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Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

By iHeartPodcasts

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, the hosts delve into the history of the Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma—an affluent, self-contained Black neighborhood dubbed "Black Wall Street" in the early 20th century. They recount the circumstances that led to the devastating Tulsa massacre in 1921, when a white lynch mob launched a coordinated attack on Greenwood, burning and bombing the thriving community to the ground.

The episode explores how a minor incident between a Black man and a white woman sparked this outbreak of violence, which went unchecked by authorities and left countless Black residents dead or displaced. The hosts also shed light on the aftermath and cover-up, detailing how this atrocity was buried from public discourse for decades before recent efforts brought it to wider attention.

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Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

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Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

1-Page Summary

The Greenwood Community: A Beacon of Black Affluence

The Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, nicknamed "Black Wall Street," was an affluent, self-contained Black community in the early 20th century, according to the summary. With over 10,000 residents and 600 thriving businesses, including 15 Black millionaires, Greenwood exemplified Black prosperity. The podcast hosts state that Jim Crow laws prohibiting Black people from white-owned businesses led Greenwood residents to establish their own covenant restricting land and business ownership to only Black individuals, fostering economic independence.

The Tulsa Massacre Trigger and Outbreak

The podcast summary describes how a minor incident between a Black shoeshiner, Diamond Dick Rowland, and a white elevator operator, Sarah Page, sparked an inflammatory reaction. After an alleged assault, the local newspaper published reports inciting a white lynch mob to gather at the courthouse, where Rowland was held. When armed Black WWI veterans arrived to protect Rowland, an accidental gunshot ensued, igniting the wider violence.

The Violence and Destruction

According to eyewitnesses cited, the white rioters, deputized by authorities, conducted a coordinated assault on Greenwood. Residents were forcibly driven from homes at gunpoint, with many killed or burned alive. The summary states the rioters systematically burned over 1,200 homes and businesses across 35 blocks, including the bombing of the community from private airplanes.

The Aftermath and Cover-Up

The podcast hosts detail the lack of accountability, with no arrests or prosecutions of white rioters despite the immense damage estimated in today's dollars. Funerals were prohibited, and victims' bodies were disposed of in unmarked graves. The Tulsa massacre was then buried from public discourse for decades until investigations and media coverage gradually exposed its history, the summary states.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can deepen your understanding of historical events by creating a visual timeline that includes lesser-known incidents alongside major events. Start by researching a significant period, like the early 20th century, and plot both well-known events and those like the Tulsa Massacre. This will help you see the interconnectedness of history and the impact of events that are often overlooked.
  • Enhance your media literacy by analyzing how language frames events in different news sources. Take a current event and compare how it's reported in various newspapers or online platforms, paying attention to the choice of words, what information is highlighted or omitted, and the overall narrative being presented. This practice can sharpen your ability to discern bias and understand the power of media in shaping public perception.
  • Foster a culture of remembrance and acknowledgment by starting a book club focused on historical events that have been forgotten or misrepresented. Choose books that cover topics like the Tulsa Massacre and facilitate discussions that encourage critical thinking about historical narratives and their impact on present-day society. This can be a step towards ensuring that such events are remembered and lessons are learned.

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Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

The rise and prosperity of the Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as "Black Wall Street," was a beacon of Black affluence and a symbol of self-reliance in the early 20th century.

Greenwood was an affluent, self-contained Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early 20th century.

Home to over 10,000 Black residents and 600 thriving businesses, including 15 Black millionaires, Greenwood exemplified Black prosperity. The area boasted amenities such as indoor plumbing and offered excellent public schools, often surpassing those available in white parts of Tulsa.

The Greenwood community flourished through self-reliance and pride despite the constraints of Jim Crow segregation laws.

Due to Jim Crow segregation laws, Greenwood residents were prohibited from patronizing white-owned businesses, marrying outside of their race, or frequenting areas designated for white people. This led to the establishment of a covenant, initiated by the community itself, restricting land and business ownership exclusively to Black individuals to maintain and protect their economic prosperity.

Additionally, residents of Greenwood bui ...

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The rise and prosperity of the Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The term "Black Wall Street" commonly refers to the Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was a prosperous African American community in the early 20th century. It gained this nickname due to its economic success and the concentration of Black-owned businesses in the area. The moniker draws a parallel between Greenwood and the financial hub of New York City, Wall Street, highlighting the economic significance and success of the Black community in Tulsa. The term symbolizes the self-sufficiency, wealth, and resilience of the Greenwood community in the face of racial segregation and adversity.
  • Jim Crow segregation laws were a set of state and local laws in the Southern United States that enforced racial segregation, particularly targeting African Americans. These laws mandated segregation in public facilities and restricted the rights and freedoms of Black individuals. The term "Jim Crow" became synonymous with racial discrimination and oppression. These laws were in effect until the mid-20th century, perpetuating systemic racism and inequality.
  • In the context of the Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the covenant referred to an agreement or contract among the residents that restricted the ownership of ...

Actionables

  • You can foster economic empowerment by starting a savings circle with friends or family, where each member contributes a set amount monthly, and the pooled funds are given to one member on a rotating basis to invest in a business or personal development. This mirrors the collective financial support that helped Greenwood residents thrive despite external economic barriers.
  • Encourage community pride and history by creating a digital scrapbook that highlights local businesses, landmarks, and success stories in your area, similar to how Greenwood residents took pride in their institutions. Share this scrapbook online to inspire others and promote local patronage.
  • Develop a habit of consciously su ...

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Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

The trigger events and outbreak of the Tulsa massacre

The Tulsa massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history, was triggered by a minor incident that led to an eruption of white mob violence against the Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A minor incident between a Black shoe shiner and a white elevator operator sparked a volatile reaction in the white community.

Diamond Dick Rowland, a Black shoe shiner who was popular and considered handsome, on May 30th, 1921 had an encounter with a white elevator operator named Sarah Page. Accounts of their interaction vary—some say Rowland would ride the elevator operated by Page to use a segregated bathroom, while others imply he may have been attracted to her. However, it is suggested that Rowland tripped upon entering the elevator and grabbed onto Page’s arm, which resulted in an accusation of assault.

The local newspaper published inflammatory reports of an alleged assault, inciting a white mob to gather and demand the Black man be lynched.

In the racially charged environment of 1921 Tulsa, even perceived attention from a Black man to a white woman could provoke violent consequences. After the incident, Rowland was arrested on an assault charge. The Tulsa Tribune ran an inflammatory article with the headline "Nab Negro for attacking girl in an elevator," and an editorial the following day with "To Lynch Negro Tonight," fueling the white community's demand for lynching. The editorial, believed to have called for Rowland's lynching explicitly, might have been cut out from the only remainin ...

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The trigger events and outbreak of the Tulsa massacre

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can deepen your understanding of historical events by creating a visual timeline that includes lesser-known incidents and their consequences. Start by researching a specific event, like the one mentioned, and then map out the sequence of events on a large poster or digital timeline tool. Include key players, social dynamics, and the aftermath to visualize how small incidents can escalate and affect communities.
  • Enhance your media literacy by analyzing current news articles for bias and inflammatory language. Pick a current event and compare how different news outlets report on it. Note the use of language and framing, and consider how these might influence public perception and reactions. This exercise can help you become more critical of the information you consume and its potential impact on society.
  • Promote constructive dialogue in yo ...

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Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

The violence, destruction, and atrocities committed during the Tulsa massacre

The podcast hosts detail the horrific events of the Tulsa massacre, where a once-thriving African American community suffered catastrophic violence and destruction at the hands of a deputized white mob.

The white mob, now deputized by the sheriff and armed, launched a coordinated assault on the Greenwood community.

The white rioters, now deputized and armed, started setting fires as they moved into Greenwood, described as an advancing white army intent on flushing out supposed snipers. They conducted a full-on military charge that involved forcibly driving residents out of their homes at gunpoint.

Residents were driven from their homes at gunpoint, with many killed in their yards or burned alive in their houses.

During the massacre, many residents were killed in their yards or burnt alive in their homes. People, including a blind beggar tied to a car, were dragged through the streets. The National Guard, far from quelling the violence, helped arrest Black men, with reports indicating that they even shot at people on the ground. As the firefighters attempted to intervene, they were threatened and warned that Greenwood was off-limits, effectively allowing the district to burn.

The white rioters systematically burned Greenwood to the ground, destroying over 1,200 homes and businesses across 35 city blocks.

The entire Greenwood district was set ablaze, with 35 blocks of buildings—home to homes, businesses, churches, schools, a hospital, and a library—all being sys ...

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The violence, destruction, and atrocities committed during the Tulsa massacre

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can deepen your historical understanding by visiting local history museums or archives to seek out untold stories in your own community. By doing this, you'll gain a more comprehensive view of your area's past, including potentially uncovering events similar to the Tulsa massacre that may not be widely known. For example, you might find information about local civil rights movements or other significant historical events that shaped your community.
  • Start a book club focused on historical fiction or non-fiction that deals with themes of racial injustice and community resilience. This encourages empathy and a deeper understanding of the historical context of events like the Tulsa massacre. Choose books that are set in times of social upheaval and follow the stories of communities facing challenges similar to Greenwood.
  • Engage in reflective jour ...

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Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

The aftermath, cover-up, and long-term impacts of the Tulsa massacre

The 1921 Tulsa massacre, a calamitous event in American history, has long been obscured from public discourse. In-depth investigation reveals the extent of cover-ups, the scant accountability for actions committed, and its enduring effects on the community of Greenwood and nationwide.

In the aftermath, there was a near-total lack of accountability, with no arrests or prosecutions of the white rioters.

Despite widespread destruction and loss of life, none of the white participants in the Tulsa massacre faced arrest or prosecution. Instead, a grand jury brought indictments against 20 black individuals. The economic damage inflicted on the Greenwood community was estimated to be between $50 and $100 million in today’s dollars, yet insurance companies skirted responsibility by categorizing the massacre as a “riot,” rendering victims ineligible for compensation. Furthermore, the county commission resisted accepting outside donations, nor did they offer reparations to Greenwood residents to assist in rebuilding.

The Tulsa massacre was effectively buried and suppressed for decades, with funerals prohibited and victims' bodies disposed of in unmarked graves.

The aftermath of the massacre saw survivors taken to detention centers, only to be released if a white employer would vouch for them. Unprecedented efforts to conceal the massacre were made; funerals for the victims were banned and bodies were hastily disposed of in the river, coal mines, or unmarked mass graves. It would not be until the late 1990s, with the inception of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission and ongoing archaeological endeavors, that the full extent of the massacre would begin to resurface with investigations into potential mass grave sites.

The destruction of Greenwood and the long-term suppression of its history had profound impacts on the community and the broader society.

Greenwood remarkably rebuilt itself in five years and even surpassed its pre-massacre prosperity. Yet, the community eventually succumbed to a decline in the 1960s. Integration allowed for the dispersion of the Black dollar into white-owned businesses, and the construction of Interstate 244 further fragmented and damaged Greenwood’s economy.

The lack of public acknowledgment and repara ...

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The aftermath, cover-up, and long-term impacts of the Tulsa massacre

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The Tulsa massacre, also known as the Tulsa race massacre, occurred in 1921 in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a violent and racially motivated attack on the prosperous African American community of Greenwood by a white mob. The mob destroyed homes, businesses, and killed an estimated 300 Black residents, while thousands were left homeless. The massacre was sparked by a false accusation against a Black man, leading to escalating tensions and the destruction of what was known as "Black Wall Street."
  • The economic impact on Greenwood after the Tulsa massacre was severe, with the destruction estimated to be between $50 and $100 million in today's currency. Insurance companies avoided paying compensation by labeling the event a "riot." The lack of financial support and reparations hindered the community's ability to rebuild and recover. Despite initial resilience, economic decline set in during the 1960s due to factors like integration and urban development projects.
  • The decline of Greenwood in the 1960s can be attributed to factors such as integration leading to the dispersion of Black wealth into white-owned businesses, and the construction of Interstate 244 which further fragmented and damaged Greenwood's economy.
  • Desmond Tutu, a prominent South African Anglican cleric and human rights activist, is known for his work in advocating for justice and reconciliation in various contexts, including post-apartheid South Africa. In the context of the Tulsa massacre, Tutu's involvement highlighted the issue of victims buried in unmarked graves, shedding light on the unresolved aspects of the tragedy and emphasizing the need for acknowledgment and reparations. Tutu's recognition of the victims in unmarked graves underscored the ongoing challenges in addressing historica ...

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