New report on the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921

[Somerville]

A little bit of crime-seeking I had not heard of - The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act - was the basis for a report from the Dept of Justice released this past Friday, 10 Jan 2025.

Review and Evaluation Tulsa Race Massacre 1921
You can read the report online or download - 126 pages

or a summary at the NY Times site

Tulsa Massacre Was a ‘Coordinated, Military-Style Attack,’ Federal Report Says
The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, in which a prosperous Black neighborhood in Oklahoma was destroyed and up to 300 people were killed, was not committed by an uncontrolled mob but was the result of “a coordinated, military-style attack” by white citizens, the Justice Department said in a report released Friday.
“The Tulsa Race Massacre stands out as a civil rights crime unique in its magnitude, barbarity, racist hostility and its utter annihilation of a thriving Black community,” Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in a statement. “In 1921, white Tulsans murdered hundreds of residents of Greenwood, burned their homes and churches, looted their belongings and locked the survivors in internment camps.”

No one today could be held criminally responsible, she said, “but the historical reckoning for the massacre continues.”

The city of Tulsa has in recent years begun to acknowledge the atrocity of the massacre that for many years was covered up. In 1921, the Black Wall Street Memorial was unveiled. In 1924, memorial stones were raised in Oaklawn Cemetary, one was for WWI veteran C. L. Daniel and the other for the hundreds of unidentified victims that have been excavated.

When will some Americans accept that racism was - and is - part of the history of the United States - a history that needs to be taught to kids and adults?

 

[phoenix2020]

A dark and tragic event. I learned not a word about it in any of my schooling, only learning about this well into adulthood.

 

[j brown's body]

We white folks prefer to deny our inheritance at the expense of others but it doesn’t make it any less real.

 

[Somerville]

Aaarghh!! I mistyped TWO important dates in post #1

In 1921, the Black Wall Street Memorial was unveiled. In 1924, memorial stones were raised

The dates are 2021 and 2024

 

[mrjurrs]

A little bit of crime-seeking I had not heard of - The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act - was the basis for a report from the Dept of Justice released this past Friday, 10 Jan 2025.

Review and Evaluation Tulsa Race Massacre 1921
You can read the report online or download - 126 pages

or a summary at the NY Times site


The city of Tulsa has in recent years begun to acknowledge the atrocity of the massacre that for many years was covered up. In 1921, the Black Wall Street Memorial was unveiled. In 1924, memorial stones were raised in Oaklawn Cemetary, one was for WWI veteran C. L. Daniel and the other for the hundreds of unidentified victims that have been excavated.

When will some Americans accept that racism was - and is - part of the history of the United States - a history that needs to be taught to kids and adults?

View attachment 67550703

I have taught US History for years. I had been unaware of this massacre until I watched the opening scenes from 'Watchmen', a cable production of the graphic novel. After I saw the scene, it was specific to Tulsa so I looked into it.

Americans love to lie about who and what we are. History textbooks have led the effort.

 

[post]

I have taught US History for years. I had been unaware of this massacre until I watched the opening scenes from 'Watchmen', a cable production of the graphic novel. After I saw the scene, it was specific to Tulsa so I looked into it.

Americans love to lie about who and what we are. History textbooks have led the effort.

A number of us attended school during the Civil War Centennial commemoration but did not receive a comprehensive education.

The “Strange Fruit” exhibit could not find a venue in the land where Coca-Cola was born until finally Emory University agreed in 2002 to provide space for it. Sobering to view torture lynching and burning of fellow human beings attended as a family picnic event.

Year of Reconciliation

January 16, 2001

An Artist Emphasizes Those Erased from History

www.si.edu

June 5, 2018

Emory Magazine | Summer 2002

Emory Magazine

Do Picnics Have An Association With Lynching Black People?

The word “picnic” has been popularly associated with white people “picking a nigger” to lynch. While this has been proven to be 100% untrue, there actually ...

www.pushblack.us

 

[mrjurrs]

A number of us attended school during the Civil War Centennial commemoration but did not receive a comprehensive education.

The “Strange Fruit” exhibit could not find a venue in the land where Coca-Cola was born until finally Emory University agreed in 2002 to provide space for it. Sobering to view torture lynching and burning of fellow human beings attended as a family picnic event.

Year of Reconciliation

January 16, 2001

An Artist Emphasizes Those Erased from History

www.si.edu

June 5, 2018

Emory Magazine | Summer 2002

Emory Magazine

Do Picnics Have An Association With Lynching Black People?

The word “picnic” has been popularly associated with white people “picking a nigger” to lynch. While this has been proven to be 100% untrue, there actually ...

www.pushblack.us

I had not heard of the Erased Lynching exhibit before, thanks for sharing. That was strong.

 

[panic buyer]

A number of us attended school during the Civil War Centennial commemoration but did not receive a comprehensive education.

The “Strange Fruit” exhibit could not find a venue in the land where Coca-Cola was born until finally Emory University agreed in 2002 to provide space for it. Sobering to view torture lynching and burning of fellow human beings attended as a family picnic event.

Year of Reconciliation

January 16, 2001

An Artist Emphasizes Those Erased from History

www.si.edu

June 5, 2018

Emory Magazine | Summer 2002

Emory Magazine

Do Picnics Have An Association With Lynching Black People?

The word “picnic” has been popularly associated with white people “picking a nigger” to lynch. While this has been proven to be 100% untrue, there actually ...

www.pushblack.us

A little bit of crime-seeking I had not heard of - The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act - was the basis for a report from the Dept of Justice released this past Friday, 10 Jan 2025.

Review and Evaluation Tulsa Race Massacre 1921
You can read the report online or download - 126 pages

or a summary at the NY Times site


The city of Tulsa has in recent years begun to acknowledge the atrocity of the massacre that for many years was covered up. In 1921, the Black Wall Street Memorial was unveiled. In 1924, memorial stones were raised in Oaklawn Cemetary, one was for WWI veteran C. L. Daniel and the other for the hundreds of unidentified victims that have been excavated.

When will some Americans accept that racism was - and is - part of the history of the United States - a history that needs to be taught to kids and adults?

View attachment 67550703

There were other incidents like Tulsa as well. America would do well to compile a register so that they are not forgotten.

But it sounds a bit CRT and may tip some sensitive white kids over the edge.

 

[Somerville]

Yes, there were "other incidents like Tulsa".

The Rosewood Massacre in 1923, wiped out a town that had only one White family as residents, their home is the only building still standing today.

Here is a list of a 'few' more racial massacres. I would venture to state that the vast majority of Americans have never heard of most of these atrocities except for the Wounded Knee massacre (1890)

A partial list of race riots and massacres in the United States​

1. New York City draft riot (1863)
2. Fort Pillow massacre (1864)
3. Sand Creek massacre (1864)
4. Memphis massacre (1866)
5. New Orleans massacre (1866)
6. Los Angeles Chinese massacre (1871)
7. Colfax massacre (1873)

Here's one that is a fine example of white people not liking that Blacks had equal rights in politics and governance

• Wilmington coup and massacre (1898)
  White supremacists carried out a political coup and massacre in which the multiracial Fusionist (Republican and Populist) city government of Wilmington, North Carolina, was violently overthrown on November 10, 1898. As many as 60 Black Americans were killed in a premeditated murder spree that was the culmination of an organized statewide campaign to eliminate African American participation in government and permanently disenfranchise Black citizens of North Carolina.

There were more on the list and yes, some of the ones in the 20th century were Blacks being the attackers

 

[panic buyer]

Yes, there were "other incidents like Tulsa".

The Rosewood Massacre in 1923, wiped out a town that had only one White family as residents, their home is the only building still standing today.

Here is a list of a 'few' more racial massacres. I would venture to state that the vast majority of Americans have never heard of most of these atrocities except for the Wounded Knee massacre (1890)

A partial list of race riots and massacres in the United States​

1. New York City draft riot (1863)
2. Fort Pillow massacre (1864)
3. Sand Creek massacre (1864)
4. Memphis massacre (1866)
5. New Orleans massacre (1866)
6. Los Angeles Chinese massacre (1871)
7. Colfax massacre (1873)

Here's one that is a fine example of white people not liking that Blacks had equal rights in politics and governance

There were more on the list and yes, some of the ones in the 20th century were Blacks being the attackers

I read about a massacre in Florida that was an ethnic cleansing. There are still no black people there. Its not talked about. Certainly not in Florida.

 

[Safiel]

I read about a massacre in Florida that was an ethnic cleansing. There are still no black people there. Its not talked about. Certainly not in Florida.

Jackson County, I believe.

 

[Safiel]

Or Rosewood, Florida.

 

[Loulit01]

 

[Grand Mal]

I have taught US History for years. I had been unaware of this massacre until I watched the opening scenes from 'Watchmen', a cable production of the graphic novel. After I saw the scene, it was specific to Tulsa so I looked into it.

Americans love to lie about who and what we are. History textbooks have led the effort.

I've said here that the point of American public education isn't to produce informed critical thinkers, it's to produce proud, loyal citizens.

 

[Somerville]

I've said here that the point of American public education isn't to produce informed critical thinkers, it's to produce proud, loyal citizens.

I must disagree. There is no single "American public education" - sadly. Each state has its own standards and as a consequence, we are seeing the numbers grow of those citizens with little knowledge of the world. I have a singular viewpoint on the issue as I grew up in a British colony, attended a Catholic high school with Canadian nuns as my teachers, graduated from an American university with an MA in History, and hold Canadian and American passports.

Where I live at this time, on a small island with a surprisingly diverse population, it is interesting to me at least, to chat with island kids and listen to their views of our world. I know their views are not those of many American kids as I have family scattered across the States and in Canada that tell me some sad tales.

 

[Safiel]

TWISTED SOURCES: How Confederate propaganda ended up in the South's schoolbooks | Facing South

Though better known these days for erecting statues to Confederate veterans during the Jim Crow era, the United Daughters of the Confederacy also promoted white supremacist Lost Cause propaganda through their campaigns to control history textbooks used in the South's public schools. That...

www.facingsouth.org

It is not an accident that so many people spout Lost Cause nonsense and regurgitate the most vile material.

From the early 1900's, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and other such groups came to dominate the textbook industry as well as curriculum writing agencies, not only in the southern States, but with effect outside of the south as well.

Lost cause mythology was promoted and anything offensive in the eyes of southerners were banned.

Many of these textbooks found their way into northern school districts.

The high school textbooks I had in the 1980's concentrated on the war and gave the cause almost solely as the abolitionists persecuting the poor downtrodden south. Slavery was downplayed and white atrocities after the war were completely omitted. Lynching's were never mentioned. Jim Crow was ignored.

So no big wonder why so many people that grew up with that stuff still believe that bullshit. I got a hold of the truth, a large majority did not.

Thankfully, today's textbooks generally tell the truth.

 

[panic buyer]

TWISTED SOURCES: How Confederate propaganda ended up in the South's schoolbooks | Facing South

Though better known these days for erecting statues to Confederate veterans during the Jim Crow era, the United Daughters of the Confederacy also promoted white supremacist Lost Cause propaganda through their campaigns to control history textbooks used in the South's public schools. That...

www.facingsouth.org

It is not an accident that so many people spout Lost Cause nonsense and regurgitate the most vile material.

From the early 1900's, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and other such groups came to dominate the textbook industry as well as curriculum writing agencies, not only in the southern States, but with effect outside of the south as well.

Lost cause mythology was promoted and anything offensive in the eyes of southerners were banned.

Many of these textbooks found their way into northern school districts.

The high school textbooks I had in the 1980's concentrated on the war and gave the cause almost solely as the abolitionists persecuting the poor downtrodden south. Slavery was downplayed and white atrocities after the war were completely omitted. Lynching's were never mentioned. Jim Crow was ignored.

So no big wonder why so many people that grew up with that stuff still believe that bullshit. I got a hold of the truth, a large majority did not.

Thankfully, today's textbooks generally tell the truth.

Its not a purely american trait. History after all is written by the winners.
I grew up in the UK where we were taught a version of history that was pretty limited.
It glorified the empire and never shone a light on the generally negative aspects of it.
We were taught that Churchill was a hero.
Its whole ethos was to reinforce the establishment.
British slavery was airbrushed away because britain was one of the first to be forced to abolish it. So once again britain was the good guy.
It causes a lot of problems for our society even today.

 

[multivita-man]

When will some Americans accept that racism was - and is - part of the history of the United States - a history that needs to be taught to kids and adults?

People will continue to say things like Well that's all in the past - what about now? What about the last 50 years?

What's not acknowledged is that after that race riot in Tulsa, the wealth that a Black community had built for itself, on its own, because it wasn't allowed to integrate fully with their white neighbors, is gone. And it never came back.

And this happened over and over and over again in communities all over the United States. In some cities, the conflicts and tensions between whites and blacks resulted in violent unrest and displacement like this incident, but in many other communities, the violence was a perpetual low-grade fever. Discrimination was reinforced through legal systems that allowed 'investors' to take property from black land owners through technical means, or through red-lining that allowed banks to refuse lending, or through various other means. All of these things prevented black households and neighborhoods from building wealth that black children could be born into and passed down from generation to generation -- something a lot of people take for granted.

And I can already here the protests But my family never had any inheritance - nobody gave us or me any family heirlooms.

Point taken. Still, if you're white you inherited legal, economic, and political systems that favored you because of your association with whiteness, whether you know it or acknowledge it or not. It's easier for a white person to join more powerful social networks that will allow them to become financially stable than it is for a person of color (in many cases, though not all, I would acknowledge).

 

[Safiel]

Its not a purely american trait. History after all is written by the winners.
I grew up in the UK where we were taught a version of history that was pretty limited.
It glorified the empire and never shone a light on the generally negative aspects of it.
We were taught that Churchill was a hero.
Its whole ethos was to reinforce the establishment.
British slavery was airbrushed away because britain was one of the first to be forced to abolish it. So once again britain was the good guy.
It causes a lot of problems for our society even today.

America is rather unique in that for many years, history was written by the LOSERS (or at least the ideological descendants of the losers). Only in recent years have the winners finally regained control of the narrative.

 

[Somerville]

America is rather unique in that for many years, history was written by the LOSERS (or at least the ideological descendants of the losers). Only in recent years have the winners finally regained control of the narrative.

 

[Lees]

America is rather unique in that for many years, history was written by the LOSERS (or at least the ideological descendants of the losers). Only in recent years have the winners finally regained control of the narrative.

How many negros did the North, the winners, kill in the New York City Draft riots? The 'winners' don't seem to remember that...do they?

No, history is written by the winners, not the losers. And the winners, the North, love to blow smoke up everyones backside, and everyone loves to breathe it.

Lees

 

[Lycanthrope]

I'm surprised this research wasn't thrown down a deep well by Stephen Miller.

 

[Fledermaus]

How many negros did the North, the winners, kill in the New York City Draft riots? The 'winners' don't seem to remember that...do they?

No, history is written by the winners, not the losers. And the winners, the North, love to blow smoke up everyones backside, and everyone loves to breathe it.

Lees

I learned about the New York City Draft riots in grade school..

You didn't?

 

[Safiel]

How many negros did the North, the winners, kill in the New York City Draft riots? The 'winners' don't seem to remember that...do they?

No, history is written by the winners, not the losers. And the winners, the North, love to blow smoke up everyones backside, and everyone loves to breathe it.

Lees

Actually, I was taught this in school. The rioters were almost exclusively Irish immigrants and will blacks were the prime target, so were Protestant churches and the rich. 11 black people were lynched.

Over 300 black soldiers were massacred at Fort Pillow AFTER surrendering by Confederate forces.

Not to mention the thousands massacred during reconstruction and lynched in the south up until the 1960's.

Sorry, one unfortunate incident in New York City does not come close to the long list of atrocities committed by an in the south.

And as far as the Civil War goes, history was written courtesy of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and other Ku Klux Klan front groups. They were responsible for promulgating the Lost Cause and ensuring that the South's revisionist history dominated textbooks for many decades.

It has only been very recently that we have slowly begun to regain control of the narrative from the Lost Causer's. Textbooks are being rewritten to portray true history, not Lost Cause revisionism.

The south dominated the narrative from the 1880's until the mid 1990's. Only now is the actual truth being told.

 

[panic buyer]

How many negros did the North, the winners, kill in the New York City Draft riots? The 'winners' don't seem to remember that...do they?

No, history is written by the winners, not the losers. And the winners, the North, love to blow smoke up everyones backside, and everyone loves to breathe it.

Lees

What point are you trying to make ? That the north was as bad as the south. Or that the south wasnt really bad at all ?
Its hard to see the south as innocents in any scenario.