In the 1920s, there was a Strong Black Community here in tulsa called greenwood. These people were the core of black entrepreneurship. People call it The Black Wall Street. Greenwood was like putting harlem, Bourbon Street, and Chocolate City all in one place. But White Tulsans talked about greenwood as Little Africa or [bleep] land. Tulsa was a powder keg, needing only something to set the community alight. Between 100 and 300 people, most of them black, were killed. Today we call it a massacre. They were hastily trying to get rid of the bodies by dumping them in mass graves around the city. We have tulsans of an undetermined number who were murdered. It should not have taken 99 years. Anybody who thinks that this crime scene is not going to speak doesnt have the ears to hear. The ancestors are awake and the earth is shaking. I came to tulsa when i was in the sixth grade. So thats been, whew, i dont know how many years. My mother is from oklahoma. There was a Strong Black Community in
black entrepreneurship. people call it the black wall street. like putting harlem, bourbon street, and chocolate city all in one place. but white paulsons talked about it as little africa or land. tulsa was a powder keg, needing only something to set the community alight. between 100 and 300 people, most of them black, were killed. today we call it a massacre. they were hastily trying to get rid of the bodies. by dumping them in mass graves around the city. we of tulsa of an undetermined number, it should have not taken any nine years. anyone who thinks this crime scene is not going to speak does not have the ears to hear. the earth is shaking. i came to tulsa when i was in the sixth grade, so that has been well, i don t know how many years. my mother is from oklahoma. and there was a strong black community in tulsa called greenwood. these people were the core of black entrepreneurship. and they would help you get your business started. 1920 greenwood was booming.
and anyone that wants to do business here should also be engaged in that same idea. that same mentality, the same thought process. when i got to tulsa in 1984, i was asked to do a regular guest editorial column in the oklahoma eagle, which is a black newspaper. one of my assignments was to do a historical treatment of the greenwood district. i ve had this sort of obligation of service that if i m going to live in this community, i want the community to be the best it can be. we can t do that unless we engage in the work of racial reconciliation. we can t do that unless we acknowledge our history.
i was asked to do a regular guest editorial column in the oklahoma eagle, which is the black newspaper. one of my assignments was to do a historical treatment of the greenwood district, i thought of this obligation of service, if i am going to live in the community, i want the community to be the best that it can be. we cannot do that unless we can gauge in the work right racial reconciliation. we cannot do that, unless we acknowledge our history. a black man came to oklahoma from arkansas, he bought land. he sold land to other african americans and established his first business in 1906. businesses just proliferated
i ve been out here 13 years now. greenwood is special. once you come down here, you feel the energy. i would hate to leave greenwood. i would fight tooth and nail before i would leave, to be honest with you. farmers insurance is my first business. however i have a studio, a fitness and recreation studio. we have a debt to our ancestors here. we have to bring back what was once there. and anyone that wants to do business here should also be engaged in that same idea, that same mentality, same thought process. when i got to tulsa in 1984, i was asked to do a regular guest editorial column in the oklahoma eagle, which is a black