In Tulsa, an ‘incredible American story’ of Black resilience is finally recognized
100 years after a racial massacre, new city initiatives shine a light on the revitalized Greenwood community.
The Tower of Reconciliation rises in John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 25-foot-tall memorial by Ed Dwight tells the history of African Americans’ struggle, and honors early Black leaders in Tulsa.Photograph by Michael Noble Jr.,Tulsa World/AP
ByHeather Greenwood Davis
At the start of the award-winning television series
Watchmen, there’s a three-minute-30-second scene of destruction and terror, as a racist mob destroys a Black town. Civilians are shot, homes are bombed from planes overhead, and stores are set on fire. While
It s actually accomplishing what we always started out wanting to do, that this would not just be what some would refer to as a one-and-done, or a Kumbaya moment where OK, we sang, we held hands, now everybody go back home. This is a commemorative year . even into the fall with Tulsa Ballet doing a full production and bringing African American artists and dancers from New York and an African American choreographer for a full production about the history of Greenwood, said Phil Armstrong, project director for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. This is the beginning. This is not just a time when we do this and never talk about it again. This is a launchpad: Every year we are going to look forward to commemorating and having some type of event that remembers and honors this history.
Tulsa Race Massacre Remembrance Event Headlined by John Legend Canceled
Remember + Rise would have also featured Stacey Abrams, among others
Alex Noble | May 27, 2021 @ 6:06 PM
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Citing “unexpected circumstances,” The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission has canceled Remember + Rise, a live televised event scheduled for Monday, May 31 that would have featured appearances by John Legend and Stacey Abrams.
The commission announced the cancellation in a statement Thursday.
“Due to unexpected circumstances with entertainers and speakers, the Centennial Commission is unable to fulfill our high expectations for Monday afternoon’s commemoration event and has determined not to move forward with the event at this time. We have hopes to reschedule later in this 100