Why Black Tulsans say politics has failed them
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Tulsa is commemorating the centennial of the 1921 race massacre, a violent incident of racism that almost entirely destroyed the city’s Black community. The events are putting a spotlight on Black Tulsans’ long, painful struggle toward racial equality – a struggle echoed throughout U.S. history in Black communities across the country. Both historically and in today’s political environment, the sense among many Black voters in Tulsa is that neither party really has their interests at heart.
“They feel it doesn’t matter either way, Republican or Democrat,” says Mareo Johnson, a local pastor and founder of Black Lives Matter Tulsa. “‘Nothing is going to change in my situation, my circumstance, my surroundings.’”
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Tulsa is commemorating the centennial of the 1921 race massacre, a violent incident of racism that almost entirely destroyed the cityâs Black community. The events are putting a spotlight on Black Tulsansâ long, painful struggle toward racial equality â a struggle echoed throughout U.S. history in Black communities across the country. Both historically and in todayâs political environment, the sense among many Black voters in Tulsa is that neither party really has their interests at heart.Â
âThey feel it doesnât matter either way, Republican or Democrat,â says Mareo Johnson, a local pastor and founder of Black Lives Matter Tulsa. ââNothing is going to change in my situation, my circumstance, my surroundings.ââÂ