How Caucasians Killed Over 300 Blacks And Burnt Down An Entire Town, Displacing 9,000 In Tulsa In 1921
January 04, 2021 2218
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The
Tulsa riot of 1921 still remains one of the darkest stories of African
American history. It is an honest indication and indictment of the hatred and
envy born towards the African man by the other races of the world, especially
the Caucasian. Whether that hate still exists in America is a question for us all to answer.
During
the riot, which happened from May 31-June 1, 1921, a white mob attacked
residents of a predominantly black neighborhood of Greenwood, of Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
The
press suppressed the incidents of those two days, to the extent that neighboring
towns did not know of the massacre of black people in Tulsa and the destruction
of their homes and businesses which were worth over $30million.
The
deaths and events of the riot were all because of envy. The black residents of
the town were prosperous, happy, and their successes in business made them economically
equal with their white counterparts. And of course, white entitlement mentality
and supremacy would not have that, so one would be forced to conclude that they sort to destroy the success of the
black community by any means necessary.
The Oil Boom That Enriched the Black Community
The
town of Tulsa was popularly and fondly called "Black wall street."
This was mainly because of the immense prosperity of the entire community,
which was reflected in the rich black residents.
The
wealth and economic strength of Tulsa were because of an oil boom in the other
part of the town. And just like many other cities across America, Tulsa was
segregated.
African
Americans in search of greener pastures and work had moved to the northern
section of the town and set up a community of their own. They had their own
banks, business centers, hotels, theaters, stores, cafes, and neighborhoods.
The
African American community-built schools for their children. It was a sight to
behold, as the schools had indoor plumbing, and these, at the time, were not
obtainable in the nearby white schools for white children.
The
North-Eastern part of Tulsa, which was the black community, was separated from
the rest of the city, because of strict segregation laws that were in place by
white supremacists.
The
segregation law prohibited African-Americans from living in parts where the
population was 75% white. So, this meant that the African Americans were
cornered in a world of their own.
The
North-Eastern part of Tulsa which the African Americans had to themselves was
named Greenwood. The blacks shopped and spent all their money in Greenwood. So,
they were literally reinvesting their money in the same neighborhood. Life was
beautiful in Greenwood.
The
population of Greenwood as of 1920-1921 grew to more than 10,000 people, who
grew their business and also had two newspapers.
So,
you can imagine the hate and envy that this kind of success can cause an
average White southern worker. For the racist white people, it killed them to
see those who had just come out of over 400years of slavery creating an
egalitarian society and living above or equal to them. It must have hurt so bad.
The
racial tensions, discrimination, and hate on the African American community were
high at the time. After the American civil war, Jim Crow laws were made and the
laws denied African American protection of the law. The whites knew the law
would not protect the African Americans, so they often accused blacks of
terrible crimes. And the top of the list was White women, who would accuse
black men of harassing them.
Also,
the Ku Klux Klan had a hand in the riots and killings of blacks in Greenwood. It
was reported that at the time, there were an estimated 2,000 Klansmen in Tulsa.
What Incident Actually Sparked the Riot?
The
actual facts are not known till today, as there are various accounts of what
happened. But it involved an African American man, Dick Rowland, and a Caucasian
woman, Sarah Page. Rowland was a shoe shiner, while Page was an elevator
operator at the Drexel Building in Tulsa.
Some
people say that Rowland had tripped while trying to enter the elevator and so
he fell and grabbed Sarah Page. A witness acclaimed there was a scream, and
later saw Rowland running from the building a short while later that afternoon
of May 30, 1921.
But
the rumor which circulated after the riot was that both of them were lovers,
and at that time, it was illegal.
The
town was full and ready to burst with racial hatred, and such news was just the
right spark it needed to explode. Immediately, the white folks jumped into
action and accused Rowland of assaulting Page. Well, she denied Rowland assaulting
her when questioned by the police, but that didn’t stop what was about to
happen.
Rowland
was put in police custody, allegedly for his own safety, because word had
spread around the town about his incident with Page.
The Riot, Vandalism, And Massacre
By
nightfall, that day, hundreds of white people had gathered by the courthouse
where Rowland was in custody. Many of them were carrying torches, guns, and
other weapons. This caused great panic throughout Greenwood, as black people
suspected a lynching to take place.
Around 9 p.m., about 25
armed black men who were World War I
veterans and enlisted men went home and got their own guns and ammunition,
with many of them offering to assist the local sheriff in defending Rowland.
But the sheriff declined their offer.
Another group of around 75 armed African American men returned to the courthouse shortly after 10 pm. On arrival, they were met by some 1,500 whites, many of whom also carried their own weapons. Shots were fired and all hell was let loose. The African American men, who were outnumbered and outgunned, retreated to Greenwood.
From
that evening of May 31 going into the following day, June 1, 1921, the whole of
Greenwood was burnt to the ground by a white mob. Nearly all the business was
torched and destroyed. The Libraries, hospitals, schools, and all social amenities
- all gone.
The
local law enforcement, who should know better and keep the peace, actually
joined in on the destruction of properties and killing of the innocent African
American residents of Greenwood, Tulsa. The law enforcement officers firebombed the buildings. Also, other white men who were deputized by the local police departments
went on a killing spree of African American residents.
In
the morning of June 1, a white mob which numbered thousands rushed into
Greenwood, looting and burning homes, over an area of 35 city blocks. Of
course, they had to steal properties. It has always been in their nature to
loot African resources. The firefighters who arrived that morning were chased
by the white mob and threatened at gunpoint.
The
National guard arrived when the riot had ended and declared martial law. They
helped to put out the fires, but they also arrested 6,000 African Americans who
were mourning dead ones and the loss of their properties and fortunes.
At
the end of the killings and riots, Of the 10,000 adults who lived in Greenwood,
6,000 were arrested during the 16-hour ordeal; 1,256 homes were razed, leaving
9,000 people homeless. The financial damage, in today’s dollars, was equal to
$30 million.
Conclusion
Each
time this event is narrated, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. It speaks of
the hate against the African American community in America.
What
was more heartbreaking was the attempt of the perpetrators of this evil act to
hide their atrocities, by never including the riots in Oklahoma history books.
Today,
accounts such as these, are supposed to help the African American community
weigh their position in America. It should make the people ask themselves
important questions, such as: Are things any better? Has white America repented
of its hate and venom against our people?
Hate is an evil thing. Let us shy away from it. To those who chose to hate the African man for nothing, hear this: We are not going anywhere. We were the first to inhabit this earth, and no amount of genocide or hate will wipe us out. We have helped build the world with our sweat and resources. Why not give us some peace and tranquility?