Before the Tulsa Race Riot in June of 1921, the Williams Dreamland Theatre stood as a source of entertainment where the community could gather and enjoy various theatrical performances as well as silent films. As the Riots broke out however, the theatre became a source of congregation where people assembled in order to try to develop a plan of action. In the aftermath of the riots, the theatre was destroyed along with many other businesses and various locations within the Greenwood community. The theatre was later rebuilt and fully operated providing African-American film entertainment until the family was forced to sell it as a result of the Great Depression. While the theatre no longer exists, its legacy as one of the few fully operating movie theatres owned, ran by, and geared towards African Americans in history still remains.

Williams Dreamland Theatre before the Tulsa Race Riots

Williams Dreamland Theatre aftermath from the Tulsa Race Riots

Site of the Williams Dreamland Theatre today

The Untold Story of One of America's Worst Race Riots

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The Dreamland Theatre was located in the historic Greenwood District of Tulsa in 1921. It was run by John and Loula Williams and at that time, served as one of the few theaters that catered solely to African American audiences providing live musical entertainment, silent films as well as theatrical revues and seated around 750 individuals.

Williams Dreamland Theatre

On May 31st and June 1st, 1921, a white mob attacked the predominantly black neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing more than three hundred residents, destroying property, and burning more than a thousand homes and businesses to the ground. The riot spawned from an accusation that on May 30, 1921, Dick Ronald, a nineteen-year-old African American shoe shiner, had attempted to assault a seventeen-year-old white girl, Sarah Page, in the elevator of the Drexel Building. It is not known for sure what took place in the Drexel Building; however, the general narrative states that “Dick Roland boarded an elevator on the third floor of the building, and before the doors opened on the ground floor, the white operator, Sarah Page, was screaming.” Rowland fled the scene; onlookers called the police and the next morning Dick Rowland was arrested and taken to the city jail/courthouse at 15 W. Second Street.

After Dick Rowland’s arrest, rumors of what had allegedly happened on the elevator circulated through the community and a front-page news story in the Tulsa Tribune reported that police “Nab Negro for Attacking Girl in an Elevator.” By evening on the same day, an angry white mob gathered outside the jail, demanding that the Sheriff, Willard McCullough, turn over Rowland. The sheriff refused and a group of around 75 black men went to the courthouse to guard Rowland. They were met by almost 1,500 white men at the courthouse carrying weapons. The outnumbered group of Black men withdrew to Greenwood. Greenwood was a vibrant town of several thousand people stretching over thirty-five square blocks. It was home to one of the country's most financially successful African American communities, earning it the nickname "Black Wall Street." 

In as little as twenty-four hours, a group of white Tulsans, some of whom had been deputized and given weapons by city officials, marched into the Greenwood District. They looted and burned African American owned homes and businesses. Properties along Archer Street were the first targeted buildings.  When the Tulsa Fire Department tried to put out the flames, the angry rioters restricted them at gunpoint. By 5:00 a.m. on June 1st, more than twenty-eight homes and businesses, including the Midway Hotel, had been destroyed.  
 
The massacre destroyed a vibrant community and drove fear into the hearts of Black people across the country. Many Black residents of Greenwood were left without a place to live. For up to a year, thousands of Black people who once owned homes and businesses slept in detention facilities at the fairgrounds.  Authorities forced them to stand in long lines for food, water, and clothing. Black men from Greenwood were mandated to work for the Red Cross or the Oklahoma National Guard. In order to leave the detention camps, Black Tulsans had to wear identification tags and police protection cards.  These tags were only to be issued if the Black Tulsan was "vouched" for by a white employer. Black Tulsans who could not get a job or a white employer to vouch for them remained in the camps. 
 
After the massacre, many people who owned homes and businesses with insurance sought reimbursement for their losses. Nevertheless, all insurance claims by African Americans were rejected because the insurance did not include coverage for damage caused by a "riot." The mob burned thirty-five blocks of Tulsa to the ground with estimated damages amounting to “$1.8 million, which is almost $25 million” dollars today. According to information provided by the Red Cross, “the fatalities ranged from 55 to 300,” and the search for mass graves is still ongoing. While the Greenwood residents faced many injustices, they worked together to revive their community and by the end of 1921 “ Greenwood residents had rebuilt more than 800 structures in the neighborhood.” Even so, the massacre led to significant financial loss manifesting in home ownership and economic status decline that is still being felt by the Back population in Tulsa and across the United States. This history tour is about what happened in The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and how Black Tulsans worked together to rebuild Greenwood. 
 
 
Citations

“Research Guides: Tulsa Race Massacre: Topics in Chronicling America: Introduction.” Introduction - Tulsa Race Massacre: Topics in Chronicling America - Research Guides at Library of Congress, 20 July 2022, guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-tulsa-race-riots/introduction.
 
 
Tulsa Race Massacre, Available Online. (2019, June 25). The Library of Congress. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.loc.gov/search/?in=&q=tulsa+race+massacre&new=true
Wesson, Stephen. “Tulsa’s Greenwood District: Exploring the Impact of the Tulsa Race Massacre | Teaching With the Library of Congress.” Tulsa’s Greenwood District: Exploring the Impact of the Tulsa Race Massacre | Teaching With the Library of Congress, 27 May 2021, blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2021/05/tulsas-greenwood-district-exploring-the-impact-of-the-tulsa-race-massacre.


Fashionista, stylist, and entrepreneur Mabel B. Little moved to Tulsa from the all-Black town of Boley, Oklahoma in 1913. The granddaughter of slaves, Little moved with her ailing mother to the city in hopes of better supporting her. Within the first year of her arrival in Tulsa, Mabel met and married restauranteur Presley Little. Between 1918 and 1927, the Littles adopted 11 children, many of whom were extended family members. Besides their own burgeoning brood, the Little family was also well-known for helping other needy children in the Greenwood neighborhood. Presley died a month after the last of the children came to live with the family, leaving Little to raise her family alone. Little persevered, and eventually adopted a twelfth child on her own in 1940.Little’s first job was working at the Brady hotel for $20 per month. By 1915, Little began a side business of washing, setting, and waving hair using skills taught to her by her aunt. In 1917, Little opened the Little Rose Salon, which was the first establishment in Tulsa that catered to African-American beauty needs. Thursday nights saw her shop filled with young women being beautified, as Thursday was the customary “Maid’s Night Out,” the one night each week that young African-American domestics working in white homes had off. Little’s salon was destroyed in the fires of the Riot, but she rebuilt it. During the Great Depression, Little uprooted her salon and followed the aviation boom west, moving first to Wichita, Kansas and eventually to Los Angles. Eventually Little returned to Oklahoma, where she lived until her death in 2001. She had lived to be 104 years old and spent the majority of her days as a leader and advocate for her beloved Greenwood community.The house is worth mention in its own right because of its important symbolic meaning to the Greenwood community. It is the only home built in the 1920’s which still stands in the Greenwood District. Grounds keeper Sam Mackey and domestic Lucy Mackey worked for wealthy employers living in the elite Maple Ridge neighborhood. They were a working-class couple who managed to build such a fine home in Greenwood that it rivaled its counterparts in the elite white neighborhoods. The Mackeys built it to show their community that Greenwood could also build magnificent things in their community. Their original structure, located at 327 North Greenwood, was burned to the ground during the Riot. The Mackeys escaped because Barney Cleaver, Tulsa’s only African-American police officer, warned the neighborhood that the armed, fire-wielding white mobs were coming. The original home, along with 36 city blocks, were burned to the ground during the Riot.After the Riot, the Mackeys built a new stately home at 322 North Greenwood, this time choosing fire-proof masonry instead of the combustible wood frame construction of their previous home. Like every other Greenwood homeowner, the Mackeys discovered that the home insurance they’d been paying refused to cover rebuilding costs because their policies contained no “riot clause.” In order to rebuild, the community shared, sacrificed, and pooled their resources. Some institutions in Oklahoma City were willing to lend money for the rebuilding process.Though the record is unclear as to the architect's name, the Mackeys hired one of Tulsa’s most talented designers for their new home. The stunning design won a $1,000 prize for architectural design. Three-way lighting switches and walk-in closets were among the home’s unusual architectural features. For decades, the home served the Greenwood community as a site for special occasions, social functions, and community gatherings. Today, the site houses a collection of artifacts and memorabilia of pre-Riot Greenwood, exhibits about the Riot, and information about Mabel B. Little and the Mackeys.

The Greenwood Cultural Center is open to the public. Entry is free, but donations are accepted. There are historic photos, newspaper clippings, and other artifacts from Greenwood before, during, and after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre throughout the building. They will often have a film playing and seating for a group to sit and watch. There are books and other items about Greenwood and the Tulsa Race Massacre available for purchase in the administration office. The Greenwood Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.The Mabel B. Little Heritage House in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is part of the larger Greenwood Cultural Center complex. The home is a testament to the rich history of Tulsa’s African- American community and its powers of resilience. Originally built by the Sam and Lucy Mackey family of Tulsa, Greenwood designated the historic home as a museum to honor the legacy of African-American community leader and activist Mabel B. Little and the victims claimed by the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. The Mabel B. Little Heritage House Museum is next to the cultural center and shares the same address. It is the only surviving home from the 1920's in the Greenwood area. It was built in 1925 by Sam and Lucy Mackey, survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Their original home was completely destroyed by fire during the massacre. It is a beautiful home that shows how many Black residents in the Greenwood area of Tulsa lived. The Mabel B. Little Heritage House days and hours are limited. Please call ahead for current open days.The Black Wall Street mural is across the parking lot from The Greenwood Cultural Center. On the property of the cultural center is the "1921 Black Wall Street Memorial" carved in beautiful Black stone memorial. It was erected 75 years after the massacre. There is also a slab that details the unpaid insurance claims and the people that requested them. There was only one claim that was paid - to a white store owner for stolen guns and ammunition.

Mabel B. Little Heritage House (Part of the Greenwood Cultural Center Complex)

In 1906, O.W Gurley purchased 40 acres of land in Oklahoma, which was "only to be sold to colored," and named it Greenwood District. With the intention of developing a community where Black people could succeed, he built a boarding house in Greenwood for them to stay in while they began to generate their wealth. Gurley continued to build across Greenwood and start various businesses. Soon, Black people began to flock to Greenwood looking for opportunities of wealth and success. Shortly after his arrival to Tulsa, Gurley founded the Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church which served as a center for worship in Greenwood. Membership grew quickly, from 8 to 71, as Greenwood became more widely known throughout the south. Gurley, committed to the development of the community, loaned out money to those that wanted to start businesses. Amidst the peak of Ku Klux Klan activity in Oklahoma and near the Red Summer of 1919, Greenwood truly began to prosper, attracting attention from folks throughout the South. It was during this time when Booker T Washington coined the nickname for the Greenwood District, “Negro Wall Street,” now commonly known as “Black Wall Street.” Eventually, Greenwood became truly self-reliant, gaining financial independence starkly different from that of the average Black community in America at the time. Even those who worked outside Greenwood as janitors or any lower level job contributed to the thriving community by taking money from the outside and circulating it within the Greenwood businesses. It is said that “within Greenwood every dollar would change hands 19 times before it left the community.”The success of the Greenwood District is largely attributed to the variety of businesses that allowed the community to be self-contained. Greenwood was home to numerous hotels, restaurants, doctor/physician offices, law firms, grocery stores, and more. Citizens of Greenwood could stay in their communities without leaving for necessities. Due to this, Greenwood was separated from the surrounding communities, literally and figuratively. When O.W. Gurley bought the land, it bordered railroad tracks that denoted a distinct separation between the outside white communities and Greenwood. Over time, the segregated communities grew even more distant, and as Greenwood prospered, the whites nearby grew enraged. As expected, the success of an all Black community in the early 1900’s was not easily accepted by white people near. For years, whites attempted to hinder the growth of Greenwood, culminating in the devastating 1921 Massacre of Black Wall Street.On May 30th, Dick Rowland entered the elevator of the Drexel Building to go to the only bathroom available for colored people nearby. He worked at a shoeshine parlor down the street and frequently used the bathroom in the Drexel Building. On this particular day, there were not many people out since many businesses were closed for Memorial Day. However, working the elevator in the Drexel Building was Sarah Page, who we can assume knew of Rowland since he frequently used the elevator. What happened next is unclear, but was nonetheless a driving factor in the destruction of Greenwood. A local shop owner heard a woman scream and Rowland run out of the Drexel Building. Without eye-witnesses to the incident, the story was unsurprisingly skewed against Dick Rowland. When Sarah Page was questioned, she did not mention assault, rather noting that Rowland grabbed her hand. A common interpretation today is that Rowland tripped when coming out of the elevator and grabbed Page’s hand for stabilization. Whatever happened, Rowland was brought into the city jail under a lowkey investigation and was set to be released very soon. Calls came in threatening Rowland’s life that forced the police commissioner to move Rowland to the county courthouse for his protection. This proved ineffective as the Tulsa Tribune later reported that Rowland assaulted Sarah Page, leading angry white mobs to form outside the county courthouse. Residents of Greenwood knew that they had to protect Rowland, however there was dissent on how. Gurley and some of the wealthier men argued that they should not get involved with the white mobs and should wait until Rowland was released, but many disagreed. Many World War 1 veterans immediately took arms and rallied more to head to the jail and protect Rowland from being lynched. Over 50 men made their way to the courthouse where they were met with mass amounts of enraged whites. Seeing the armed group of Black men, many in the white mobs went back to their homes to retrieve their guns. This was where the 1921 Massacre of Black Wall Street began. The Greenwood men that came to defend Rowland were greatly outnumbered and the white mob began to descend upon Greenwood. Without going into great detail, the white people destroyed Greenwood. The one of a kind community that was 15 years in the making was gone within 2 days. Houses, offices, restaurants, beauty parlors burnt to the ground and taken away from those that worked so hard for it all. There were even reports of aircrafts dropping bombs onto buildings. Amidst it all, the police and fire departments did nearly nothing, allowing the white people to continue murdering, looting and burning. Martial Law was eventually declared and the National Guard brought in, but it was too late. Over 1200 homes were destroyed and 35 blocks burnt down. The everlasting, self sustaining community that O.W. Gurley and J.B. Stradford once envisioned was gone.Casualties of this devastating event are still unclear today. It was initially reported that only white people died, but as time progressed and research went into this, the number of casualties were revealed to be closer to 300+ Blacks dead and a minimal amount of white people dead. It is widely believed today that many bodies are buried throughout the Greenwood district, as there are only 2 official graves pertaining to the event. Following the 2 days of destruction, residents of Greenwood were basically left to their own, with tents from the Red Cross to act as temporary housing. Many of the prior leaders of the Greenwood community were forced to flee, in an attempt to avoid being charged as an instigator of the “riot,” which had been dealt to both O.W. Gurley and J.B. Stradford. Greenwood was eventually on a path to be rebuilt, with support from the Red Cross and the NAACP, but was hit with many legal restrictions, arising from the white communities nearby.Today the effect of the 1921 Massacre of Black Wall Street and similar happenings in that time period do not go unnoticed. White attack on the success and wealth of Black people is a prime contributor to the low average income of Black families today. However, events like this are rarely talked about in history classes, which is a major problem that needs to be fixed. For America to move forward, we must know and understand our past and its implications to our present society.The Vernon AME Church was burnt down during the 1921 Massacre of Black Wall Street but was rapidly rebuilt and faced a huge increase in membership, from 200 congregants to 400. After the 1921 Race Massacre in Tulsa, church patrons gave many small donations, including 25 cents, 50 cents, one dollar or more donations to rebuild the church. This was a lot of money at the time to donate, especially for Black Tulsans trying to rebuild their own homes and businesses. Those who couldn’t afford to donate money brought bricks to contribute to rebuilding the church. There is a large ledger book holding the records of these donations called the “Book of Redemption” in the basement of the church. Reconstruction of the church began within 2 months and was finished by 1926. There are many beautiful stained glass windows throughout the church that are original to this time period when the church was rebuilt. Many of the windows have the names of people or groups that made large donations towards rebuilding the church.Damage from 1921 can still be seen in the church. One of the strong metal pillars in the basement that hold up the church is visibly scarred from flames. When the church restrooms were getting remodeled in 2021, workers abruptly stopped working because they smelled smoke. The bricks they had dug up still had residual smoke smell from the 1921 attack 100 years earlier. The church has kept some of these bricks and keeps them on display in a prayer room in the basement.

Vernon AME Church was founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1905. The construction for the current location began in 1914 and the basement was completed in 1919. During the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, many African American residents hid in the basement kitchen. The church was damaged badly and the basement is the only part of the building that wasn’t completely destroyed. Vernon AME Church is the only Greenwood building still in existence that survived the 1921 Race Massacre in Tulsa.  Greenwood’s Historic Vernon AME Church is right across the street from The Greenwood Cultural Center. The church serves food to homeless Tulsans daily. If you come at the right time, you may be lucky enough to get a free personal tour inside the church.

Vernon AME Church

In 1906, O.W Gurley purchased 40 acres of land in Oklahoma, which was "only to be sold to colored," and named it Greenwood District. With the intention of developing a community where Black people could succeed, he built a boarding house in Greenwood for them to stay in while they began to generate their wealth. Soon, Black people began to flock to Greenwood looking for opportunities of wealth and success. Gurley, committed to the development of the community, loaned out money to those that wanted to start businesses. Amidst the peak of Ku Klux Klan activity in Oklahoma and near the Red Summer of 1919, Greenwood truly began to prosper, attracting attention from folks throughout the South. It was during this time when Booker T Washington coined the nickname for the Greenwood District, “Negro Wall Street,” now commonly known as “Black Wall Street.” Eventually, Greenwood became truly self-reliant, gaining financial independence. Because of Black-owned businesses, money circulated within the Greenwood businesses. It is said that “within Greenwood every dollar would change hands 19 times before it left the community.”The success of the Greenwood District is largely attributed to the variety of businesses that allowed the community to be self-contained. Greenwood was home to numerous hotels, restaurants, doctor/physician offices, law firms, grocery stores, and more. Citizens of Greenwood could stay in their communities without leaving for necessities. Due to this, Greenwood was separated from the surrounding communities, literally and figuratively. When O.W. Gurley bought the land, it bordered railroad tracks that denoted a distinct separation between the outside white communities and Greenwood. Over time, the segregated communities grew even more distant, and as Greenwood prospered, the whites nearby grew enraged. As expected, the success of an all-Black community in the early 1900s was not easily accepted by white residents. For years, whites attempted to hinder the growth of Greenwood, culminating in the devastating 1921 Massacre of Black Wall Street.On May 30th, Dick Rowland entered the elevator of the Drexel Building to go to the only bathroom available for African Americans nearby. He worked at a shoeshine parlor down the street and frequently used the bathroom in the Drexel Building. On this particular day, there were not many people out since many businesses were closed for Memorial Day. However, working the elevator in the Drexel Building was Sarah Page, who we can assume knew of Rowland since he frequently used the elevator. What happened next is unclear, but was nonetheless a driving factor in the destruction of Greenwood. A local shop owner heard a woman scream and Rowland run out of the Drexel Building. Without eye-witnesses to the incident, the story was unsurprisingly skewed against Dick Rowland. When Sarah Page was questioned, she did not mention assault, rather noting that Rowland grabbed her hand. A common interpretation today is that Rowland tripped when coming out of the elevator and grabbed Page’s hand for stabilization. Whatever happened, Rowland was brought into the city jail under a lowkey investigation and was set to be released very soon. Calls came in threatening Rowland’s life that forced the police commissioner to move Rowland to the county courthouse for his protection. This proved ineffective as the Tulsa Tribune later reported that Rowland assaulted Sarah Page, leading angry white mobs to form outside the county courthouse. Residents of Greenwood knew that they had to protect Rowland, however there was dissent on how. Gurley and some of the wealthier men argued that they should not get involved with the white mobs and should wait until Rowland was released, but many disagreed. Many World War 1 veterans immediately took arms and rallied more to head to the jail and protect Rowland from being lynched. Over 50 men made their way to the courthouse where they were met with mass amounts of enraged whites. Seeing the armed group of Black men, many in the white mobs went back to their homes to retrieve their guns. This was where the 1921 Massacre of Black Wall Street began. The Greenwood men that came to defend Rowland were greatly outnumbered and the white mob began to descend upon Greenwood. Without going into great detail, the white people destroyed Greenwood. The one of a kind community that was 15 years in the making was gone within 2 days. Houses, offices, restaurants, beauty parlors burnt to the ground and taken away from those that worked so hard for it all. There were even reports of aircrafts dropping bombs onto buildings. Amidst it all, the police and fire departments did nearly nothing, allowing the white people to continue murdering, looting and burning. Martial law was eventually declared and the National Guard brought in, but it was too late. Over 1200 homes were destroyed and 35 blocks burnt down. The everlasting, self-sustaining community that O.W. Gurley and J.B. Stradford once envisioned was gone.The casualties of this devastating event are still unclear today. It was initially reported that only white people died, but as time progressed and research went into this, the number of casualties was revealed to be closer to 300+ Black people dead and a minimal amount of white people dead. It is widely believed today that many bodies are buried throughout the Greenwood district, as there are only 2 official graves pertaining to the event. Following the 2 days of destruction, residents of Greenwood were basically left to their own, with tents from the Red Cross to act as temporary housing. Many of the prior leaders of the Greenwood community were forced to flee, in an attempt to avoid being charged as an instigator of the violence. Greenwood was eventually on a path to be rebuilt, with support from the Red Cross and the NAACP, but was only a shadow of its former self.

Along with O.W Gurley, J.B. Stradford came to Tulsa, Oklahoma to create an environment where Black people pooled their resources together and supported one another to ensure success for all. Stradford went on to build and own the 55-room luxury Stradford Hotel, which is said to be the largest Black-owned hotel in the country at the time. Stradford eventually became the richest person in the Greenwood community and possibly the richest person of color in the country, amassing a net worth of over $2 million (adjusted for inflation). Stradford was one of many that found great financial success in Greenwood. Following the 1921 Massacre, he was named one of the main instigators of the “riot”, with a penalty of life in prison or death. Stradford was accused and arrested without evidence but able to escape the detention center and avoid getting caught, although never again able to reach the fortune he once had.

Stradford Hotel (1918-1921)

There are supposed to be about 331 plaques in the Greenwood district. Unfortunately, some have gone missing, perhaps when sidewalks are repaired or replaced; some might have been stolen. Some plaques have been saved by a construction group to be replaced at a later time. Even though all plaques are not currently out, there are many plaques still visible. Each plaque shows the devastation that was felt by a business owner, and the family that often ran it. The tragic loss of African American owned businesses, and the financial strain and burden of rebuilding some of the businesses left a negative financial impact for the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors and their descendents and the Greenwood community as a whole. There are plaques all throughout the Greenwood district, including near Oklahoma State University.

There are many small plaques located within the sidewalk all through Greenwood Historic Black Wall Street. Each plaque commemorates an African American owned business that was destroyed during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Some of the businesses were rebuilt, but many were not. Be sure to keep an eye out on all the sidewalks as you walk through Greenwood, as they are easy to miss and very small.

Business Plaques on Sidewalks (located all throughout the Greenwood area)

Encompassing many aspects of the Greenwood Spirit, Greenwood Rising explores how "Native American, African American, and European American communities often collided, and sometimes connected, in a land that mirrored the race-based policy and practice that dominated the nation." Located at 23 North Greenwood Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Greenwood Rising Center offers visitors a chance to explore the narrative of Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District. Through projection mapping, holographic effects, and environmental media, guests go on an immersive journey that allows them to learn about the chronology of Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District and connect with the spirit of the city's Black residents."Greenwood Rising will educate Oklahomans and Americans about the Race Massacre and its impact on the state and Nation, remember its victims and survivors, and create an environment conducive to fostering sustainable entrepreneurship and heritage tourism within the Greenwood District specifically and North Tulsa generally."— Senator MatthewsAmong the many projects featured at the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street Historical Center is The Pathway to Hope project to mark the 100th anniversary of the massacre. The Pathway to Hope will "symbolically reconnect a Greenwood District bisected by I- 244 during Tulsa's urban renewal phase in the 1960s and 70s. What some locals called "urban removal" displaced citizens and businesses and plowed through Black Wall Street, Tulsa's thriving Black business district known throughout the land." The Pathway to Hope will honor this history, celebrate Black Wall Street legends, and promote the present-day healing of residual scars from the past.<h2> </h2>To learn more about the Tulsa Race Massacre and how the people of Greenwood banded together to overcome in a spirit of unity, visit Greenwood Rising at: https://www.greenwoodrising.org/

“AFTER A CENTURY OF SILENCE...AND FROM THE ASHES….GREENWOOD WILL RISE” - Greenwood Rising﻿Greenwood Rising is a historic center that tells the unique story of the history of a people who transcended difficulties, tribulations, and tragedies into a triumph of the human spirit. At Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street Historic Center, visitors will meet the people behind Greenwood's early success, "exploring personal stories of entrepreneurship and bringing Historic Greenwood to life through oral and written histories."

Greenwood Rising - Black Wall Street Historic Center

It has been argued by Lee Roy Chapman in an article in This Land Press about the famous Bob Wills Song "Take Me Back to Tulsa" that this line referencing Greenwood by Bob Wills is a subversive nod towards integration through his association with the Greenwood district. Though regardless of Bob Wills' intent, the song’s adoption of the place of Greenwood in a Country Music (Western Swing) context is one of the clear hallmarks of the post-’21 Race Massacre loss of identity of Greenwood as a unique place for African Americans.Bob Dylan makes a reference to this song in 2020's Murder Most Foul with the line: "Take me back to Tulsa to the scene of the crime."

Plaque Title: Tulsa’s Musical HeritagePlaque Text: The famous American songwriter Bob Wills immortalized this location with the lyrics:“Would I like to go to Tulsa, you get your boots I would. Just let me off at Archer, and I’ll walk down to Greenwood. Take me back to Tulsa, I’m too young to marry.”Bob Wills sang “Take Me Back to Tulsa” on the radio and in many recordings. Wills regularly performed at Cain’s Ballroom on Main Street, a few blocks away. Later, the GAP Band took its name from Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Streets.

Bob Wills Plaque Greenwood District Tulsa Music History

Free and open to the public, Reconciliation Park is home to several striking pieces of art depicting both the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 and the African-American history of Oklahoma. The two most prominent pieces were created by well-known Denver artist Ed Dwight, who was the first African-American astronaut in history. Hope Plaza, located at the park’s entry, is a triptych installation consisting of a granite base and three larger-than-life bronze statues taken from actual photos of the riots and their aftermath: Hostility features a white man armed for assault, Humiliation depicts a African-American man with his hand raised in surrender, and Hope shows the white Red Cross director carrying a African-American baby. The installation is meant to convey the three overwhelming emotions Tulsans experienced in response to the riot.The magnificent 25-foot tall Tower of Reconciliation is located at the center of the park. The tower depicts scenes from African-American history in Oklahoma: the migration of slaves who traveled the Trail of Tears alongside Native Americans, the slave labor which helped build the Territory, the victory of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Honey Springs, the migration of free African-American people into the new state of Oklahoma and the foundation of all-African-American towns and neighborhoods, most notably Greenwood. The Tower also honors Tulsa’s early African-American leaders, including Mabel B. Little and Buck C. Franklin.Reconciliation Park’s location is highly symbolic. On one side lies the historic African-American community of Greenwood, which the neighborhood residents rebuilt after it was destroyed in the riot. On the other side is the bustling Brady Arts District, which had originally been named for local businessman, KKK member and riot watchman W. Tate Brady, but was re-dedicated in 2014 as a memorial to Civil War photographer Matthew Brady. While the park itself commemorates the victims of the riot, its location demonstrates Tulsa’s willingness to finally acknowledge the importance of the riot to the city’s history.  On May 31, 1921, a standoff between a group of enraged white Tulsans and the members of the African-American Greenwood community erupted in gunfire. Earlier in the day, 19-year old African-American shoeshine boy Dick Roland had been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting 17-year old white elevator operator Sarah Page. The lack of witnesses, evidence, or a statement from Page herself did not stop the arrest from being made. The situation boiled over when the white community formed a lynch mob, which events mobilized the Greenwood residents to form a protection force. Both groups met on the steps of the Tulsa courthouse where Rowland was being held, and demanded justice.It is speculated that the gunfire started when an African-American man, who had been ordered by a white civilian to surrender his gun, scuffled for the weapon and accidentally discharged a shot. The ensuing gunfire soon spread out into the streets, with gunfights between the contingents lasting well into the night. By 1 a.m. the following morning, the white mob began setting fire to the Greenwood neighborhood. They then turned away the Tulsa Fire Department units dispatched to subdue the blaze. Eyewitness accounts recalled seeing planes dropping firebombs onto Greenwood from overhead, and records show that six WWI-ear biplanes had been dispatched from the Curtiss-Southwest Field. By sunrise the following day, over 36 city blocks—nearly the entirety of Greenwood—had been burned to the ground. The official death count released by the Tulsa World was 176, though it is believed to have been much higher, with over 800 people admitted to local hospitals due to injuries sustained in the riot.

Dedicated on October 27, 2010, Reconciliation Park is the first landmark in Tulsa History to memorialize the victims of the 1921 Race Riot. The park is the result of the 2001 Oklahoma Commission to Study the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, which has been called one of the worst civic disturbances in American history. Beyond memorializing this tragedy, Reconciliation Park is dedicated to commemorating the role that African Americans have played in building Oklahoma throughout the state’s history.

John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park

Built in the early 1970’s Interstate I-244 provided the possible fatal blow to the Greenwood District that had partially rebuilt in the 50 years after the 1921 Race Massacre. Rather than route around the Greenwood district, it simply bisected it - removing a large percentage of the land and also providing a star barrier between North and South Tulsa. As Scott Ellsworth wrote in The Ground Breaking: “Not only did the new interstate deal a death blow to a nubmer of family-owned businesses that were trying to stay afloat in an age of franchises and national chains, but the highway cut off north Tulsa’s Black and poor white neighborhoods from the city’s booming south side.”

Pathway to Hope - Partial reconnection of the Greenwood neighborhood This walkway attempts to reconnect the Greenwood district with a walking path between the Interstate and OneOK Baseball Stadium. It features artwork and plaques honoring Greenwood residents. In particular, it provides easy walking access from the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park and the core Greenwood District.

Greenwood Historic District Walking Tour - Tulsa Race Massacre 1921

Williams Dreamland Theatre

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information