May 31 – June 1, 2008:  the 87th Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Riot and Massacre

Whence those sounds in all directions
Firearms cracking everywhere;
Men and women all excited,
Cries of rioting fill the air.
Men with guns and ammunition,
Rushing madly to the fray,
Shooting, cursing, laughing, crying,
"Come on, boys, come on this way!"
"They are trying to lynch our comrade,
Without cause in law defi;
Get your guns and help defend him;
Let's protect him, win or die.
'Twas the cry of Negro manhood,
Rallying to the cause of right,
Readying to suppress the lawless,
Anxious for a chance to fight.
(Andrew J. Smitherman, “Tulsa Race Riot and Massacre, circa 1922)

During the night of May 31, 1921 through the next day, June 1st white mobs systematically looted and burned the African American district, known as Greenwood, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A group of Black men, who had offered their services to the Sherriff to protect a black youth from a threatening lynch mob, may have sparked the “riot”.  Over a 24 hour period, hundreds of Black men, women and children were indiscriminately killed. A small number of whites also lost their lives as armed Blacks fought back.  Thirty-five blocks of Greenwood were destroyed and more than 10,000 of the 15,000 residents were left homeless by the carnage. Greenwood was a prosperous community, with so many Black professionals and business owners that it has come to be known as the “Black Wall Street”. The catastrophic events associated with this massacre and race riot were so horrific that the history of the “Tulsa Race Riot” was literally buried, along with the victims, for over 75 years.   

As we approach the 87th anniversary of the worst race-related violence in our nation’s history, the Uncrowned Queens Institute has played an instrumental role in the aftermath of this historic event.  First, in joining with others to ensure that the events and the impact of the Tulsa Race Riot and Massacre on the African American community of Tulsa and the nation are never forgotten or diminished.  The lessons of Tulsa are instructive for us even in this contemporary era. 

Second, Drs. Nevergold and Bertram were instrumental in sparking the decision of the Tulsa County District Attorney to expunge the records of all of the 55 Black men wrongly indicted for inciting the riot.  Initially, their request centered on clearing the record of Andrew Jackson Smitherman, Publisher and Editor of the Tulsa Star in 1921.  However after researching the case, Tulsa County D.A. Tim Harris determined that all the men’s records, including Mr. Smitherman’s and his brother’s, John H. Smitherman, should be expunged.  In honor of those men and in the African tradition of calling their names, we list them below: 

Will Robinson, Peg Leg Taylor, Bud Bassett, Henry VanDyke, Chester Ross, Jake Mayes, O.B. Mann, John Supplesox, One Fatty, Jack Scott, Lee Mable, John Bowman, W.S. Weaver, Curley Walker, C.T. Smithie, Henry Jamison, Ed Lockett, F.Bassett, Henry Davis, Pid Tucker, Joe Miller, L. Foster, Charlie Knox, Will Moore, Frank Nelson, Virgil Rowe, Andy Brown, Mose Fitzgerald, One Russel, Sullivan, Big Fred, Johnny Coley, E.E. Cotton, M.C. McCoy, Lonnie Foster, Chester Meadows, Fallstaff Goldman, Joe Dixon, One Chummy, Grant Ramsey, Will Davis, Gene Walker, Weslery Jones, A.R. Harris, Mose Rogers, A.E.T. Blair, A.J. Williams, Forrest Owens, Sam Peet, Oscar Thompson, Henry McNeal, A.W. Broaddus, E.L. Cowboy Long.

The court proceeding to dismiss all charges against the men and to expunge their records was held on December 11, 2007 at the Greenwood Cultural Center, during the worst ice storm in Oklahoma State history.  It was a fitting site for this historic event, as the Center is a memorial to the Greenwood District.  Fortunately, Drs. Nevergold and Bertram were able to attend the proceedings, during which they provided testimony.  The following excerpt is from Dr. Nevergold’s remarks.

Last week, Dr. Bertram and I followed, and even joined in the reader response to the article in the Tulsa World (newspaper) about today’s proceedings.  A number of the readers wrote that the riot was old news; that we should stop talking about it, forget about it and just move on!  In other words, they would have us relegate it to a musty old history book and set it on a shelf somewhere.  That view promotes the mistaken belief that the historical past has no relevance to our present or our future.  Moreover, it ignores the significant fact that there are many survivors who lived that history and continue to live with the impact of that history on their lives.

In October when Mr. Harris informed me that after extensive review he had determined that this dismissal was the right and just thing to do, he added that he thought Tulsa needed a "healing".

Mr. Harris, I found the use of this word “healing” in the active voice, particularly meaningful and powerful.  Healing is a process; it’s on-going.  Healing requires a thorough examination of the history, a willingness to expose the truth and a determination to take corrective measures to eliminate the barriers that might prevent the process from going forward.

Mr. Harris, we commend you for contributing to the healing process through this action.  We’re pleased that the Uncrowned Queens Institute could play a role in this aspect of the healing process and we applaud Eddie Faye Gates and others who continue the movement to bring about a full and complete healing.”   (Read the entire remarks)