evil as the act itself!

[@mrautomaticcharismatic4289]

Reparations is the only way to heal what was destroyed in the black community

[@tomlahr9372]

See the History Channel "The Night Tulsa Burned".

[@firstlast7634]

We will never have peace.

[@Demonkingx5]

Shit like this has lasting effects on people yet people like sargon,AIU & lovelife will say it won't and down play it.

[@eternalvoid8153]

It has lasting affects on the people that went through that experience,not the autistic morons from BLM that are protesting some none existent systematic racism.

[@fairisfair2986]

Lovecraft country season 1 ep 9 had me in tears dedicated to Tulsa very touching piece

[@firstlast7634]

Every time we try this is what happens. Chicago good example of what they want to see the devil is alive and well.

[@MasterQuan808]

What if we did this to them at the situation was reversed I would they feel in 2020 👂🏿👂🏿👂🏿

[@Kelpy]

A popular sermon topic and one for popular history is "why were the Nazi's, the fascists, and the communist Stalinists, in the 1930-40's such terrible, inhumane monsters?" And yet, these groups never did anything that had not already been done IN America by the army and the police against organized labor, Afrrican Americans and Native Americans, and by the Spanish, Portuguese, British, Belgians, and French in Africa and South America! This perspective truth needs to be applied to current events and our national psyche as a current awareness NOW, as we are either doing more of the same, or supporting regimes that do in the middle east and North Africa, and elsewhere. We are neither innocent, nor exceptional, though some make entire election campaigns and national policy out of this myth.

[@MsJoyce31202]

We will never forget. The low point was one of many because lynchings went on for years and slavery was before then. This may have been the lowest point but not the only low point in the US's history.

[@shelbourneking7068]

How many people did they gun down? Did they have the police on there side? Were they deputised and given guns to go massacre white people? And why are u linking Blm to the looting and burning when most of the prottest were peaceful ? This is just an attempt by u to diminish and downplay this evil act.

[@firstlast7634]

Just filled my thoughts with revenge

[@felixs.8675]

Es muy importance recordar historia, solamente porque las cosas en la vida van muy bien al momento! No significa Q simpre todo correra asi . Solo demosle grasias a Dios por cada dia d vida amen.

[@atownshawtypimp1]

Exactly but God can't save this World. We made the problem too big.

[@jonathancassidy5044]

and the proof of delusion is in your words.

[@migdaliscrane8660]

I love to see true stories.

[@thomasbray3814]

What about the white guy that was killed when he tried to take the guns away

[@tooturnttimmyturnertwoband7434]

10000 where homeless

[@briankoski817]

... And nobody was found guilty. Another scab on white America. 🇺🇸

[@russells.soehnerii8308]

Justice AND forgiveness stand shoulder to shoulder. Justice demands some form of reparations for this awful massacre. Forgiveness is the letting go of persistent ill will with its revenge, retaliation and retribution fantasies. Dr. Robert Enright’s “Forgiveness is a Choice” is the gold standard of evidence-based forgiveness practice. He’s also on KZbin. Let’s move forward in 2021.

[@gartpaddod7927]

How exactly does one try to make amends for injustices committed nearly a hundred years ago? Certainly the guilty individuals involved can no longer be identified. It is a shameful legacy as was slavery but who is capable of determining what justice would look like in this case? Shouldn't Native Americans be first in line for reparations?

[@Lobos222]

"How exactly does one try to make amends for injustices committed nearly a hundred years ago?" 1. Make it part of local history with public Governmental recognition. 2. Include it in museums and such. 3. Include it in local schooling were appropriate. 4. Depending on the area. One can give local federal funding to improve conditions if they are still lagging behind. Obviously such should be earmarked for given goals and it would require competent local officials. If that wasnt the case I would argue 4. would just fall victim to corruption. 5. Give compensation to those still alive that were involved in the event as victims. Obviously most of them would have been children when it happened and very old today. So I would argue a pension bonus pr month would be the most reasonable and the cheapest for the government. One set of possibilities.

[@krisc3543]

Why should I be held responsible for what my relatives did before I was even born. The race war of Tulsa happened during my great, great grandparents time. They died before I was even born. Indians in Oklahoma get free healthcare, free car tags, free housing... those who never owned slaves should not pay people who were never slaves

[@melocousins8448]

Your an idiot the Native Americans were given casinos as reparations. You white people need to educate yourself. Fuck read a book research on Google. 🤪

[@flavabean1847]

Well the insurance companies still exists, they should pay the familial descendants the coverage

[@DanceOffBRO]

@@krisc3543 you talk like it would be coming out of your pockets. Do you realize white people have been saying what you’re saying the WHOLE TIME? This wasn’t the only Black community this happened to there were many more y’all always down play the hateful things that continue to this day

[@mosquitoesbiterefrigerator2264]

Wheres the reparations for this atrocity?

[@annprince5298]

Africa was not entirely under British unless they were directions Belgian authorities in the Congo to mutilate the Africans there, The British was prominent in South Africa ,Rhodesia,( zimbabwe) kenya ,there were n on European kingdoms in Africa namely indigenous Ethiopia whether you believe it or not I was appalled when I heard about this massacre Hatred,bitterness and resentment are the most dangerous emotions on this planet

[@Steffshappyplace]

These ppl need reparations for this this is inconceivable know having said that that white lady needs a glass of water and these are some very unattractive people

[@theenergyoflove8102]

That's not what happened....stop trying to tell our story

[@tclay1122]

Restitution Restorative Justice Reparations Now Now Now!

[@itssbrii5928]

today , March31 2020

[@gartpaddod7927]

There is already abundant cause for anger among people who identify with the black community. This kind of review of past injustices serves to inflame passions even more. We are all born into the world as it is, and in looking back we may understand the present better. However, one has to ask, what does this channel hope to accomplish by highlighting past injustices? -- Do you want justify further racial hatred and resentment where plenty already exists?

[@krisc3543]

The intent is to divide

[@brandeh3489]

@@krisc3543 It only causes division if people deny it happened. Acknowledging & being understanding of a peoples' history goes a long way. But some just don't want to go down that path because it stirs something uncomfortable in them. Therefore, it's easier to deny & minimize a history that they cannot identify with.

[@shannon918sm]

I live in Tulsa. This whole thing is about to blow up, and it's not going to be pretty.

[@kamauthabiti5171]

none of your fucking business, go back to your ice cave.

[@flavabean1847]

Education

[@D13GOR]

Jesus Christ Amy, you sound like you need a break.

[@volkhardsmithsr.3687]

The good ole days

[@melocousins8448]

That’s what your mom said last I was there

[@eugenesant9015]

This is how you do it....

[@melocousins8448]

That’s what your mom said