The Tulsa Race Massacre Aryan Doshi

 The Tulsa Race Massacre is regarded as one of the worst events of racial violence in U.S. history. In 1921, from May 31 to June 1, a large white mob attacked the neighborhood of Black Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A large majority of this place was African American and was referred to as Black Wall Street. The massacre started when teenager Dick Rowland entered an office building, and Sarah Page, an elevator operator yelled at the sight of him. When police showed up, Rowland was arrested for sexual assault. These fake accusations reached the newspaper in the coming days, angering the public. On the day of the case, a mob surrounded the courthouse, trying to injure Rowland. To combat this mob, a group of 75 armed black men was also at the courthouse. However, these black men were quickly outnumbered when the white group reached 1,500 men. Suddenly, chaos ensued when shots were fired. Due to the fact they were outnumbered, the group of Black men retreated to Greenwood. The large white mob followed them there and began to set fire to everything in the neighborhood. About 1,250 houses burned, not to mention the library, hospital, churches, hotels, stores, and other businesses that were also burned. Historians estimate 300 people died in these riots. However, there were no ceremonies to remember these deaths. Instead, there was an attempt at a massive cover-up. Police records had this event erased, and many schools or history books never mention this event. The newspaper talked about the Dick Rowland case but made this event seem minor. At the time, many people did not comprehend how severe this was. I find this incredibly wrong. In my opinion, this is a pivotal part of U.S. history. The Tulsa Race Massacre has never once been mentioned in school, and I think students should be learning about it. Learning about the low points in the country allows people to understand the progression of society as a whole. Furthermore, it makes sure these events will never repeat themselves. Learning from mistakes, no matter how obvious they are, helps people improve and move forward. In summation, the Tulsa Race Massacre is a salient topic that students should be learning. 

https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/tulsa-race-massacre 

https://www.tulsahistory.org/exhibit/1921-tulsa-race-massacre/