Tulsa race massacre

The Tulsa Race Massacre: A Dark Chapter in American History

Imagine a city where racial tensions simmered just below the surface, waiting for an incident to ignite into a nightmare of violence and destruction. That’s what happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 31, 1921, when a dispute between a black shoeshiner named Dick Rowland and a white elevator operator named Sarah Page spiraled out of control, leading to one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. The Tulsa race massacre, also known as the Tulsa race riot or the Black Wall Street massacre, was a two-day-long event that left at least 36 people dead and over 800 injured.

The Spark: A Dispute in an Elevator

On May 30, 1921, Dick Rowland entered the elevator to use the top-floor ‘colored’ restroom. There, he encountered Sarah Page, a 21-year-old white elevator operator. Whether they knew each other is unclear, but their interaction set off a chain of events that would change the course of history.

The Aftermath: A Mysterious Incident

According to reports, Rowland rushed from the building after an incident with Page. The police questioned her and found no evidence of assault, but the Tulsa Tribune published a story suggesting a lynching was imminent. This fueled tensions in the city, leading to a mob gathering outside the jail where Rowland was being held.

The Escalation: A Mob Assembles

As the crowd grew, the police refused to intervene, fearing an escalation. Eventually, they turned Rowland over to the lynch mob. However, Rowland managed to escape and flee to his mother’s house in the Greenwood neighborhood. The situation quickly spiraled out of control as armed black men arrived to support the sheriff.

The Confrontation: A Violent Clash

With tensions high, a group of about 50-60 black men, armed with rifles and shotguns, confronted the crowd. Eyewitnesses reported gunshots into the air increasing in frequency during the evening. A struggle ensued, resulting in 12 deaths—10 white and 2 black. The white mob responded by setting shops on fire and targeting African American homes and businesses along Archer Street.

The Firestorm: Destruction and Chaos

By midnight, a small crowd of whites gathered outside the courthouse, threatening violence. The next morning, gunfights broke out along railroad tracks between black and white men, with trains being targeted. Whites indiscriminately fired on businesses and residences in Greenwood, causing fires that spread throughout the area.

The National Guard: A Force for Order

Major James Bell took measures to prevent a break-in at the armory and showed force to disperse a crowd of 300-400 men. The National Guard was deployed to quell the riot, rounding up numerous black people for detention at Convention Hall. By noon, most of the remaining violence had been suppressed.

The Aftermath: A City in Ruins

Overnight, the commercial section of Greenwood was destroyed, with 191 businesses, a junior high school, churches, and a hospital lost. Property losses were estimated at $1.5 million in real estate and $750,000 in personal property, equivalent to $38 million in 2023. The Red Cross registered 8,624 persons after the riot; 183 hospitalized, 531 required first aid or surgical treatment, eight miscarriages attributed to the tragedy.

The Long-Term Impact: A Legacy of Silence

Many middle-class white families were forced to hand over their black employees, leading to attacks and vandalism against those who refused. As the night wore on, both sides fought sporadically, with crews from the Tulsa Fire Department being turned away at gunpoint. By 4 a.m., around two dozen black-owned businesses had been set ablaze.

The Investigation: A Search for Truth

Upon sunrise, a train whistle sounded, prompting rioters to launch an all-out assault on Greenwood. Five white men in a car were killed by gunfire before they had traveled one block. Crowds of rioters poured into the streets, shooting indiscriminately and killing many along the way.

Theories: Airborne Assaults

Eyewitnesses described airplanes carrying white assailants who fired rifles and dropped firebombs on buildings, homes, and fleeing families. Law enforcement officials were thought to be aboard at least some flights. However, there is no reliable evidence to support attacks with explosives or bombs from the planes.

The Recovery: A Path to Redemption

Martial law was withdrawn on June 4, under Field Order No. 7. Casualties varied widely, but official state records show five deaths by conflagration. Ground-penetrating radar did not find evidence of mass graves, and multiple eyewitness reports suggested the graves could have been dug at three different cemeteries.

The Rebuilding: A New Beginning

Deputy Sheriff Barney Cleaver was interviewed about the events leading up to the riot; he identified Will Robinson as a leader of the armed blacks. The commercial section of Greenwood was destroyed, with 191 businesses, junior high school, churches, and hospital lost.

The Legacy: A Call for Justice

A group of businessmen and civic leaders met on June 3, resolving to form a committee to raise funds and aid in rebuilding Greenwood. Judge Loyal J. Martin said Tulsa must redeem itself through restitution and rehabilitation. Many black families spent the winter of 1921-1922 in tents while working to rebuild.

The Ongoing Struggle: A Fight for Recognition

Influential white developers persuaded the city to pass a fire ordinance that would have prohibited many black people from rebuilding in Greenwood, leading to a court case that was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Tulsa Race Massacre Commission arranged for archaeological, non-invasive ground surveys of Newblock Park, Oaklawn Cemetery, and Booker T. Washington Cemetery.

The Final Report: A Call for Reparations

The commission delivered its final report on February 21, 2001. The report recommended actions for substantial restitution to the black residents, including direct payment of reparations to survivors and descendants, a scholarship fund, an economic development enterprise zone in the historic area of the Greenwood district, and a memorial for the reburial of the remains of the victims.

The Search for Truth: Uncovering the Past

In 2019, forensic archaeologists announced they had found anomalies consistent with human-dug pits at Oaklawn Cemetery and the Interstate 244 bridge crossing the Arkansas River. Further investigations have yielded coffins in Oaklawn Cemetery containing 11 bodies, potentially up to 18 massacre victims.

The Conclusion: A Call for Rememberance

The Tulsa race massacre is a stark reminder of the deep-seated racial tensions that still exist in our society. It’s a story of human tragedy and resilience, where the lives of hundreds were lost, and countless more were forever changed. As we reflect on this dark chapter in American history, let us remember the victims, honor their memory, and work towards a future where such atrocities are never repeated.