White Riot/ Black Massacre: A brief history of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre

by Kris Rose

In highly-segregated Tulsa, Oklahoma in June, 1921, a white mob attacked the mostly Black neighborhood of Greenwood. Hundreds of people were killed, and thousands injured. Homes, businesses, schools, and churches were burned or looted. The city government supported the mob, insurance companies refused to cover the losses, and the KKK touted it as a great success. The news media barely mentioned it, and it was rarely reported on or taught about in schools. For decades it was referred to as a riot, and only recently has the more accurate term "massacre" been applied in official documents. This short history creates an evocative account grounded in well-researched details that bring the events alive in an urgent and personal way, as well as detailing what happened afterwards and the ongoing fight for reparations. As we reach the centennial of these atrocities, this zine serves as a reminder that we must all take an active role in not repeating the worst of our history.

66 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

I read this zine over a few mornings, because reading about people inflicting harm -- torturing and killing -- upon others gives me nightmares, so imagine what it does to the victims, if they survive. During this time, I was also reading Alligator and Other Stories. The latter’s title story overlapped in theme with this historical account, though the two are set in different states. For me that only emphasized the non-exclusivity of these atrocious events. It didn’t just happen here and there.

When I was almost finished reading this booklet, I saw the story of the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction saying this to a group in a public library, in regard to the 1921 Tulsa Black Massacre being taught: "Let's not tie it to the skin color and say that the skin color determined that." An online commenter said the man speaking could walk to a particular shelf in the building he was standing in and read that it was exactly about that. The books on that shelf are likely the same books the author of this zine lists as her resources. So, instead, the man could read this zine: short enough to hold his attention span, yet with plenty enough detail of the horrific acts perpetrated upon a Black community by a white one.

The author of this booklet is a Tulsan and her passion for the area comes through, especially in the preface titled “Content Note.” She loves her city, her state, and she wants them to be and do better. I can imagine what she must be thinking after hearing the man’s gaslighting. (He later said the media twisted two separate responses he gave to mean what he didn't mean.)

[CFH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is relatively short, but very well done. It comes from an author with a local connection to the subject matter, and in my opinion that fact comes through in the writing. Care is taken to respectfully tell the story and include some backstory. For those interested in diving deeper, a very thorough "Resources" section gives a map on where to go next if one is interested in more of the horrifying history of this racist event.

[Brianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Definitely read about the Tulsa Race Massacre. But don't read this book.