How was it possible for an event as catastrophic as the burning of Tulsa’s Greenwood community to be obscured from the public’s memory and forgotten?
Source- the book “The Burning” by Tim Madigan
Suppression of Information: After the riot, local authorities and government officials attempted to suppress information about what had happened. They downplayed the violence and destruction, and they prevented journalists from reporting on the events. This made it difficult for accurate information about the riot to be disseminated to the public, and it contributed to the event being forgotten over time.
Lack of Media Coverage: The events in Tulsa occurred at a time when t
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Historical Erasure: The history of Black Americans in the United States has often been erased or distorted. The burning of Tulsa’s Greenwood community was no exception. For many years, the event was not taught in schools, and few people knew about it outside of Tulsa. This made it easier for the event to be forgotten.
Intimidation and Retaliation: After the riot, many Black residents of Tulsa were intimidated and threatened by white authorities, which made them hesitant to speak publicly about what had happened. There were also reports of retaliation against those who did speak out, which further silenced those who might have been able to keep the memory of the event alive.
Lack of Justice: Despite the overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing and criminal activity, no one was held accountable for the destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood community. The lack of justice in the aftermath of the event made it easier for the memory of the event to fade away over time.
It is only in recent years that efforts have been made to remember and acknowledge the events of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The tragedy of the burning of Tulsa’s Greenwood community serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and remembering historical injustices, so that we can learn from them and work towards creating a more just and equitable society.