The National Guard was called out after the governor declared martial law, and imprisoned all blacks that were not already in jail. More than 35 blocks were destroyed, along with more than 1,200 homes, and some 300 people died, mostly blacks.Īmerican citizens were even attacked by airplanes during this massacre. For years black women would see white women walking down the street in their jewelry and snatch it off.” Historians state that the issue was economics. White mobs looted the homes and businesses before they set fire to the community. Thesewere difficult time for black WWI vets who had just experience the Red Summer of 1919. He was arrested, and black World War I vets rushed to the courthouse to prevent a lynching. He says he tripped and fell into her, she says she was assaulted. The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 started with what newspaper reported as something happening between a black man and a white women elevator operator in her elevator.

In June 1921, a series of events all but destroyed the entire Greenwood area. It had restaurants, movie theaters, jewelry stores and hotels all owned by African Americans and it had a professional community of doctors, lawyers, furriers, undertakers and others. Greenwood and the surrounding residential area was referred to as “Black Wall Street.” It was the wealthiest black community in United States. Native Americans and African-Americans became wealthy thanks to the discovery of oil in the early 1900s on what had previously been seen as worthless land. Some also came with Native Americans who were forcibly marched there during Trail of Tears.įollowing World War I, Tulsa was recognized nationally for its affluent African American community known as the Greenwood District. It was call the Promised Land for African Americans who moved there during post reconstruction years. In fact, there were more all black towns in OK than anywhere else in US. There were a lot of blacks in Oklahoma in the 1920s. Update: So many people are reading this review that I’m editing to include my review of a much better book about the Tulsa Massacre

Dreamland burning by jennifer latham