The Tulsa Race Massacre Of 1921: The Fall Of A Thriving Black Community

A photo showing some of the homes and businesses that were burned during the massacre.

The Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the most violent massacres in American history, occurred in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, from May 31 to June 1, 1921, and it lasted for a dreadful 18 hours. This neighborhood, often called "Black Wall Street," was a thriving, predominantly Black community, renowned for its economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy. There were various different businesses and facilities, ranging from banks and theaters to restaurants and grocery stores.

Background

With a rise of racial violence through groups like the KKK in the U.S., there was heightened fear surrounding the communities of people of color. Jim Crow laws, white supremacy, and segregation all contributed to the lead-up to the massacre. The early 20th century saw a wave of racial tensions fueled by economic competition and the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, particularly in Oklahoma, where oil wealth had attracted diverse populations.

An incident occurred on May 30, 1921, that further ingrained such fears deeply into their minds. A young Black teenager named Dick Rowland entered an elevator at the Drexel Building, where he met the elevator operator Sarah Page. After this, there are multiple narratives of what happened in the elevator. However, what is known is that shortly after Dick Rowland entered the elevator, Sarah Page screamed, and Dick Rowland fled, getting arrested the next morning.

As word of the event spread, people created theories of what had supposedly happened in that elevator. One notorious theory and the main narrative that many believe comes from the Tulsa Tribune, the daily newspaper, where an inflammatory editorial titled "To Lynch Ne*ro Tonight" accompanied reports that police had arrested Rowland for assaulting Page; however, the exact reason is still unknown. This article, now believed to have been deliberately sensationalized, played a critical role in inciting the mob violence that followed.

The Massacre Unfolds

The following day, the case spread and unravelled, and so did the violence that occurred. Large mobs made up of white people quickly erupted, surrounding the courthouse in which Dick Rowland was in. The sheriff of the courthouse and groups of black men came to protect Dick Rowland, but they were outnumbered. Hundreds of white men continued to gather, leading to shots getting fired. Realizing that the crowd was getting too large, the people protecting Rowland quickly retreated. 

On June 1 1921, there were reports of Greenwood being looted and burned by white rioters following the incident. Understanding how bad things have gotten, Governor Robertson declared martial law, and ordered National Guard troops to arrive in Tulsa. For the next several hours, groups of white people, some of whom were sent out by Governor Robertson, committed many acts of violence against Black people. Over 6,000 black people were held at the Convention Hall and the Fairgrounds for over several days. By the time that additional National Guard troops arrived in Tulsa on the morning of June 1, most of Greenwood had already been up in flames. 18 grueling hours after the violence erupted, it officially ended.

Aftermath

As a result of such heinous riots, according to the Red Cross, 1,256 houses were burned, and 215 houses were looted. Many Black-owned businesses were destroyed or damaged by fire, and many people were left homeless. There was a lot of economic loss, with estimates of property damage reaching $1.8 million in 1921 dollars (equivalent to roughly $27 million today). Moreover, more than 800 people were treated for injuries, and initially, there were 36 reports of deaths.

Years followed as Black Tulsans worked to rebuild their ruined homes and businesses. Segregation and discrimination in the city continued to increase, no white people were incarcerated for their actions (despite overwhelming evidence), and the KKK grew in strength.

Lasting Impact

For decades, there was no memorial or recognition for the dead or any efforts to spread awareness of the massacre. Instead, the government tried to cover it up. A state commission was formed in 1997 to investigate, and during the investigation, scientists and historians uncovered evidence that unidentified victims had been buried in unmarked grave sites. In 2012, Congress rejected a bill in which the Oklahoma State Senate required that all Oklahoma high schools teach the Tulsa Race Massacre, claiming that schools were already teaching their students about the riot even though they weren’t. The deep scars left by the tragedy tarnished Tulsa, and while it was eventually rebuilt, many families never truly recovered from the horrific disaster.