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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 8 UNE 11-17, 2021 BTR
Torres and electeds
commemorate
100th anniversary
of Tulsa massacre
Congressman Ritchie Torres speaks about the Tulsa Massacre Photos by Jason Cohen
BY JASON COHEN
The Tulsa Race Massacre is a time
in American history that is rarely spoken
about nor taught in schools. But
now, 100 years later, the act of terrorism
is fi nally being discussed openly.
On May 31 and June 1, 1921, a mob of
armed white men descended upon the
Greenwood District in Tulsa, Okla.,
known nationally as ‘‘Black Wall
Street” and one of the most prosperous
Black communities in the United
States in the early 20th century.
They launched what is now known
as the ‘‘Tulsa Race Massacre,” causing
the deaths of an estimated 300
Black residents, injuring more than
over 800 people, destroying more than
1,200 homes and millions of dollars of
wealth that went unrealized by future
generations.
In recognition of the 100-year anniversary
of the Tulsa Massacre, elected
offi cials Congressman Ritchie Torres
and Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson
introduced legislation this week to
make June 1 ‘‘Black Wall Street Day’’
at the federal and city level. This announcement
was part of the ongoing
national conversation around how to
properly honor the victims of the massacre
and bring justice to survivors.
“At the hands of a violent mob in
less than 24 hours, the Black Wall
Street, the most prosperous Black
community at that time was reduced
to rubble,” Torres said at a press conference.
“For me, there is no greater
injustice that you can do to a community
than the destruction of intergenerational
wealth.”
The congressman explained that
this violent day has never been discussed
because of the whitewashing
of American history. It is only recently
with the murders of George Floyd,
Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and
so many others have people begun to
see what the Black community has endured.
Torres noted that the criminals
who burned those businesses and displaced
thousands were never held accountable.
Now, the hope is this will be
taught in schools and remembered every
year on June 1.
“Even today with all of the media
coverage most people are unaware
that Black Wall Street was one of the
most vibrant Black communities the
country has ever seen,” he stated. “We
owe it to our students to educate them
about the totality of American history.
If Black Wall Street had been left
to succeed, then there may have been
Black businesses today that may have
been owned by the same Black families.”
Gibson shared her colleague’s sentiments
and hopes the city council will
pass the June 1 resolution soon. The
councilwoman hopes events like Tulsa
never repeat themselves.
“We know that we still have racism
in America,” she commented. “It is
alive and we see it every day. We must
honor the lives of the 300 Tulsa residents
who made the ultimate sacrifi ce
through no fault of their own. They
never got justice.”
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