1921 – Eve of the Tulsa Race Massacre

May 30, 1921, marked the beginning of the tragic events that led to the Tulsa Race Massacre. On this day, tensions escalated after a Black teenager, Dick Rowland, was accused of assaulting a white elevator operator in Tulsa, Oklahoma. White mobs gathered at the courthouse demanding a lynching, while Black residents of Greenwood—known as “Black Wall Street”—rallied to protect Rowland and their community. That night, chaos erupted into violence. Within 24 hours, white mobs destroyed 35 city blocks, killing hundreds of Black residents and displacing thousands. The Greenwood District, once a thriving hub of Black entrepreneurship and wealth, was reduced to ashes. May 30 stands as a haunting reminder of racial terror, systemic injustice, and the resilience of Black communities. Recognizing this date helps contextualize the ongoing fight for reparations, historical truth, and economic justice for descendants of Tulsa’s victims.