#Tulsa21 - Respect and Reflection

‘Anniversaries’ of painful events are difficult for me and readers of this post. I have a tendency to ignore it, run away from it and block it out of my mind. I sometimes act like it didn’t event exist so I don’t have to relive the trauma and painful memories of the past. Recently, I read a quote from Maya Angelou that said,


“HISTORY, DESPITE ITS WRENCHING PAIN, CANNOT BE UNLIVED; BUT IF FACED WITH COURAGE, NEED NOT BE LIVED AGAIN.”
– MAYA ANGELOU


Moving forward and trying to deal with my own feelings I’m sharing a couple of book recommendations, resources and images that describes the massacres of innocent black people. These ancestors escaped the brutality of the south and simply tried to live and provide a good life for their families.

Growing up, The Chicago Race Riots, East St. Louis Massacre, Tulsa Massacre and Black Wall Street were never discussed in my school’s social studies class. This is why the 1619 Curriculum Project is so important and provides students with an understanding of history, a history that must not be ignored.

As you watch programming this weekend highlighting the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial #Tulsa21, think about your local school’s curriculum. Does your child’s school discuss the race riots that occurred between 1917 through 1921? Does your child’s school discuss the positive economic impact of Black Wall Street of Greenwood District in Oklahoma? Does your child’s school discuss how reparations make amends for the wrongs of the past and help victims rebuild? Does your child’s school have a school library that has curated materials to help students understand understand this history?

Black History is American History and these stories must be heard. I encourage you to learn more about this time in American History and take action by educating others, sharing these stories, provide support to the Greenwood Cultural Center ( https://greenwoodculturalcenter.com/ ) so that they may continue to uphold the memory and future of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The History Channel
Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre
https://www.history.com/specials/tulsa-burning-the-1921-race-massacre

Survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre testify before Congress
https://youtu.be/i3L1e90L9cE

Watch Now: Greenwood Rising to present 'full truth' of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, project director says.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/racemassacre/watch-now-greenwood-rising-to-present-full-truth-of-1921-tulsa-race-massacre-project-director/article_631929cc-8c00-11eb-902d-936f258ace25.amp.html