Motley Fool Money The Resilience of Black Wall Street
Feb 26, 2023
In this engaging conversation, Gary Lee, managing editor of the Oklahoma Eagle, dives into the rich history of Black Wall Street and the resilient Greenwood community. He shares insights on the Tulsa Race Massacre and its profound impact, revealing the struggles and triumphs of the community post-tragedy. Lee emphasizes the ongoing journey towards acknowledgment and healing, and discusses how understanding this history can shape Tulsa's future. His perspective sheds light on the importance of remembrance and reconciliation.
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Black Wall Street's Rise and Fall
- The Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, thrived as a Black business hub known as Black Wall Street.
- The community was destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre but was rebuilt within two decades, even surpassing its previous prosperity.
The Spark and the Fuel
- The Tulsa Race Massacre was triggered by an incident involving a Black man and a white woman in an elevator, leading to an attempted jailbreak by Black leaders.
- Underlying tensions included economic disparity, the rise of the KKK, and white leaders' desire for Greenwood land.
Loss of Innocence
- The Tulsa Race Massacre exposed Tulsa's hidden inequities, similar to how Hurricane Katrina exposed New Orleans's issues. The massacre shattered Tulsa's image as a harmonious boomtown and revealed deeper societal problems.