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The Burning: Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921
One of the worst acts of racial violence in American history took place in 1921, when a White mob numbering in the thousands decimated the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Burning recreates Greenwood at the height of its prosperity, explores the currents of hatred, racism, and mistrust between its Black residents and Tulsa's White population, narrates events leading up to and including Greenwood's devastation, and documents the subsequent silence that surrounded this tragedy. Delving into history that's long been pushed aside, this is the true story of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre, with updates that connect the historical significance of the massacre to the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.
This adaptation is for ages 12-18.
The Burning recreates Greenwood at the height of its prosperity, explores the currents of hatred, racism, and mistrust between its Black residents and Tulsa's White population, narrates events leading up to and including Greenwood's devastation, and documents the subsequent silence that surrounded this tragedy. Delving into history that's long been pushed aside, this is the true story of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre, with updates that connect the historical significance of the massacre to the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.
This adaptation is for ages 12-18.
272 pages, ebook
First published May 11, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 13, 2021
Only in the last few years did I learn of the Tulsa Massacre on Black Wall street but since then I have watched documentaries and read several other books about he topic. I read this book because as a teacher I loved the idea of this book having been adapted for my high school students. However, no amount of adaptation can damper to horrors of this event, 300+ African American men and women killed, miles of black businesses and wealth destroyed and the gigantic coverup by a city, a state and a nation. As a reader you want to believe this is all blown out of proportion, it must be exaggerated because the sheer HORROR of this attack is so palpable and because it is hard to believe humans could do something so awful to someone else, but it is true and it did happen. We also want to believe that this horrible human behavior is all in the past but is it, just look at our news channels and we know it isn’t. Stories like this deserve and need to be told, about then men and women who lost everything and those who had the strength and tenacity to rebuild again in the face of such abject hatred. This book will certainly be joining my classroom in the fall.
February 15, 2022
Read for Black History Month.
August 11, 2021
A powerful and brutal, but necessary, account of the deadly white supremacist terror attack in Tulsa. (I grew up in Oklahoma and Texas in the 1970s and '80s; I never heard about this until well into adulthood.)
April 3, 2021
I have not read the book upon which this edition is based, but Hillary Beard has adapted an accessible historical informational text about Tim Madigan's The Burning; I recommend it for all school libraries. I had not read much about the Tulsa Race Massacre and Black Wall Street until recent years, unfortunately, so I learned a lot more about it by reading this book. It is presented in such a way that younger readers will be engaged in the storytelling while they are learning the tragic and violent history in great detail. The book is probably better fit for older high school--not because of the topic, but because of the complexity of the event. The book goes back and provides context for the Massacre regarding some of the people and events that led to the creation of Greenwood. It also follows some of the events afterward and more recent times. Because of this, there is a lot of history and people to cover, and that can sometimes get confusing even for someone like myself who had read a book or two about the topic already. I definitely recommend this text. Many thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy.
February 13, 2022
This is an excellent adaptation of the adult book by the same name. While the subject cannot, and should not, be sanitized for consumption it was written on a level that will help kids understand without overwhelming them. I hope it one day is on the shelves of every school library.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
February 18, 2025
Consistent with the big theme of this book, I had never heard of the Tulsa Race Riot (despite being an OK resident) until I literally saw this book on the shelf of my local library and decided to check it out.
This easily rivals and surpasses the most violent acts of our domestic post-Civil War history (I thought Waco took the cake before this).
I couldn't help but to be reminded of all the burnings and black-on-white violence we saw during the George Floyd riots. But they were nothing in comparison to the extreme hatred and systematic destruction and injustice you will read about in this book.
Despite the grim subject of the book, it contains some encouraging facts that I had never known. Such as black people attaining local, state, and federal office during Reconstruction, or being so rich they owned their own airplanes in Tusla, OK in 1921. There were also some surprising facts about the KKK I had never heard. Such as their helping of widows, their public support for keeping order, and their lynchings and floggings of white people.
I do wish there had been citations in the book. I'd like to read the original book by Tim Madigan to compare and contrast their retelling of the story.
This easily rivals and surpasses the most violent acts of our domestic post-Civil War history (I thought Waco took the cake before this).
I couldn't help but to be reminded of all the burnings and black-on-white violence we saw during the George Floyd riots. But they were nothing in comparison to the extreme hatred and systematic destruction and injustice you will read about in this book.
Despite the grim subject of the book, it contains some encouraging facts that I had never known. Such as black people attaining local, state, and federal office during Reconstruction, or being so rich they owned their own airplanes in Tusla, OK in 1921. There were also some surprising facts about the KKK I had never heard. Such as their helping of widows, their public support for keeping order, and their lynchings and floggings of white people.
I do wish there had been citations in the book. I'd like to read the original book by Tim Madigan to compare and contrast their retelling of the story.
February 27, 2022
I never knew about these events until listening to this book. The author is right about the world being ignorant to these kind of situations involving black people and people of color. I am glad that I have read this and know more about the terrible past that America has hidden. Black Lives Matter.
May 18, 2021
~*~ Thanks to NetGally for the ARC ~*~
Editorial:
Do you ever start reading a book and have it be so good that you immediately stop because you know it’s going to hurt to have it end? That was very much this for me. It really only took me a couple of days, but I kept having to take breaks because the information was overwhelming and the story presented physically hurt to consume. The fact that I have lived in this country for almost three decades and had to learn about this event from a television show based on a comic book because my “American” history classes did not feel it necessary to share this important event from history with me is infuriating. I appreciated this adaptation of the original text and will probably buy both editions to teach from in the future.
Book:
Madigan and Beard do an excellent job laying out the importance and significance of Greenwood to Black people everywhere. Not just in Tulsa or Oklahoma, but that Greenwood had become the standard through out the US. I appreciated the detail with which the authors described the backgrounds of each of the individuals highlighted. How many of the Black men were war veterans and struggled with that acceptance once they returned back to America. How many of them had seen what was eventually done to their community done on foreign soil by occupying countries. How these men, women, and children did everything right and were still punished because of racism. There is a quote that says something like, “these people were told to pick themselves up by their boot straps and they did and were still punished for it.” That will stick with me for a long time. If I had a critique, I would suggest the end of the adaptation be reworked a little bit. I appreciated it being related to modern times, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the countless killings of people of color throughout the US. However, it doesn’t transitions smoothly like the rest of the book, so a simple rework would solve that. Finally, I appreciate the reporting of what is going on with the Greenwood commission and how lawsuits are being filed even just a few months ago.
I will be working this book into future curricula as I am sure there are still countless individuals who are unaware.
Editorial:
Do you ever start reading a book and have it be so good that you immediately stop because you know it’s going to hurt to have it end? That was very much this for me. It really only took me a couple of days, but I kept having to take breaks because the information was overwhelming and the story presented physically hurt to consume. The fact that I have lived in this country for almost three decades and had to learn about this event from a television show based on a comic book because my “American” history classes did not feel it necessary to share this important event from history with me is infuriating. I appreciated this adaptation of the original text and will probably buy both editions to teach from in the future.
Book:
Madigan and Beard do an excellent job laying out the importance and significance of Greenwood to Black people everywhere. Not just in Tulsa or Oklahoma, but that Greenwood had become the standard through out the US. I appreciated the detail with which the authors described the backgrounds of each of the individuals highlighted. How many of the Black men were war veterans and struggled with that acceptance once they returned back to America. How many of them had seen what was eventually done to their community done on foreign soil by occupying countries. How these men, women, and children did everything right and were still punished because of racism. There is a quote that says something like, “these people were told to pick themselves up by their boot straps and they did and were still punished for it.” That will stick with me for a long time. If I had a critique, I would suggest the end of the adaptation be reworked a little bit. I appreciated it being related to modern times, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the countless killings of people of color throughout the US. However, it doesn’t transitions smoothly like the rest of the book, so a simple rework would solve that. Finally, I appreciate the reporting of what is going on with the Greenwood commission and how lawsuits are being filed even just a few months ago.
I will be working this book into future curricula as I am sure there are still countless individuals who are unaware.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2021
The Burning: Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 (young reader’s edition) by Tim Madigan and adapted by Hilary Beard came out just in time for the 100 year anniversary of this horrific event. By adapting this true story for a younger audience Hilary Beard made both the events the that night and the entire culture of race relations in the early 20th century accessible for teens interested in history.
The audio version of this book lays out the history of lynching, the violent ramifications of false accusations against black Americans and the against all odds success of the Greenwood section of Tulsa. By explaining the entire history of the lynch mob mentality and what African Americans were up against the author showed how deeply catastrophic it would be to destroy an entire neighborhood, murder hundreds and then cover it up with zero restitutions. At the book’s close the authors update the current situation in America with recent police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Although this was a tough subject matter I believe many people (and not just young readers) will find new information and clarity about the entire event. This book is a mixture of both personal accounts of witnesses and historical detail and facts which makes it a little more engaging. I believe it is an important part of our shared history and needs to be told.
Specific notes on the audio version: this version was narrated by Bill Andrew Quinn. Although this narration and voice is appropriate for non-fiction I’m not sure it is engaging enough for a young audience. I personally found it a little flat.
The audio version of this book lays out the history of lynching, the violent ramifications of false accusations against black Americans and the against all odds success of the Greenwood section of Tulsa. By explaining the entire history of the lynch mob mentality and what African Americans were up against the author showed how deeply catastrophic it would be to destroy an entire neighborhood, murder hundreds and then cover it up with zero restitutions. At the book’s close the authors update the current situation in America with recent police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Although this was a tough subject matter I believe many people (and not just young readers) will find new information and clarity about the entire event. This book is a mixture of both personal accounts of witnesses and historical detail and facts which makes it a little more engaging. I believe it is an important part of our shared history and needs to be told.
Specific notes on the audio version: this version was narrated by Bill Andrew Quinn. Although this narration and voice is appropriate for non-fiction I’m not sure it is engaging enough for a young audience. I personally found it a little flat.
May 10, 2021
The Burning (Young Readers Edition) by Tim Madigan is a haunting account of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Madigan does an amazing job of giving the reader a full picture of the societal issues during this time period and before that helps you understand how the massacre came to be. As a lifelong Oklahoman, I found myself learning a lot about our own Oklahoma history, and none of what I learned was pleasant. For example, Senate Bill NUMBER ONE...the first Senate bill ever in the state of Oklahoma was a Jim Crow bill. I wish I was surprised, but I'm not. This account was reader friendly and would give any upper middle or high school student a great outlook on the time period and the happenings in Greenwood.
In light of the new legislation passed by the Oklahoma legislatures and signed by the governor, it is sadly books like these that teachers will have a hard time teaching. Even though these books tell the true history of America and our state. However, if teachers, like yours truly, are looking for some "good trouble" this would be an important addition to every Oklahoman classroom.
In light of the new legislation passed by the Oklahoma legislatures and signed by the governor, it is sadly books like these that teachers will have a hard time teaching. Even though these books tell the true history of America and our state. However, if teachers, like yours truly, are looking for some "good trouble" this would be an important addition to every Oklahoman classroom.
April 16, 2022
THE BURNING (Young Readers)
Tim Madigan
Quite a chilling read even though it was sanitized for young readers. I can't imagine that I would want to read the adult version of this event, it was all I could do to get through this one. I never fail to be amazed and appalled by the violent nature of people and how they treat others. I certainly wouldn't read this to children under 12, they have the rest of their lives to be disappointed in the human race.
5 stars
Happy REading!
Tim Madigan
Quite a chilling read even though it was sanitized for young readers. I can't imagine that I would want to read the adult version of this event, it was all I could do to get through this one. I never fail to be amazed and appalled by the violent nature of people and how they treat others. I certainly wouldn't read this to children under 12, they have the rest of their lives to be disappointed in the human race.
5 stars
Happy REading!
March 22, 2025
”Greenwood shows that when we are left to our own devices and don’t have a knee to our neck, we can achieve extraordinary things..”
Reading this as a Black American gave me more insight into a topic I had only known in bits and pieces. The Burning, adapted by Hilary Beard from Tim Madigan’s work, helped me fully grasp the depth of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. I had heard about it before, but this book made it real—showing not just the horror of what happened but also the resilience and success of the Black community in Greenwood before the attack.
Seeing how Black excellence was deliberately destroyed was heartbreaking, but learning about the strength of the people who built it in the first place was just as powerful. It also showed me that the fight for equality and respect is far from over. The same forces that tried to erase Greenwood still exist in different forms today, making it even more important to remember our history, honor those who came before us, and continue pushing for justice.
Reading this as a Black American gave me more insight into a topic I had only known in bits and pieces. The Burning, adapted by Hilary Beard from Tim Madigan’s work, helped me fully grasp the depth of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. I had heard about it before, but this book made it real—showing not just the horror of what happened but also the resilience and success of the Black community in Greenwood before the attack.
Seeing how Black excellence was deliberately destroyed was heartbreaking, but learning about the strength of the people who built it in the first place was just as powerful. It also showed me that the fight for equality and respect is far from over. The same forces that tried to erase Greenwood still exist in different forms today, making it even more important to remember our history, honor those who came before us, and continue pushing for justice.
August 4, 2023
A long time ago, I had skimmed an article of the Tulsa Race Massacre. It was unheard of to me. So, I decided to pick this book up from my library in hopes to learn more about the American History that our education system specifically chooses to omit from our classes and history textbooks.
This is a heavy book that details several heavy topics of racism, irreversible violence, and the absolute abuse of power. This book pinpoints every heartbreaking emotion in so much detail, I had to take several pauses to take it all in.
There is so much to be said about the idiotic white supremacists who not only murdered innocent Black lives, but who also had the gall to try and sweep this under the rug of White America.
I could go on and on, but I truly recommend this read. We should continue to reveal and learn from our mistakes, our horrific pasts, and the people who were pivotal characters in the damage that was created.
This is a heavy book that details several heavy topics of racism, irreversible violence, and the absolute abuse of power. This book pinpoints every heartbreaking emotion in so much detail, I had to take several pauses to take it all in.
There is so much to be said about the idiotic white supremacists who not only murdered innocent Black lives, but who also had the gall to try and sweep this under the rug of White America.
I could go on and on, but I truly recommend this read. We should continue to reveal and learn from our mistakes, our horrific pasts, and the people who were pivotal characters in the damage that was created.
February 6, 2022
Warnings: violence, death, racism, massacre
This is a young reader’s version. I would recommend reading it first to see when you think your kids would be old enough to read it, but I think it’s a critical read.
The more you know the more awful you learn that this event actually was.
What a sad and needless tragedy that should never have happened.
Too few know about this event. And many more should. And should know about it in depth.
Very well researched.
This is a young reader’s version. I would recommend reading it first to see when you think your kids would be old enough to read it, but I think it’s a critical read.
The more you know the more awful you learn that this event actually was.
What a sad and needless tragedy that should never have happened.
Too few know about this event. And many more should. And should know about it in depth.
Very well researched.
March 12, 2025
wow . horrible, saddening, and egregious doesn’t begin to describe the horror that has gone on in our history (and present day). sometimes learning about our history is difficult to stomach but it is extremely necessary to understanding our world and growing as an educated individual. highly recommend this read!
August 13, 2021
It wasn’t the most captivating writing (definitely not boring) but the story is so important. Everyone should read this.
August 22, 2021
An eye opening book that provides us with the history we missed in our education about the Tulsa Massacre.
Definitely a book for more mature readers though as it is violent.
Must read.
Definitely a book for more mature readers though as it is violent.
Must read.
September 19, 2021
This book needs to be required reading for high school students. I knew about the Tulsa Massacre after reading a few fiction books about it, but I didn’t get the full history. The Burning gives me the full history.
One correction for page 252: The white police officer who murdered George Floyd is Derek Chauvin, not Darren Chapin as stated in the book.
One correction for page 252: The white police officer who murdered George Floyd is Derek Chauvin, not Darren Chapin as stated in the book.
January 27, 2024
A deeply disturbing and horrifying story from our country’s not so distant past. An important read. I think it was adapted well for younger readers.
November 23, 2021
I read the YA version of this book, and I feel it needs to be added to the History curriculum for more perspectives and more facts (instead of the hiding away of difficult truths).
February 22, 2022
A tragic and important event in history that sadly most people know little to nothing about. I was angry and sad reading this and knowing how there are still people trying to block this and similar events from being talked about.
July 26, 2025
Hard to read. Dangerous to not read.
July 10, 2021
**Brief side note** This is a Young Readers edition - so I feel like a lot was censored. I understand why this was done, but I also was not a huge fan of it. That's just a personal preference as I don't feel like censoring language or violence in historical contexts (or any contexts) needs to happen regardless of age.
This novel contained so much history; it was dense and a lot to take in. I had to pause and reflect several times while reading it. I found myself needing to connect dots and research some of the glossed over aspects of the novel. In all honesty, I had only learned about the Tulsa Massacre a few years ago and it seems like even people who lived in Greenwood didn't know what really happened for a long time. It wasn't largely talked about or discussed even by residents. It horrifies me how this part of history has just been left out - it's just not there. And it makes me wonder what other truths and history is missing.
This novel has made me realize that I know next to nothing about history and that I probably should add some more nonfiction and historical novels to my life.
Recommended for: anyone who wants a brief glimpse into the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, a brief look into black wall street and a superficial historical timeline of events that occurred in Greenwood in 1921. I use brief for this as I feel like to really get into the history, events and people properly, this novel would be thousands of pages and hours of audiobook.
The author's note at the end puts this history in context of modern day events and its relevance and importance.
This novel contained so much history; it was dense and a lot to take in. I had to pause and reflect several times while reading it. I found myself needing to connect dots and research some of the glossed over aspects of the novel. In all honesty, I had only learned about the Tulsa Massacre a few years ago and it seems like even people who lived in Greenwood didn't know what really happened for a long time. It wasn't largely talked about or discussed even by residents. It horrifies me how this part of history has just been left out - it's just not there. And it makes me wonder what other truths and history is missing.
This novel has made me realize that I know next to nothing about history and that I probably should add some more nonfiction and historical novels to my life.
Recommended for: anyone who wants a brief glimpse into the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, a brief look into black wall street and a superficial historical timeline of events that occurred in Greenwood in 1921. I use brief for this as I feel like to really get into the history, events and people properly, this novel would be thousands of pages and hours of audiobook.
The author's note at the end puts this history in context of modern day events and its relevance and importance.
February 13, 2023
I was not able to procure a copy of Tim Madigan's well-researched account, and so read this version adapted for young adults instead. Like most of our nation, I had never before heard of what was known as the Tulsa race riot of 1921, and, once I did, I wanted to learn more. A race riot, it was not; it was, rather, a white mob action against an entire neighborhood of blacks when a group of men dared to try to protect one of their own who was accused of assaulting a white women and targeted to be lynched, but called a race riot in order to blame the victims, who were murdered by the hundreds and whose entire neighborhhod was burned to the ground.
And, unfortunately, the same racist white supremicism is alive and well today, rearing its ugly head in economic, educational, and healthcare disparities; in the repeated killings of unarmed blacks by the police; in politicians' barely-concealed fearmongering and so-called anti-wokeness. When will we finally have the courage to look deep inside ourselves and our history, and purge ourselves of the entire premise of white privelege once and for all? Because until we do, we will never live up to the promise of our country, that ALL are created equal and endowed by our Creator with the same inalienable rights.
And, unfortunately, the same racist white supremicism is alive and well today, rearing its ugly head in economic, educational, and healthcare disparities; in the repeated killings of unarmed blacks by the police; in politicians' barely-concealed fearmongering and so-called anti-wokeness. When will we finally have the courage to look deep inside ourselves and our history, and purge ourselves of the entire premise of white privelege once and for all? Because until we do, we will never live up to the promise of our country, that ALL are created equal and endowed by our Creator with the same inalienable rights.
September 24, 2021
3.5 stars
I don't know if it was the narrator's reading to blame or the adaptation to a juvenile reading level but a lot of it came off as meandering, unfocused, and dry. I also wish the author had included his background with the topic in the beginning as opposed to at the end. Regardless of any critiques of the writing and presentation I find the event to be horrifying and worth continuing to read any and all things about it.
I don't know if it was the narrator's reading to blame or the adaptation to a juvenile reading level but a lot of it came off as meandering, unfocused, and dry. I also wish the author had included his background with the topic in the beginning as opposed to at the end. Regardless of any critiques of the writing and presentation I find the event to be horrifying and worth continuing to read any and all things about it.
May 27, 2021
This book is a deep dive into the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred on June 1, 1921. Tim starts the book by introducing us to the history leading up to the massacre, including the back history on several of the residents of the thriving and very successful community of Greenwood, Oklahoma. Tim weaves the history of the residents together with the events that started in an elevator on May 30 between Dick Rowland and Sarah Page, through the uprising and resulting massacre and destruction of Greenwood, bringing this story to life in horrifying detail as we learn the fate of the residents that we have come to know. While the Tulsa Race Massacre is an event I only just learned of in the last year, I knew to expect the stories of lynching and killing of Black people, but the horror does not end there. White people cheered on the killings, and they looted the houses and businesses of Black residents. After the massacre, the community and our country managed to keep it quiet! This story needs to be told and this is an excellent book for telling it.
The young readers edition of the book has been adapted by Hilary Beard and she did a fantastic job relaying the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre while including conversations that bring the residents to life before our eyes, yet keeping all of the details and violence so the story is not watered down in any way. You should feel very uncomfortable reading this book very a good reason. I hope young readers everywhere will get to read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advanced ready copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest review. I loved the book, however the narrator did not work for me. I felt like he was only reading the book. With a little animation added to his voice the book could have been brought to life, which I think would be necessary for young readers to keep their attention for the full 8 hours of the book. Also, he did not pause long enough between sections of the book which sometimes made it hard for me to realize we were onto something new.
The young readers edition of the book has been adapted by Hilary Beard and she did a fantastic job relaying the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre while including conversations that bring the residents to life before our eyes, yet keeping all of the details and violence so the story is not watered down in any way. You should feel very uncomfortable reading this book very a good reason. I hope young readers everywhere will get to read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advanced ready copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest review. I loved the book, however the narrator did not work for me. I felt like he was only reading the book. With a little animation added to his voice the book could have been brought to life, which I think would be necessary for young readers to keep their attention for the full 8 hours of the book. Also, he did not pause long enough between sections of the book which sometimes made it hard for me to realize we were onto something new.
February 19, 2026
Hilary Beard's adaptation of The Burning: Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 shows young readers the horrors that happened in 1920's America. I rated this book five stars because it teaches us an important lesson about discrimination and difference in a captivating way. Even though the adaptation is for young readers, the story still feels meaningful and impactful. The author does a great job of keeping the attention of the reader. The book begins with a modern-day high school student who believes his teacher is lying about the burning of Tulsa. The teacher was greatly offended and asked the student to stay after class, where he explained the real events of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The story then shifts back in time to Tulsa, Oklahoma, focusing on the Greenwood District, also known as “Black Wall Street.” This was a successful African American community with businesses, homes, and schools. The book shows how the people of Greenwood worked hard to build a thriving town despite facing racism and segregation. However, after a young Black man was falsely accused of a crime, tensions grew between Black residents and white citizens. This eventually led to a violent attack, where white mobs destroyed Greenwood by burning homes and businesses. In just a short amount of time, a community that took years to build was almost completely destroyed.
An important theme is the destruction of progress. The people of Greenwood built a successful community through hard work, but it was taken away very quickly due to racism and violence. A line from the book explains that the events were “left out of history for many years,” which shows how this tragedy was ignored. The order of events inthe book helps develop this theme by starting in the present, moving to the past, and showing the impact of the events. Greenwood represented success and hope for newly freed African Americans, while the events show how quickly everything can be destroyed. The teacher and student help connect the past to the present and show why this historical account is still relevant today.
Overall, The Burning is an important book that teaches readers about a tragic event that should never be forgotten. It is both educational and engaging, which is why I believe it deserves five stars.
An important theme is the destruction of progress. The people of Greenwood built a successful community through hard work, but it was taken away very quickly due to racism and violence. A line from the book explains that the events were “left out of history for many years,” which shows how this tragedy was ignored. The order of events inthe book helps develop this theme by starting in the present, moving to the past, and showing the impact of the events. Greenwood represented success and hope for newly freed African Americans, while the events show how quickly everything can be destroyed. The teacher and student help connect the past to the present and show why this historical account is still relevant today.
Overall, The Burning is an important book that teaches readers about a tragic event that should never be forgotten. It is both educational and engaging, which is why I believe it deserves five stars.
August 31, 2025
A MUST read for everyone! I’m embarrassed to say, I don’t remember ever hearing about this HORRIBLE event. But it sounds like I’m not alone. As the author says, many people (black and white) were unaware of this happening in their own city. No one wanted to talk about it. Each race having their own differing reasons. I’m stunned. How do I put into words my thoughts and feelings on this book? I’m glad I read it. How do people live with so much hate? And why? It’s frightening. This book was the “young readers edition” so I’m sure some of the more gory details were either adjusted or left out. It was still absolutely horrifying! White people dragged black bodies on ropes behind their cars! White people shot every black person they came upon (men, women, children, elderly) then looted those people’s homes and burned them to the ground! And the racist flames were fanned by…you guessed it…a racist and erroneous article in the paper! Any black survivors were “rounded up” like criminals or animals and held without reason. Some were finally “released” to their “white employers” or some other white person who would “be responsible for them”. WHAT?! And they were given “papers” to show who their “responsible white party” was and had to show them to authorities if asked! WHAT?! I think the key take away from this book is that this isn’t an isolated event. Maybe events of this magnitude aren’t occurring in the USA, but we see in the news everyday about white on black violence and police violence on black people. How do we change this? How do we stop it? 😞 I suppose more books and discussions are a start.
Read
February 11, 20262.10.26. 8+ thanks to connection to history class. Violence and graphic images of bodies description. Minor cursing, no sx, explanation of ongoing racist ideology.
Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 in Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa.
To present, start with images of the attack. How did this happen? Explain magnitude of destruction (on the night of may 31 into june 1, properties burned: 1115 black homes torched (314 looted but not burned down), 5 hotels, 31 restaurants, 4 drugstores, 8 doctors offices, Dunbar School, 24 grocery stores, hospital, public library, 12 churches. 35 blocks gone and more than 300 people dead. What happened here? And why did Tulsa forget?
Rooted in perceived hierarchy disruption. When Dick Rowland (19) held at Courthouse for attempted assault after tripping grabbing arm of Sarah Page (17) in elevator, mob gathers. Police sheriff McCullough remembering previous lynching of white prisoner concerned that this will be another lynching as mob gets agitated wanting access to Rowland. Group of Black men show up offering to protect Rowland. Sent back home, but rumors of crowd wanting lynching bring bigger group of Black men back to courthouse. Idea of standing up to Whites at time unheard of. Add on top of that the success of many at Greenwood, and need to defend social hierarchy takes over. Bury experience once hierarchy re-established.
Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 in Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa.
To present, start with images of the attack. How did this happen? Explain magnitude of destruction (on the night of may 31 into june 1, properties burned: 1115 black homes torched (314 looted but not burned down), 5 hotels, 31 restaurants, 4 drugstores, 8 doctors offices, Dunbar School, 24 grocery stores, hospital, public library, 12 churches. 35 blocks gone and more than 300 people dead. What happened here? And why did Tulsa forget?
Rooted in perceived hierarchy disruption. When Dick Rowland (19) held at Courthouse for attempted assault after tripping grabbing arm of Sarah Page (17) in elevator, mob gathers. Police sheriff McCullough remembering previous lynching of white prisoner concerned that this will be another lynching as mob gets agitated wanting access to Rowland. Group of Black men show up offering to protect Rowland. Sent back home, but rumors of crowd wanting lynching bring bigger group of Black men back to courthouse. Idea of standing up to Whites at time unheard of. Add on top of that the success of many at Greenwood, and need to defend social hierarchy takes over. Bury experience once hierarchy re-established.
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