Tulsa Race Riots
Outline
I. Introduction pg. 3
II. Riot Beginnings pg. 3 -4
III. Statistics pg. 4-5
IV. Lives Changed pg. 5-6
V. Reparations pg 6-7
VI. References pg. 8
Introduction
The Tulsa race riot of 1921 was a dark time in the history of Oklahoma. It all began with a simple misunderstanding, but had catastrophic consequences. Homes and businesses were destroyed, many African Americans and whites were killed, and Tulsa had lost its soul. In the beginning Oklahoma was just a young state, and Tulsa was just a young town, trying to find its place in the world. The discovery of Oil quickly turned Tulsa into one of the most prosperous towns in America. As the town prospered, so did its citizens, which includes African Americans. It is an irony in that through racial segregation Greenwood Avenue became as successful as it was. It was necessary that African American businesses existed because they catered to the African American dollars that were being earned. The white businesses did not serve African Americans because of racial segregation. The area was such a success that populations of other African Americans from around the country saw it as a beacon of hope. The new residents had a hard work ethic and helped build up North Tulsa into was it was, the Mecca for African Americans in the Southwest. Riot Beginnings
With all this prosperity and wealth many African Americans were happy but many whites saw this as a threat. They saw African Americans who prospered as a threat to their power, to the way things use to be (African Americans being slaves, or children of them). There were some African Americans that had better homes and better jobs than some whites. Many in the White community could not stand for it. Hatred and resentment grew and it was adding fuel to the fire that was waiting to be
I. Introduction pg. 3
II. Riot Beginnings pg. 3 -4
III. Statistics pg. 4-5
IV. Lives Changed pg. 5-6
V. Reparations pg 6-7
VI. References pg. 8
Introduction
The Tulsa race riot of 1921 was a dark time in the history of Oklahoma. It all began with a simple misunderstanding, but had catastrophic consequences. Homes and businesses were destroyed, many African Americans and whites were killed, and Tulsa had lost its soul. In the beginning Oklahoma was just a young state, and Tulsa was just a young town, trying to find its place in the world. The discovery of Oil quickly turned Tulsa into one of the most prosperous towns in America. As the town prospered, so did its citizens, which includes African Americans. It is an irony in that through racial segregation Greenwood Avenue became as successful as it was. It was necessary that African American businesses existed because they catered to the African American dollars that were being earned. The white businesses did not serve African Americans because of racial segregation. The area was such a success that populations of other African Americans from around the country saw it as a beacon of hope. The new residents had a hard work ethic and helped build up North Tulsa into was it was, the Mecca for African Americans in the Southwest. Riot Beginnings
With all this prosperity and wealth many African Americans were happy but many whites saw this as a threat. They saw African Americans who prospered as a threat to their power, to the way things use to be (African Americans being slaves, or children of them). There were some African Americans that had better homes and better jobs than some whites. Many in the White community could not stand for it. Hatred and resentment grew and it was adding fuel to the fire that was waiting to be
References: Palmer, B. (2005). Stanford Alumnus seeks reparations. Retrieved September 27th 2006, from http;//news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/february16/Tulsa-021605.hmtl Patrick, J. (1999, July 9). The Tulsa, Oklahoma Race Riot of 1921. Exodus News. Retrieved September 27th 2006, from http://www.exodusnews.com/HISTORY/History007.htm Ruble, R. (2000, February 5th). Tulsa race riot panels recommend reparations. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 27th 2006, from http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/020500-01.htm White, W. (June 29, 1921): "The Eruption of Tulsa", Nation 112 pg. 909–910. Retrieved September 27th 2006 from http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5119/ Anonymous, A. (October 26, 1996). "Race Riot Verdict", New York Times. Retrieved October 28th 2006 from http://writing.upeen.edu/~afileris/50s/race-riot-verdict.html