The History of Black Wall Street
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Description
A tour of the historic Greenwood District and some of its most prominent landmarks.
1. Black Wall Street Mural
Chris "Sker" Rogers, a local Tulsa artist, created this mural alongside fellow Tulsan Bill White and Kansas City artist Donald “Scribe” Ross, to spark conversations about Greenwood and increase cultural tourism to historical district. This mural was the product of a 10-month long project that was sponsored by the Tulsa Race Massacre Commission, and is now - due to popular demand - included in public tours of the Greenwood Cultural Center and Mabel B. Little Heritage House.
2. Greenwood Cultural Center
The Greenwood Cultural Center is located at 322 N Greenwood Avenue, and is comprised of the Center itself, the Mabel B. Little Heritage House, and a memorial for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. It also shares a space with the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Center and Park, and is right across the street from the Black Wall Street Mural.The Greenwood Cultural Center has historic photos from Greenwood before, during, and after the 1921 race massacre throughout the building. They will often have a movie about the massacre playing and plenty of seating for you and your 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. Entry is free, but donations are accepted. Greenwood Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Mabel B. Little Heritage House days and hours are limited. Please call ahead for current open days.
3. Greenwood Rising Black History Museum
Planned to officially open in July of 2021, the Greenwood Rising Black History Museum is the legacy project of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, which began under the leadership of Sen. Kevin Mathews in 2015, and which included input from prominent Greenwood District organizations like the Greenwood Cultural Center, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, and the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation.
4. Oaklawn Cemetery
After the massacre in Tulsa spanning from May 31 to June 1, 1921, many Black victims were buried without grave markers, often in mass graves. The lack of closure for descendants and the Black community in Tulsa has had long-lasting, irreparable effects. In 2018, the City of Tulsa announced plans to investigate sites of potential mass graves from the massacre, including in Oaklawn Cemetery. Contributors to the effort include a Public Oversight Committee, historians, archaeologists, and forensic anthropologists. As of June 25, 2021, 19 bodies found in mass graves have been exhumed from Oaklawn Cemetery and are being analyzed for clues to their identities.
5. Booker T. Washington High School
Built in 1913, Booker T. Washington was one of the few schools in the Tulsa school system. Fortunately, the building was able to escape the destruction of the massacre. During that time the American red Cross was able to sit up and help those that were injured.
6. Convention Hall (now the Tulsa Theater)
Following the widespread violence against Black residents and the devastation of the Greenwood business district in Tulsa on May 31 to June 1, 1921, the Oklahoma National Guard was deployed and martial law was declared until June 3. Over 6,000 Black residents were arrested and detained in places of internment including the Convention Hall.
7. Williams Dreamland Theatre
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.
8. Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Built in 1921, Mount Zion Baptist Church was one of the first buildings built with brick and mortar. The cost to build was estimated at around $92,000, which was a very substantial amount for its time.
9. Original Tulsa County Courthouse
After he was arrested by Tulsa police officers on the morning of May 31, 1921, Dick Rowland was taken to the county jail on the top floor of the Tulsa County Courthouse. Spurred on by the inflammatory Tulsa Tribune article that afternoon, word began to spread about the alleged assault of a white woman. Law enforcement officials received anonymous calls with threats to lynch Mr. Rowland, and white residents began to gather on the street outside of the courthouse, eventually rallying for his release to the mob. Tensions grew to a breaking point when a gun was fired into the crowd, and the Tulsa Race Massacre began.
10. Drexel Building
The initial events leading to the Tulsa Race Massacre occurred on Monday, May 30, 1921, when Tulsa’s white community began rallying to lynch a young Black man named Dick Rowland. The trigger was that a white elevator operator named Sarah Page screamed when Mr. Rowland entered the elevator in the Drexel Building, most likely because he tripped into her. He was arrested the following day.
11. Emma T. Buckner's Sewing Shop
Two women are seen sitting together and finishing up dresses right before the massacre started. The back of the photo also states that Emma lost $700.00 and every dress in her shop was burned.
12. Historic Greenwood District
This area in Tulsa, Oklahoma is where most African-American families resided and spent their money. The streets were bustling with Black owned businesses, churches, and residential properties. Booker T. Washington named it the Black Metropolis of it's time because of it's rapid growth and opportunities.
