Race, Reparations and Reconciliation after the 1921 Race Riot in Tulsa
Introduction
At the end of May and beginning of June, a historic event happened in Greenwood, North of the city of Tulsa. The riot has ever since been called race riot because the major cause of the events that happened was related to racism. Tulsa race riot is termed as the worst race-related riot in the history of the United States of America. The riot was caused by an act of a young black American, Dick Rowland. Rowland was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a white woman. Greenwood was separated from the other parts of Tulsa by physical boundaries (railway) and social boundaries (racism).
African Americans were known to hold onto the belief that they would take any action meant to protect their property and lives. The black Americans were united in fighting against oppression of their own. When Rowland was arrested, his fellow men went to his rescue; this translated into events that made history. The whites were given orders to shoot any black that…show more content… The narration of the events that transpired is still being told. A novel, a play and scholarly articles have been set up. This is of great social significance as the survivors recognize this as the first of justice, making their fate known to the world. A commission was set up to investigate the race riot. The commission investigated the events, and the truth was known; both the whites and blacks suffered though to a different extent due to the riot (Brophy 97).
Some of the involved parties acknowledged their negligence and were punished accordingly. The chief of police was found guilty of negligence and lost his job. This was a form of justice to the dead and the survivors. The riot victims felt protected by law and that justice would one day be fully granted to