The Tulsa Riot or the Massacre of 1921
By
John C Abercrombie
Today is day 11 of 28. This post is a repost of a horrific event that for all intents and purposes has been hiddn from history for 100 years. While it is almost impossible to figure out why, one of the most signigicant reasons is that it was on purpose.
While it is understandable that one would not want to be associated with this type of conduct, I don’t blame you for something you didn’t have control, something done by your grand parents, grandparents or greatgreat grand parents…, but pardon me if I become suspicious of you if you continue to ignore the problem and facts, and fail to take the simpliest steps to prevent the problem from being passed on to your children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren because you don’t have the courage.
The solution begins with discussion and we do that every Sunday at 4:00 pm Eastern, 1:00 pm Pacific. Ways to interact with us follows:
Ways to Listen and Interact with Us:
- By phone Login to your BlogTalkRadio Schedule program Guest Call In(646) 668-8217
Computer Radio Station Link –blogtalkradio.com/crowntalkingdrums
To see all posts in this mini-series use this link. Note: if you save it, you may have to refresh it to see all posts up to that point.
One of the most horrific events in the history of America is seldom discussed. Many people mention the incident, but without knowledge, they cannot imagine the details. While it is one incident, we will attempt to understand the climate leading up to the event, then explore the event itself.
The actual incident which took place on May 31 – June 1st, 1921 in the area of Tulsa known as Greenwood, left an untold number of people dead, injured, and homeless.
How can the number of people be unknown? There are reports of mass graves being dug to cover up the number, the hospital that treated Blacks was destroyed and the list goes on.
America has a history of disparate treatment of its Black citizens. The country was emerging from World War I. Many Blacks had volunteered such as the 369th, 370th and 371st units that had seen action and fought with valor. One of those units is featured in a post here, The Harlem Hellfighters, (see Blog List). There are soldiers such as Freddie Stowers from Sandy Springs, South Carolina who received the medal of honor posthumously. To be featured in a future post.
Other Black units were deployed and served with valor. Many Blacks were killed in action, yet the injured were discriminated upon return and limited to 29% disability because at 30% they would have been eligible for a pension. Blacks were denied honors although some such as Freddie Stowers and Henry Johnson received posthumous awards of the Medal of Honor decades after their sacrifice. Johnson was not awarded his honor until 2015, almost 100 years after the war.
Jobs were scarce and many Blacks were looking for opportunities to work. The fact that they were employed angered Whites looking for work. This resulted in many riots following WWI. It was so violent that it has been termed “The Red Summer” because of the copious bloodshed. See “Blog List” on this site.
One of the people murdered in the Tulsa massacre was a veteran and sure that if he were in uniform the mob would not harm him. Oh, how wrong he was as he was an easy victim non the less, murdered in his uniform of the United States Military.
There were many laws on the books and local practices that greatly discriminated against Blacks, such as the inability to use a restroom, not being allowed to eat in restaurants and the list goes on. This including being excluded from downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In Tulsa, Blacks were not allowed into the stores and limited to an area North of town, on the other side of the railroad tracks, a common dividing line between Black and White communities. This arrangement was a boom for many Black entrepreneurs as they established Black owned and operated businesses and a thriving community in the process.
There were movie theaters, newspapers, doctors, lawyers, and everything a self-sustaining community needs for prosperity.
The area known as Greenwood was so prosperous it was often called “The Black Wall Street”. The area consisted of businesses and residents with an estimated population of 10,000. The homes were worthy of praise and often includes such items as grand pianos.
Just as was common in America, Blacks were not afforded the opportunity to compete and obtain jobs in mainstream America. One such person was a young Black man named Dick Rowland aged 19, who had dropped out of school to set up a shoeshine stand. With tips and a bit of acting, the job could be lucrative.
Rest rooms were not available to Blacks because of segregation laws on the books in those days, however Rowland had permission to use a restroom in the Drexel building. It was a multi-story building and had an elevator. Elevators in those days were operated by an elevator operator as they were not automated to stop at the floors. Stopping at the exact point required an operator.
The exact event(s) are often debated to this day. For some reason the elevator operator, a young White woman named Sarah Paige age 17 screamed. There are may who argue that Roland may have tripped getting on and touched or scared Paige. One of the White newspapers then wrote several inflammatory accounts of the incident, including a call for a Lynching. In those days one of the ways to keep people intimated was the practice of Lynching.
The year before the Tulsa Massacre, a White taxi driver was the subject of an attempted theft of his cab by 3 White men. Roy Belton, a White man was arrested. Although he denied the charge when the taxi driver died in the hospital Belton was taken out of the jail and Lynched. The police kept people away while the Lynching was going on. Although this was a White man, the Black community understood that if they allowed a White man such injustice that the Black community knew they did not stand a chance.
AJ Smitherman, the owner of one of the Black newspapers noted “if the police wouldn’t stop a White man from being Lynched, what hope did a Black man have?”
The White newspaper published such inflammatory articles as “Nab Negro for Attacking Girl In an Elevator” and the much more inflammatory “To Lynch Negro Tonight”. Much of this is part of the cover up in history as copies of the paper have been lost, microfilm copies are missing the pages containing the articles related to this incident.
Roland was arrested and like Belton taken to jail. With such inflammatory articles, many Whites gathered at the jail. Blacks aware of the incident and fearing for the safety of Rowland went to the jail. This was a powder keg, just waiting to be ignited.
Many Whites in the crowd were deputized indiscriminately which was a serious mistake. Blacks arrived at the jail and when asked to disperse, did so, however the crowd of Whites continued to grow, and the Blacks returned. A scuffle ensued with one of the Blacks and the gun discharged.
Whites then went to and entered the Greenwood area, breaking into pawn shops in search of guns and ammo. The massacre was on, it was systematic. Whites were jealous as the homes there were better than those of most Whites. Shots were fired randomly into homes, Black men, women, and children were murdered.
There seems to be some confirmation of the possibility of mass graves in areas that were identified by survivors. There were reports of bodies being dumped in other places as well. Many people moved away never to return. The videos and books that accompany this post fill in many of the questions and we strongly suggest that you explore them as part of the posts on the site.
The mob of Whites looted homes before burning them. Items of value were taken before the homes were burned. The neighborhood had their own hospital as Blacks were denied entrance or service at the White hospital. The record of people treated or who died were destroyed I the process.
There are reports that the Whites had access to machine guns, that they used airplanes for surveillance of the area, reporting the areas were Blacks were seeking shelter. There are also reports that they dropped accelerants such as turpentine as part of the arson taking place.
The subject has been taboo for decades and authors who attempted to publish articles have had difficulties. One person who did investigate the matter was a survivor Mary J Parrish. She recounted her experience for the state commission that was formed in 1997.
With this information you are led to believe that it was a small incident until you learn that 35 square blocks were destroyed which would represent millions of dollars today. 10,000 people were displaced and estimates of the Blacks killed are upwards of 300, quite possibly more.
Why has this incident not received more recognition? The slightest incident of Black bad behavior receives nationwide attention, yet the murder of 300 Blacks results in crickets.
A country that prides itself on liberty and justice for all is hypocritical at best if it does not follow its own mandates. The attitudes that allow this type of action is unjust. It has taken America over 100 years to make the heinous practice of Lynching a federal crime.
It should be noted that Sarah Paige the 17-year-old White woman did not pursue charges. It must be noted that it took a great deal of courage to go against the flow and NOT charge Rowland. Law Enforcement would normally pursue a Black to the end of the earth to seek “justice”, but it speaks volumes that this was not done.
History must be viewed in the light that caused it in the first place. History is often filled with posts that take a one-sided view, yet there are often reasons that are never explored to explain the differences that exist. Such misrepresentation is the reason this site exists.
For some engaging videos and books of interest, continue to scroll down. Do not suffer in ignorance, be informed. Knowledge is the vitamin that feeds an amazing brain!
We endeavor to provide a complete resource for you. in addition to the summary above, we include a large assortment of videos and books. We hope you will find the information as a starting place for additional research.
As you scroll down through the books and videos, you will encounter some value offers. These take you directly to Amazon where you can do all your shopping. We encourage you to use our links as we receive a small royalty without cost to you. These funds help us continue to provide you with quality information.
To see the full listing of posts, click on our Blog list
For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. This series focuses on life of Blacks in America and moves forward to the monumental Brown v Board of Education which changes so much in the way we live today. To see this series, click on this link.
For Black History Month 2021 we featured Black Inventors, Medical Achievements and Scientists. To see the series, click on this link.
To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us
We encourage you to share the site on social media.
You are reading part 1
You are reading part 1
To see the second installment of the series, click here.
To see the 3rd installment of the series click here
To see the 4th installment of the series click here
to see the 5th installment of the series click here
We hope you will use our links anytime you shop Amazon!
Black Wall Street – Full Documentary
The Tulsa race riot was a large-scale, racially motivated pogrom on May 31 and June 1, 1921, in which a group of whites attacked the black community of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greenwood District, the wealthiest black community in the United States (now commonly referred to as “the Black Wall Street”), was burned to the ground. Over the course of 16 hours, more than 800 people were admitted to local white hospitals with injuries, the two black hospitals were burned down, and police arrested and detained more than 6,000 black Greenwood residents at three local facilities. An estimated 10,000 blacks were left homeless, and 35 city blocks composed of 1,256 residences were destroyed by fire, resulting in over $26 million in damages. The official count of the dead by the Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Statistics was 36, but other estimates of black fatalities vary from 55 to about 300.
**
History
Many stories that are essential to understanding the events of today are untaught. That does not mean that they don’t exist. Explore this exciting world on your own using the outstanding source of our Amazon affiliate link below
**
The Burning: Massacre, Destruction, and the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921
On the morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob numbering in the thousands marched across the railroad tracks dividing black from white in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and obliterated a black community then celebrated as one of America’s most prosperous. 34 square blocks of Tulsa’s Greenwood community, known then as the Negro Wall Street of America, were reduced to smoldering rubble.
**
Try Audible Plus
Audible Plus, a brand new all-you-can-listen membership that offers access to thousands of titles, including a vast array of audiobooks, podcasts and originals that span genres, lengths, and formats.
**
Black Wall Street (1992) | A Black Holocaust In America
Companion to the book by Jay Jay Wilson and Ron Wallace. Using rare photographs and interviews with survivors, eyewitnesses and historian Ed Wheeler, this documentary relates the events leading up to the 1921 Tulsa Race Riots and examines the reasons for the official suppression of the story.
**
Create Amazon Business Account
It is the Amazon you love, for work. Make workplace procurement easier with convenient delivery options, simplified purchasing workflows, multiple payment options, and a competitive marketplace with business-only pricing and quantity discounts. Anyone who makes purchases for work (eg. procurement specialists, office administration, IT departments, etc.) can create a free account for their business. Customer must be from a verified business in order to successfully create their Amazon Business account.
**
Tulsa, 1921: Reporting a Massacre
In 1921 Tulsa’s Greenwood District, known then as the nation’s “Black Wall Street,” was one of the most prosperous African American communities in the United States. But on May 31 of that year, a white mob, inflamed by rumors that a young black man had attempted to rape a White teenage girl, invaded Greenwood. By the end of the following day, thousands of homes and businesses lay in ashes, and perhaps as many as three hundred people were dead.
**
Business and Money
We see in this post on Tulsa and the financial success that was experienced by people who controlled their destiny by being in business that it is a path forward and the place to start your personal journey is with our Amazon affiliate link below
**
The Tulsa Lynching of 1921 Documentary: A Hidden Story
I did NOT make this video, to whom all credit is due is within the video and within the description: The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story documentary was written and directed by Michael Wilkerson, published in 2000. This video documents the race riot of 1921 and the destruction of the African-American community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With testimony by eyewitnesses and background accounts by historians.
**
Camera and Photo
Much history needs to be captured and exposed to the light of day. It may be photos of a place, person or event that starts the magic flowing and the place to start is here with our Amazon affiliate link below
**
Reconstructing the Dreamland: The Tulsa Riot of 1921: Race, Reparations, and Reconciliation
The 1921 Tulsa Race Riot was the country’s bloodiest civil disturbance of the century. Thirty city blocks were burned to the ground, perhaps 150 died, and the prosperous black community of Greenwood, Oklahoma, was turned to rubble. Brophy draws on his own extensive research into contemporary accounts and court documents to chronicle this devastating riot, showing how and why the rule of law quickly eroded. Brophy shines his lights on mob violence and racism run amok, both on the night of the riot and the following morning. Equally important, he shows how the city government and police not only permitted looting, shootings, and the burning of Greenwood, but actively participated in it by deputizing white citizens haphazardly, giving out guns and badges, or sending men to arm themselves. Likewise, the National Guard acted unconstitutionally, arresting every black resident they found, leaving property vulnerable to the white mob. Brophy’s stark narrative concludes with a discussion of reparations for victims of the riot through lawsuits and legislative action. That case has implications for other reparations movements, including reparations for slavery. “Recovers a largely forgotten history of black activism in one of the grimmest periods of race relations. . .. Linking history with advocacy, Brophy also offers a reasoned defense of reparations for the riot’s victims.”-Washington Post Book World
**
Cell Phones and Accessories
More than just for chatting. Most have an internet connection to a world of knowledge, a camera for video and stills, a voice recorder and so much more, search on this fascinating Amazon affiliate link below
ABH – cell phones and accessories
**
The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921
Emory Associate Professor of African American Studies, Carol Anderson, discusses some of the lesser know instances of racial prejudice in a series of videos entitled – “THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE QUEST FOR CIVIL RIGHTS”.
**
Video on Demand – Rent or Buy
This opens a wide variety of video, from comedy to documentaries. Laugh or learn, the choice is up to you and the selection is fantastic using our Amazon affiliaate link below
ABH – Video Demand Rent or Buy
**
Riot and Remembrance: The Tulsa Race War and Its Legacy
A best-selling author investigates the causes of the twentieth century’s deadliest race riot and how its legacy has scarred and shaped a community over the past eight decades.
On a warm night in May 1921, thousands of whites, many deputized by the local police, swarmed through the Greenwood section of Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing scores of blacks, looting, and ultimately burning the neighborhood to the ground. In the aftermath, as many as 300 were dead, and 6,000 Greenwood residents were herded into detention camps.
**
**
Possible mass grave from Tulsa race massacre
Scientists in Oklahoma are one step closer to finding possible evidence of mass graves linked to one of the worst incidents of racial violence in history. Researchers in Tulsa used ground-penetrating radar to survey three sites. Omar Villafrana reports.
**
Vitamins and Dietary Supplements
It is much better to maintain health that suffer the effects of not doing so. The way to health is maintainance and you cand you can do it withour Amazon affiliate link below
ABH – Vitamins and Dietary Supplements
**
Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921
When a crowd began to gather outside the jail in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the evening of May 31, 1921, the fate of one of its prisoners, a young black male, seemed assured. Accused of attempting to rape a white woman, Dick Rowland was with little doubt about to be lynched.
**
Health Care
Items that you will need can be found here using our Amazon affiliate link below
**
The Tulsa Race Massacre; Then and now.
REMEMBER “BLACK WALL STEET.” It’s the 97th anniversary of the horrific 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. While much has changed, it’s not enough. Be a part of a better tomorrow.
**
Medical Supplies and Equipment
The best place to find what you need is here using this Amazon affiliate link
ABH – Medical Supplies and Equipment
**
Tulsa Race Riot: A Report by the Oklahoma Commission to Study the Race Riot of 1921
The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 was the worst civil disturbance since the Civil War. On May 21, 1921, a group of white Oklahomans attacked the prosperous African American community, called the Greenwood District or “the Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, OK over the alleged assault of a white woman by a black man. 24 hours later more than 800 people were admitted to local hospitals, 10,000 residents were homeless, and 35 city blocks were reduced to rubble. The monetary cost of the riot was later estimated to be 26 million dollars. This report examines the events leading up to the riot, the riot itself, and the consideration of reparations for the victims.
**
Great values – We change them every day. Notice the timer at the bottom. Check often for great stuff.
**
The Tulsa Lynching of 1921 (2000) | Black Wall Street | Definitive Documentary
“The Tulsa Lynching of 1921” documents what is probably the worst race riot in American history. Director Michael Wilkerson tells the harrowing story cleanly and very effectively, using a combination of recollections by now-elderly witnesses, commentary from historians, celebrity voice-over readings
**
House Supplies
No better place to shop than our Amazon affiliate link
**
This is part 1
To see the 3rd installment, click here
To see the 4th installment, click here
This post focuses on eliminating the myth that Blacks are unable to succeed on their own and on what happens when they do. Not all instances are as dramatic or as well known. Many involve laws that disenfranchise and minimize entire communities.
Since the first posting of this post, we have updated it to include information that can be found in the following link.
Remember it was a massacre but is often called a riot because this designation allowed insurance companies to avoid paying claims.
**
We imprecate you sharing these posts on all of your social media, and using our links anytime you shop Amazon.