Deep Dive
What sparked the Tulsa Massacre in 1921?
The Tulsa Massacre was sparked by an incident in an elevator where 19-year-old Dick Rowland, a Black shoeshine boy, accidentally stepped on the foot of white elevator operator Sarah Page. The widely accepted version claimed Rowland assaulted her, though no evidence supported this, and Sarah herself never pressed charges.
Why did tensions escalate between white and Black Tulsans in 1921?
Tensions escalated because Greenwood, a thriving Black neighborhood in Tulsa, was seen as a symbol of Black success and prosperity, which angered many white Tulsans. The city was governed by Jim Crow laws, and the Ku Klux Klan operated openly, creating a climate of deep-seated racism.
What was the role of the Tulsa Tribune in inciting the riot?
The Tulsa Tribune played a significant role by publishing inflammatory articles that framed Dick Rowland as a dangerous Black man and called for a lynching. The paper's coverage, fueled by police misinformation, helped incite the mob mentality that led to the massacre.
How did the National Guard respond during the Tulsa Massacre?
The National Guard was called in to quell the riot but instead joined forces with the Tulsa police and white mobs, setting up roadblocks to prevent Black Tulsans from escaping and rounding up Black citizens into makeshift internment camps.
What was the economic impact of the Tulsa Massacre on Greenwood?
The massacre destroyed 1,250 homes and 242 Black-owned businesses, causing an estimated $27 million in property loss (adjusted for inflation). This wiped out generational wealth and left the once-thriving Black Wall Street in ruins.
Why was the Tulsa Massacre largely forgotten for decades?
The massacre was forgotten due to a combination of factors, including the active suppression of the event by white Tulsans, the lack of national attention, and the Black community's reluctance to relive the trauma. It became known as the 'Great Forgetting.'
What efforts are being made to uncover the truth about the Tulsa Massacre today?
In 2020, the city of Tulsa began excavating Oaklawn Cemetery to locate and identify remains believed to be from the massacre. Over 120 graves have been found, with DNA evidence linking some to the victims of the massacre.
What is the current state of Greenwood today?
Greenwood, once a 35-block area of thriving Black businesses, has been reduced to just half a block due to decades of neglect, urban renewal, interstate construction, and redlining. Efforts to rebuild have been met with limited success.
What is the Beyond Apology Commission, and what is its goal?
The Beyond Apology Commission, created by Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum in 2024, aims to move beyond mere apologies and focus on meaningful reparations for the descendants of the Tulsa Massacre victims.
- Conflicting accounts of the elevator incident exist.
- No sexual assault occurred, according to most historians.
- Sarah Page refused to press charges.
- The incident served as a pretext for racial violence.
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