FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Exactly 100 years ago in May 31st 1921, a major episode of domestic white terrorism destroyed one of America's most economically prosperous cities called Black Wallstreet. This was the first city in the world EVER bombed from the air, and this was a military-backed economic hit, destroying over 600 thriving black owned businesses some top grade original American brands that would have generated gigantic generational wealth. 

All of it completely wiped out, 9000 people left homeless, hundreds of people massacred in 12 hours, like it was some kind of wasp nest. Black Wallstreet is the nickname given to Greenwood, a suburb of Tulsa Oklahoma and it's economic muscle was second only to the Original Wallstreet in New York City. By 1921, It was actually one of eight major economically dominant black communities built by black Americans across the United States (our grandparents), all of them targeted because of their competitive manufacturing excellence and economic dominance. 

The Black Wallstreet district of Tulsa Oklahoma was a model city of American aspiration, business and manufacturing excellence on a standard that exceeded white communities, and was so prosperous that it was seen as a threat to the dominating white capitalism. This success story is just now being remembered in documentary form. Other countries in Europe and elsewhere had started to prefer the goods made by the industries in Black Wallstreet and preferred to trade with them because of the high quality. 

This was seen as a major threat to the economic dominance of whites, which is when the trouble actually began to brew. This was a military backed attack by jealous whites intended to put progressive, high-achieving African-Americans in their "economic place." Thus was the reason the Klu Klux Klan was formed, to target mostly economically mobile black farmers and businesses which they referred to as 'Upity Negroes'. In this community, 8 year old black american children were already millionaires, and all of this generational wealth was dashed to ashes in 12 hours. History recalls this as a "race riot". But this was not a riot, it was a planned desecration, and these were black business owners rightfully defending their community, their homes, families and properties. 

The attack was set up using the predictably familiar old tactic of 'accusing of a young black man of trying to rape a white woman,' with the white mob militia and national guard already on standby. When word got out of a white mob coming to lynch the young man, armed black men confronted them to defend his innocence, triggering the attack. This tactic was used repeatedly by whites as a method to raid and destroy many economically dominant prosperous black communities, (INCLUDING BENIN CITY in Nigeria just 24 years earlier) . Within 12 hours, 25,000 armed white men and military planes brought a fiery wave of domestic terrorism bombing and destroying over 30 city blocks of homes and over 600 businesses which included some of the nation's finest theatres, hotels, schools, post offices, cafes, grocery stores, an airport, barber shops, clothiers selling name brand clothing etc. all of them built and owned by black residents. 

This caused massive economic black dispossession affecting generations of black American communities to this day, and left over 9000 people homeless, many people dead, shot on sight while attempting to run to safety from the burning homes and buildings. No one has ever been charged or arrested for this crime, and to add more insult, the surviving victims were forced to clean up the destruction. This is more buried history that is never discussed in schools. Black Wallstreet was a “modern, majestic, sophisticated community that boasted of “banks, hotels, cafés, clothiers, movie theaters, and contemporary homes and they were arguably the finest in the entire world and every bit of this city was constructed by them.” 

At the time, the state of Oklahoma possessed only 2 airplanes, but 6 black families in this black wallstreet community each owned an airplane, and an airport. Not to mention the luxuries, such as “indoor plumbing and a remarkable school system that superiorly educated its children.” This is the era of Marcus Garvey and the City was on the cusp of developing trade and import relations with African territories. Can you imagine this in 1921? Undoubtedly, less fortunate white neighbors resented their upper-class lifestyle.

Six-year-old Olivia Hooker(seen as a little girl in the 4th pic, and also as an elder in the 3rd pic) was home with her family in Tulsa, Okla., when a group of white men came through the backyard carrying torches. Her mother quickly hid Olivia and her three siblings under the dining room te, covering them with a tablecloth and told them not to make a sound. She is believed to be the last surviving witness. She later earned a Doctorate in psychology and made a strong case for reparations to the victims which has NEVER been given. I believe she has since passed away at 104 years old since her last pic was taken. You can see an interview with her right here: https://youtu.be/bab3nZro4qE: and also this amazing video lost for over 50 years, of the thriving black Wallstreet Filmed by Solomon Sir Jones, a Baptist minister who lived there.  See his amazing Film right here: https://youtu.be/iJye1Y-85t0 And lastly if you need a source here's a link https://daily.jstor.org/the-devastation-of-black-wall.../  of course you are free to do more research on your own.

Source: TheAfricaYouDontSeeOnTV