Black Wall Street
Tulsa in Color
Before Tulsa and its Greenwood District were synonymous with cooperative Black economics and community, they were native lands that belonged to the Kickapoo, Osage, Creek, Caddo, and Lochapoka tribes. That duality and tragedy typify the heavier histories that run through the veins of this city and state.
Once free, some African Americans, who were formerly enslaved by those tribes, settled in Tulsa. Many bought land which later became the Greenwood District after entrepreneur O.W. Gurle purchased 40 acres to develop a Black township. People flocked to Greenwood as they heard of its relative autonomy as an emerging Black metropolis.
For a time, Oklahoma as a whole embodied Black self-reliance. Between 1865 and 1920, African Americans established dozens of townships–the most of any state in the country. Many settlements’ sizes rivaled any Black community outside of the South. But Black people weren’t the only ones who noticed the burgeoning economic independence of Greenwood. White residents of neighboring communities noted the 600+ businesses and bustling industries lining the streets. They witnessed the success of the place Booker T. Washington affectionately called Negro Wall Street.
However, that acknowledgment devolved into contempt and a full-scale siege on May 31, 1921. That day, white residents committed what many consider the largest act of domestic terror in American histroy on their Black, segregated neighbors of Greenwood. More qualified and thorough histories have documented the violence and evils of the Tulsa Race Massacre. But, some pain cannot be articulated in words: that’s why we recommend venues and vigils like Greenwood Rising and the Greenwood Cultural Center. These spaces are dedicated to remembering the lasting trauma of the murders, looting, and bombings that Black Tulsans endured a century ago.
Tulsa, for whatever it's checkered past, is at this moment, a place of acknowledgement and reconciliation. When it comes to the razing of Greenwood, we’re proud that the people of this city not only rebuilt from the ashes– but also refused to forget those who started the fires. Across the Greenwood District, you’ll find memorials honoring ancestors and the community’s origins. Some portion of that commemoration also survives through the Black businesses of the modern Black Wall Street.
Within the Greenwood District today, there are over 40 Black businesses carrying the mantle; but across Tulsa, there are hundreds more. For those seeking an intimate and local perspective on Greenwood happenings, our friends at Buy Black Tulsa have compiled an extensive list of Tulsa based businesses. But for the businesses in need of resources, we have solutions for them as well.
As we look beyond the businesses or history, the events in town never lack fun or flavor. Juneteenth in Tulsa is an affair that draws over 30,000 attendees each year. An afternoon in the Philbrook Museum gardens or the Oxley nature trail will remind you why they call the outdoors great. If you’re in town in May, we recommend the multi-day events at the Black Wall Street Legacy Festival. But Tulsa also hosts exceptional events year round like the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, or the annual All Black Towns Bus Tour. We also recommend the Cowboys of Color Rodeo. With over 200 contestants competing for grand prizes, you’ll witness some of the best bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing in the South. Whether you’re bringing your lasso for the rodeo or bbq kit for the MLK parade, Tulsa and Greenwood celebrate with flair.
All of this is a reminder that this city and the Greenwood District are stronger than the worst things that have happened here. We love Tulsa for its people, passion, and perpetual progress. This is a place to build something special–whether it’s a family or a business. For generations, Black people have known that and done both with pride. There are three words you’ll hear most when visiting town: ‘Welcome to Tulsa.’ And whenever you’re here, we invite you to let us at the Historic Greenwood Chamber of Commerce to be the first to greet you.
