In honor of what happened on this day 100 years ago I'd like to share an article about a topic we don't hear much of... Black Wall Street | Tulsa Race Massacre Click the link above to be redirected to the Story of the history of Black Wall Street via History.com. Most of what I ever heard mentioned about Black Wall Street was how it was destroyed. The Tulsa Race Massacre was onset by reports of a black male raping a white woman. So naturally a riot ensued shortly after. A white mob attacked the epicenter of African American business and culture. My research showed that Dick Rowland was taking the elevator to the segregated bathrooms when the elevator malfunctioned and Sarah Page, who served as the elevator operator, began to scream. Rowland began trying to get off because he already knew that tensions were high and there were race riots ensuing all over. The incident would later be reported as an assault. Page, alleged victim who did not want to prosecute when questioned, actually disappeared on June 1, 1921 and no one has ever heard anything from or about her since. In what world would she not want to prosecute or press charges against this man if he raped her? This is back when we were still very segregated and they took the word of whites over any blacks. That shows you this was beyond Rowland and Page. This was whites enraged that blacks were thriving and they were looking for any reason to destroy what blacks had built. That's why they held off the national guard for 24 hours while they burned Greenwood down along with all of its thousands of residents. What we don't hear about is all the black excellence that existed prior to it's destruction. The article states that on Greenwood Avenue, there were luxury shops, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, jewelry and clothing stories, movie theaters, barbershops and salons, a library, pool halls, nightclubs and offices for doctors, lawyers and dentists, post office, a savings and loan bank, hospital, and bus and taxi service. As an educator my favorite part is that Greenwood also had its own school system. I am only in my second year of education but I can tell you Black history is not represented in the curriculum. I believe students can't understand how to grow and be better than previous generations until they know the whole truth about black history, not the pieces that are spoon fed to them via current curriculum. Black Wall Street doesn't have to be a thing of the past. As African Americans, we can come together and build our own Black Wall Street legacies within our communities. A business owner in my community held the first ever Black Owned Business Pop Up Shop in February and it was absolutely amazing. To see all of the business owners that look like me was awe inspiring. To know so many business existed in my community with things that I needed or wanted and I had no clue was so shocking. Where I was spending my money with some of the larger chain stores I now support local black owned businesses who offer the same items and the money stays in my community. I read somewhere that money changed hands at least 19 times within Greenwood Avenue before it was transferred out. That's how they were so prosperous. What are your thoughts about the TULSA MASSACRE and BLACK WALL STREET? Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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AuthorN. A. J. Robinson Archives
May 2024
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