#SendFlowersToGreenwood
#SendFlowersToGreenwood
This year marks the centennial anniversary of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood Massacre--a violent attack by a racist mob on the wealthiest Black community at the turn of the century, where men, women, and children were murdered on the very legacy soil they poured into. In the 100 years that have passed since the Massacre, there have been so few sincere attempts at honoring the lives lost. A thriving town lost. Legacies lost. It is in a solemn and sincere posture that we are welcoming you to memorialize the precious lives lost in the Greenwood Massacre.
Please consider creating a work of art—floral or otherwise—in memorium and share to your social media account.
Important Dates
May 10, 2021 - June 7, 2021 : Begin posting your floral sentiments using the hashtags below.
May 31, 2021: The Wild Mother attends centennial events in Tulsa with floral installations. Details pending.
Hashtags
#sendflowersto #sendflowerstogreenwood #greenwoodrising #greenwoodmemorialproject #artheals #flowersforgreenwood #artismedicine
History
Leading up to May 31, 1921, Black people sought residence in Oklahoma for two major reasons. First, many Black Southerners attempted to escape the bloody and dangerous American South, where there was high risk of being lynched or brutalized upon sight.
In Eddie Faye Gate’s Book Riot on Greenwood, she explores the stories that brought Black people to Tulsa Oklahoma, including tales of brutalized livestock and horses, torturing Black families who lived in fear for their lives, and witnessing the brutal murders of their brothers and friends. One man, James Matthew Minter of Como, Texas, vowed he would never return to Texas again, not even for a family reunion or a funeral, after his friend was brutally lynched in front of his eyes as he hid in the thick woods.
As Black people fled to Oklahoma territory, they felt a sense of safety, especially in all black towns like Tulsa, Langston, and Boley. The Greenwood District in Tulsa was truly a remarkable example of Black economic power and self sufficiency—a 40 square block vibrant neighborhood was complete with law offices, movie theaters, barber shops, schools, churches, and extravagant homes for the wealthy elite. White people in nearby neighborhoods were disgusted by the strength of Greenwood. They also coveted the land where Greenwood was situated, so tensions became inflamed.
On May 31, 1921, an encounter between two young people, Dick Rowland, a Black man and Sarah Page, a White woman who were suspected among the Black community to be lovers, resulted in a rumor that Ms. Page was sexually violated by Mr. Rowland. This angered white men in Tulsa, who had already been uncomfortable about the sustainability of the Greenwood District. The protections in place to prevent massacres easily disintegrated under the rage of Klan members and the passivity of law enforcement, and by the end of June 1, 1921, all 40 blocks of the district had been burned to the ground. Historians suspect upwards of 300 people lost their lives in the destruction. And, once vibrant businesses & banks were lost, leaving Black Tulsans in poverty and fleeing Oklahoma to find safety.
Descendants of Greenwood victims say some of their family members died of heartbreak and post traumatic stress disorder in their new homes.
Today, the Greenwood district has yet to be restored to its original economic power, as much of the land is now owned by White investors. The Centennial commemorative events for Greenwood, held this year, include the dedication of Greenwood Rising, a history museum. Efforts are underway to push this story of the worst race massacre in our nation out of the shadows. To help tell his hidden story, documentaries and films are being promised and funded by Russell Westbrook and Lebron James among others.
Continue learning about Greenwood, Tulsa: