DeepSummary
On May 30, 1921, a young black man named Dick Rowland was accused of assaulting a white woman named Sarah Page in an elevator in Tulsa, Oklahoma. An inflammatory newspaper article inflamed racial tensions, leading to an armed white mob gathering outside the courthouse where Rowland was being held. Members of the black community in the Greenwood district came to try to protect Rowland, leading to a confrontation and the outbreak of violence.
On the night of May 31, the white mob launched an assault on the prosperous black neighborhood of Greenwood, setting fires and shooting indiscriminately. Homes and businesses were burned to the ground, leaving thousands homeless and an estimated 300 people dead, though the true death toll is unknown. The Oklahoma National Guard was called in, but also participated in rounding up and detaining black residents in internment camps.
The Tulsa Race Massacre was one of the worst acts of racial violence in American history, devastating the once-thriving Greenwood district known as 'Black Wall Street.' The events highlighted the continued racism and oppression faced by black Americans, even in relatively prosperous communities, and the potential for a minor incident to spark widespread violence and destruction.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Tulsa Race Massacre was one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history, leaving hundreds dead and a prosperous black community in ruins.
- A minor incident involving a young black man and a white woman sparked outrage and racial tensions that quickly escalated into mob violence against the black community.
- Inflammatory media coverage and racist attitudes among some white residents fueled the violent response against Greenwood, the successful black neighborhood known as 'Black Wall Street.'
- The National Guard's intervention ostensibly aimed to restore order, but also led to the mass detention of black residents in internment camps.
- The true death toll and lasting impact of the massacre remain difficult to fully quantify, highlighting the deep wounds and trauma inflicted on Tulsa's black community.
- The events underscored the continued oppression, racism, and threat of violence faced by black Americans, even in relatively prosperous communities, in the early 20th century.
- The destruction of Greenwood represented a devastating setback for black economic and social progress, erasing a symbol of black achievement and self-sufficiency.
- The massacre has since become a powerful emblem of the need to reckon with America's history of racial injustice and work to build a more equitable society.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “But Dick can't hide from the trouble that's coming.“ by Speaker B
- “The following day, Dick is picked up by the police, charged with assault, and taken to the county courthouse.“ by Speaker B
- “Soon, some of Tulsas white citizens will use the assault charge against Dick Rowland as an excuse to set off what will come to be known as the Tulsa race massacre on May 31, 1921.“ by Speaker B
- “Soon, Ob and the other black residents leave the courthouse, but as Ob and the others leave the courthouse, the white mob stays.“ by Speaker B
- “To this day, experts grapple with the full effects of the Tulsa race massacre in its aftermath.“ by Speaker B
Entities
Company
Person
Location
Product
Organization
Episode Information
History Daily
Airship | Noiser | Wondery
5/31/24
May 31, 1921. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a Black teenager is accused of assaulting a white woman, setting off the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst acts of racial violence in American history. This episode originally aired in 2023.
- Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.
History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.
Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.