Vantage Point Vignettes
Comments and Commentary by Dr. Ron Daniels
I finally had the opportunity to visit the historic Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Black community in that city that was so prosperous that the renowned Booker T. Washington called it “Black Wall Street.” It was incredibly inspirational to take a tour of such a fabulous community conceived by visionary Black minds and built by creative, skilled Black hands in the heart of racist, hostile America.
It was also frustrating and infuriating to see images of the massive, insidious, vicious, devastating death and destruction of this magnificent crown jewel of Black America by a city and state sanctioned White mob in the infamous massacre of 1921. It was/is disgusting and infuriating that after more than a century, no reparations have been awarded to survivors (there are only two now, both of whom are more than 100 years old) or their descendants for this heinous crime against Africans in America, Black people. There have been acknowledgements and half-hearted apologies but rejection after rejection of reparations by the city, the state and courts.
I came away angry and convinced that collectively Black America must find a way to support the courageous and relentless campaign of reparations advocates in the city and state who are determined to achieve justice for Greenwood, Black America’s Black Wall Street. The massacre of 1921 is a collective wound to the “soul of Black folks” which must be healed as a righteous, collective project. So, on this Juneteenth holiday, let us resolve to intensify the demand and struggle for #JusticeForGreenwood. Stay tuned!
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