Black Wall Street

Black Wall Street was the early 20th-century Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a thriving, self-sufficient African-American community renowned for its economic vitality. Centered along Greenwood Avenue, it became a nationally prominent symbol of Black entrepreneurship and wealth accumulation during the Jim Crow era. Its prosperity was violently destroyed during the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history.

History and founding

The district’s development began in the early 1900s following the Oklahoma oil boom and statehood, attracting African-American migrants including many from the Southern United States. Key founders included entrepreneur O. W. Gurley, who purchased large tracts of land, and J. B. Stradford, a wealthy attorney and businessman who built the Stradford Hotel. The community was legally segregated due to racial segregation laws and redlining practices in Tulsa, which concentrated Black capital and enterprise within Greenwood. Figures like Simon Berry operated successful jitney services and other ventures, fostering a closed-loop economy where residents supported Black-owned businesses.

Economic and cultural significance

The district featured a dense concentration of prosperous enterprises, including the Williams Dreamland Theatre, the Little Rose Beauty Salon, and the Red Wing Hotel. Financial institutions like the Masonic Lodge and the Black-owned banks provided capital for homes and businesses. Professionals such as Dr. A. C. Jackson, a noted surgeon, and attorneys like B. C. Franklin served the community. Cultural life flourished with venues like the Dixie Theater hosting performances by artists like Count Basie and Duke Ellington, while newspapers like the Tulsa Star and the Oklahoma Eagle advocated for civil rights.

Destruction in the Tulsa race massacre

The community was obliterated during the Tulsa race massacre from May 31 to June 1, 1921, sparked by an incident involving Dick Rowland and Sarah Page in the Drexel Building. A white mob, incited by headlines in the Tulsa Tribune, attacked Greenwood. The Oklahoma National Guard was deployed, and private aircraft were reportedly used to drop incendiary devices. The violence resulted in the burning of over 35 city blocks, the destruction of landmarks like Mount Zion Baptist Church, and the deaths of hundreds of residents. Subsequent actions by the Tulsa City Commission and local police hindered rebuilding efforts.

Legacy and rebuilding efforts

Despite the devastation, survivors like B. C. Franklin and Mabel B. Little led immediate rebuilding, often battling new zoning laws from the Tulsa City Commission. The community was partially rebuilt through the 1920s, though it never fully regained its former scale. The event was largely omitted from official histories like those of the Oklahoma Historical Society for decades. Modern recognition began with the formation of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Commission, established by the Oklahoma Legislature, which recommended reparations. Contemporary institutions such as the Greenwood Cultural Center and the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation work to preserve its memory, while legal battles for restitution continue.

In popular culture

The story has been depicted in several television series, including episodes of HBO's *Watchmen* and *Lovecraft Country*, which brought the history to a wide audience. It is featured in musical works like The Coup's album *Sorry to Bother You* and referenced by artists such as Kendrick Lamar. Literary treatments include Rilla Askew's novel *Fire in Beulah* and Tim Madigan's historical account *The Burning: Massacre, Destruction, and the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921*. The 2021 centennial commemoration was marked by events covered by national media including CBS News and The New York Times.

Category:African-American history of Oklahoma Category:History of Tulsa, Oklahoma Category:Economy of the United States Category:1921 in the United States