Tulsa's Black Wall Street The Story Of Greenwood
In the early 20th century, the neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was home to one of the most prosperous African American communities in the United States. Known as "Black Wall Street," Greenwood was a thriving economic and cultural center, with its own banks, businesses, and even an airport.
The Rise of Black Wall Street
The story of Black Wall Street began in the early 1900s, when African Americans began to move to Tulsa in search of better opportunities. At the time, Tulsa was a rapidly growing city, with a booming oil industry and a bustling downtown area. However, segregation laws prevented African Americans from living or working in many parts of the city.
Despite these obstacles, African Americans in Tulsa were determined to build their own community. They began to settle in the Greenwood neighborhood, which was located just north of downtown. Over time, Greenwood became a hub of African American culture and commerce, with its own schools, churches, and businesses.
One of the key figures in the rise of Black Wall Street was O.W. Gurley, a wealthy African American entrepreneur who moved to Tulsa in 1905. Gurley purchased a large tract of land in Greenwood and began to sell it to other African Americans, creating a "colored" residential district.
By the 1920s, Greenwood had become a thriving commercial center, with more than 300 black-owned businesses. These included restaurants, grocery stores, clothing shops, and even a hospital. Greenwood also had its own bus and taxi service, which connected it to other parts of Tulsa.
The Tulsa Race Riot
However, the success of Black Wall Street was short-lived. On May 31, 1921, a young African American man named Dick Rowland was accused of assaulting a white woman in an elevator in downtown Tulsa. Despite the lack of evidence, Rowland was arrested and taken to jail.
Word of the alleged assault quickly spread through Tulsa, and tensions between African Americans and whites began to escalate. On the evening of June 1, a white mob gathered outside the courthouse where Rowland was being held. When a group of armed African American men arrived to protect Rowland, a confrontation ensued.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control, and over the next 24 hours, white mobs rampaged through Greenwood, looting and burning homes and businesses. African American residents were shot and beaten in the streets, and planes dropped bombs on the neighborhood from above.
By the time the violence ended on June 2, much of Greenwood had been destroyed. More than 1,200 homes and businesses had been burned to the ground, and as many as 300 people had been killed. Thousands of African American residents were left homeless and destitute.
The Legacy of Black Wall Street
The Tulsa Race Riot was one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history, and it had a profound impact on the African American community in Tulsa and beyond. In the aftermath of the riot, many African Americans left Tulsa and never returned.
However, the legacy of Black Wall Street and the Greenwood neighborhood lives on. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the history of Black Wall Street, and efforts are underway to preserve and celebrate the legacy of this once-thriving community.
Today, visitors to Tulsa can visit the Greenwood Cultural Center and the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, both of which commemorate the history of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Riot. The Greenwood District is also home to a number of African American-owned businesses and cultural institutions.
Conclusion
The story of Black Wall Street is a testament to the resilience and determination of the African American community in the face of adversity. Despite the many obstacles they faced, the residents of Greenwood were able to build a thriving and prosperous community that served as an inspiration to others.
However, the tragic events of the Tulsa Race Riot remind us of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. As we continue to confront the legacies of racism and inequality, it is important to remember the lessons of Black Wall Street and the resilience of the African American community.