City of Tulsa, OK, finally recognizes suffering of blacks in 1921 race riot

Jet, June 17, 1996

The race riot that Tulsa, OK, once tried to forget was finally commemorated with the dedication of a memorial and a ceremony in a church that had to be rebuilt after burning to the ground in the violence 75 years ago.

The riot in 1921 erupted after White mobs called for the lynching of a Black man jailed for allegedly assaulting a White female elevator operator. The woman later refused to bring charges against him.

The riot is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history.

A 35-block business district known as the "Negro Wall Street of America" was torched by White mobs. Hundreds of homes were destroyed that day and estimates of the death toll topped 250.

For 75 years, no memorial was built Articles about the riot were cut from newspapers kept at the city's library.

About 1,200 people attended the recent commemorative services at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, which was destroyed in fires that broke out after the riot. The participants in the church services then marched to the site of a new memorial that bears the names of Black businesses burned in the riot.

Organizers said an eternal flame on one side of the memorial symbolizes the resilience of the Black community. Water pouring down the other side of the black granite marker symbolizes healing, the organizers explained.

Dr. Benjamin Honks, retired executive director of the NAACP, spoke at the ceremony. He said the events of 75 years ago, should serve as a lesson.

"We are reminded over and over again that those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat history." he said.