Tulsa Race Massacre and Black Wall Street (virtual seminar)

This seminar series presented by Gibbel Kraybill & Hess attorneys J. Dwight Yoder and Sheila O’Rourke in collaboration with Reverend Edward M. Bailey and Dr. Danielle Brown of Bethel AME Church has been exploring the legal and historical context of slavery and racial discrimination in the United States.

Often referred to as America’s “original sin,” the kidnapping of Africans, who were then taken to the U.S. colonies where they were enslaved and treated as property, represents one of the most tragic and inhumane parts of our country’s history. Our founding document – the United States Constitution – preserved and protected slavery as an institution. Even after slavery was abolished by the adoption of the 13th Amendment during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, discrimination, organized violence and systemic oppression against African-Americans continued. This discrimination was legalized by the states, encouraged by the federal government and sanctioned by the courts.

Over the past two years, there have been many large group seminars reviewing key historical events and facts from our country’s history of slavery and discrimination as well as several small group discussions. The small group discussions require participants to review assigned materials in advance to be able to engage in meaningful discussion on a specific topic. With the onset of Covid-19, the large group presentations and small group seminars have been conducted virtually, which can be viewed on GKH’s YouTube page.

We are pleased to announce the next seminar in this ongoing series that will examine the history of the Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as “Black Wall Street” and the events that culminated in the violent and destructive race massacre of June 1, 1921. In addition, this seminar will look at the response by the local government and how it prevented the rebuilding of what previously was a thriving and successful black community. The seminar also will look more broadly at how our country actively worked to stop and prevent the accumulation of wealth and success of African-Americans.

Additionally, we are honored to be joined by Dr. Douglas Anthony, Professor of History and Director of the International Studies Program at Franklin and Marshall College. His current courses focus on African history, identity formation and the origins of and remedies for conflict, with a goal of equipping his students to be participants in the full range of intellectual, professional, and political activities that life offers. We look forward to learning from Dr. Anthony’s knowledge and understanding related to the history of Black Wall Street and the race massacre of June 1, 1921 as we work together to address the racial injustice that continues to plague our Country.

Please join us for this virtual seminar. You can either join as a participant by registering in advance, or you can watch the live-stream feed from GKH’s Facebook Page. A link to the live stream will be posted on our Facebook page prior to the start of the virtual seminar on Wednesday, November 17. All are welcome to join!

To be able to participate and ask questions in this seminar, you must pre-register through Zoom. Please be advised that the seminar, including the question and answer session, will be recorded and posted on the internet for viewing by the general public. By preregistering, you consent to your participation in the seminar being included as part of the recording that will be posted to the internet following the seminar.