The Tulsa Race Riot

The Tulsa Race riot, also known as the 1921 race riot, was the worst riot in U.S. history. It took place in the segregated neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 31, 1921. It all began when there was an argument between a 17 year old white girl and a 19 year old black man. The dispute was being settled by the police but the white community decided to take things into their own hands. The following day newspaper articles were published entitled, “Nab Negro for Attacking Girl in an Elevator” and “To Lynch Negro Tonight”. Lynching wasn’t uncommon during this time. While Rowland was being questioned at the courthouse a group of white people gathered outside, some just curious about the rumors and some out for revenge. The sheriff at the time wanted to prevent another violent lynching over such a minor dispute. The sheriff ordered his deputies to protect the black teen while he went out and tried to make the mob leave, his attempt was unsuccessful. The mob, now nearing 2,000 people, was growing violent and impatient. Greenwood caught wind of this and decided to send in a group of armed men to help defend the sheriff. The sheriff told the men to go back to Greenwood. On the way out of the courthouse there was a dispute between a white man and a black World War I veteran carrying a pistol. They began to fight and the white man was shot and killed. The shot caused the white mob to fire upon the black men and resulted in the deaths of several white and black men. The white mob then marched to Greenwood and started burning buildings and shooting blacks in the street. Whites that owned plans even began flying over the neighborhood dropping homemade kerosene bombs and dynamite on the buildings. During the night and early morning most of the black inhabitants of Greenwood were either taken into custody for their own protection or they fled from their homes in fear of their lives. The rioting continued until around 9 AM when the Oklahoma National Guard arrived. There were only 39 official deaths but a report done by the Red Cross puts the estimated deaths at around 300. 10,000 people were left homeless, 35 city blocks were destroyed by fire and there was $1.8 million, almost $21 million in 2007, in property damage. The Tulsa race riot was a tragedy that black communities had to fear in the 1920s.