Tulsa Race Massacre (1921)

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was one of the most violent and devastating racial conflicts in American history, resulting in the destruction of a prosperous African American community and the deaths of numerous Black residents. The massacre took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from May 31 to June 1, 1921, and left a lasting impact on the city and the nation.

Background: Tulsa and Greenwood
Tulsa in the early 20th century was a booming oil town, and while it was racially segregated like much of the United States at the time, it had a thriving African American district known as Greenwood.
Greenwood was often referred to as “Black Wall Street” due to its vibrant economy. It was one of the wealthiest Black communities in the United States, home to successful Black-owned businesses, churches, schools, and cultural institutions.
Despite its success, tensions existed between the Black and white populations in Tulsa, exacerbated by segregation, racial inequality, and a broader atmosphere of racism in the country. Lynching and racial violence were common in the South, and the rise of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan intensified racial tensions nationwide.

The Incident That Sparked the Massacre
The immediate trigger for the violence was an incident involving a 19-year-old Black shoeshiner named Dick Rowland and a 17-year-old white elevator operator named Sarah Page on May 30, 1921. Rowland entered the elevator at the Drexel Building, and at some point, Page screamed. Accounts of what exactly happened are unclear, but Rowland was arrested the next day for allegedly assaulting Page.
The local newspaper, the Tulsa Tribune, published a sensationalized report, headlined “Nab Negro for Attacking Girl in Elevator,” which fueled anger and rumors of an impending lynching.

Escalation and Start of the Massacre
A mob of several hundred armed white men gathered outside the Tulsa courthouse where Rowland was being held, demanding that he be handed over to them for lynching. In response, a group of about 75 armed Black men, many of them World War I veterans, went to the courthouse to offer protection and prevent the lynching of Rowland.
A confrontation occurred between the white mob and the Black defenders. A shot was fired (it’s unclear by whom), and the situation quickly spiraled into violence. The white mob, far outnumbering the Black defenders, began to attack Greenwood, and the massacre was underway.

Destruction of Greenwood
On the night of May 31 and into the morning of June 1, 1921, white rioters, some of them deputized and armed by local authorities, invaded Greenwood. They looted homes and businesses, set fires, and killed Black residents indiscriminately.
Aircraft were used to drop incendiary bombs on Greenwood, making the Tulsa Race Massacre one of the first instances in American history where planes were used to attack civilians. The use of private planes to fire into the neighborhood and drop bombs has been confirmed through eyewitness accounts and later investigations.
The Tulsa Fire Department was prevented from intervening as much of Greenwood burned. By the time the National Guard was called in to restore order, Greenwood was largely destroyed.

The exact number of people killed in the massacre remains uncertain, but estimates range from 100 to 300 deaths, the majority of them Black residents. Thousands more were injured, and over 6,000 Black residents were detained by local authorities, many of them held in internment camps for days.
Around 1,100 homes and businesses in Greenwood were destroyed, leaving over 10,000 Black residents homeless. The community’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and churches, was devastated.

Aftermath and Cover-up
In the aftermath of the massacre, efforts were made to cover up the extent of the violence. Insurance claims from Black property owners were largely denied, as insurance companies cited riot clauses. The local and national press downplayed or ignored the massacre, and the event was not included in historical narratives for decades.
Many survivors left Tulsa, while those who remained in Greenwood faced a long and difficult process of rebuilding without much assistance. Despite these challenges, some residents worked to restore the district over the next few decades, although it never fully regained its pre-1921 prosperity.
For decades, the massacre was largely forgotten or omitted from history books, and it wasn’t widely discussed until the latter part of the 20th century.

Rediscovery and Recognition
Starting in the 1990s, there was a renewed interest in the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre, thanks to efforts by historians, survivors, and descendants of those affected. In 1997, the Oklahoma state government created the Tulsa Race Riot Commission to investigate the massacre, and a report was released in 2001, officially documenting the destruction and loss of life.
The massacre gained more national attention in recent years, particularly around its 100th anniversary in 2021, with documentaries, books, and public commemorations helping to raise awareness about the event.
As part of the effort to address historical wrongs, there have been discussions about reparations for the survivors and their descendants, though no significant compensation has been provided yet.

Legacy
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is now recognized as one of the worst incidents of racial violence in US history. It stands as a stark reminder of the systemic racism and violence faced by African Americans, particularly during the Jim Crow era.
The massacre is also an example of how systemic injustices, such as lack of accountability and the deliberate suppression of historical events, can perpetuate inequality over generations.
Greenwood remains a symbol of both the destruction of Black communities by racial violence and the resilience of African Americans in the face of adversity.

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