Before Manhattan’s ‘ Wall Street’ there was ‘Black Wall Street ‘; an economically thriving black Oklahoma community in Greenwood Oklahoma of Tulsa. Following the oil boom in the early 1900’s, more than 10,000 African Americans sought entrepreneurial opportunities for themselves in the north region of Tulsa.
The Greenwood community resembled the modern day suburban lifestyle. Segregation laws were active in the state of Oklahoma, but Black Tulsans in Greenwood were prospering and living their best lives all on their own. Most of the black tulsans were veterans of World War I and well trained. The group developed their own banks, schools, bussing, churches, library, hotels, and local businesses (ie: cafe, shoe /clothing stores, newspapers, and movie theaters, etc.) But one ‘alleged incident’ would change the physical trajectory of ‘Black Wall Street’ for good.
The events that occurred on May 31st through June 1, 1921 was one of the worst domestic terrorist incidents in American history.
” Black Wall Street Was Modern, Majestic, Sophisticated And Unapologetically Black. ,…….It Was Pure Envy, And A Vow To Put Progressive, High Achieving African Americans In Their Place That Would Cause The Demise Of The Black Mecca Many Called “Little Africa”,
And Its Destruction Began The Way Much Terrorism, Violence And Dispossession Against African Americans Did During That Era “. – EBONY
On May 30th 1921, a 19-year old young black man (Dick Rowland) was charged with attempted sexual assault from a 17-year old young white woman (Sarah Page) over an elevator incident in the downtown district of Tulsa. The young woman was the elevator operator and, Rowland was a shoe shine boy and wasn’t allowed to use public restrooms as that of his white peers. Rowland was given permission to use the bathroom on the top floor of a near-by building and, and took the elevator to reach his destination.
Back then, trial proceedings for negroe lynchings were arranged in a matter of hours, and in this particular case Rowland’s lynching was set to occur the following day over what later proved to be an entire ‘lie’.
The incident occurred during early morning working hours, and by the afternoon, a white-owned mainstream newspaper (Tulsa Tribune) wrote an article about the incident using false details to provoke Rowland’s death. The truth about Sarah Page surfaced after the massacre.
Here’s where the second theory of what caused the unexpected thereafter! How They Coined The Phrase: ‘Black Wall Street Race Riots’.
Most of the elected officials were ‘klansman’ and possessed a hatred towards blacks and jews. Black Wall Street was more vibrant and prosperous than white communities. This incident was the right ‘decoy’ to seek revenge on the middle class community and take back (what they’d been taught) were rightfully theirs.
Escorted by local mob police officers, a group of Klansman made their way to the county jail housing Rowland on May 31,st 1921 and demanded his release for lynching. A group of armed black veterans went down to the courthouse and offered to provide security to Rowland, and they were asked to leave.
Tensions increased between the groups, and verbal slander was rumored to have ignited the massacre of Black Wall Street. Less than 24 hours later, ‘Little Africa’ was no more! By night fall, the air force reserve and national guard was called in to aid the police and klansman. Air bomb strikes were ignited throughout the Greenwood business district , homes were looted, valuables were stolen, and thousands of black bodies filled the streets. Those who escaped were homeless, and forced to seek refuge elsewhere.
Olivia J. Hooker now 103 years old is said to be one of the lasting survivors of the Black Wall Street massacre. Hooker did a recent interview with Radio Diaries detailing her experience during the massacre.
Dane Calloway offered up an excellent documentary on the actual events of May 31st -June 1 of 1921. Take a listen below.
One Love PLUMS!