Tulsa Lynching of 1921 a Thesis

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 1053 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Page 1 of 4

For example, while the initial confrontation was only between small groups of individuals, the sheriff of the town began to deputize hundreds of white men because of alleged possible retaliation from the black community. This led to a situation where large numbers of racist and rightwing members of the community were given the authority and the legal right to carry arms and continue the violence.

The results of the horrendous violence that ensued were that between one-hundred and three hundred Black people were killed. Damage to the community was devastating. The Entire 35-block Greenwood District was basically destroyed. More than ten-thousand people were left homeless after the incident. Furthermore, the Tulsa Star and the Oklahoma Sun, two Black newspapers were totally destroyed, as well as the library and six churches. Many private properties, including the offices of professionals such as lawyers and doctors, were also destroyed in the day of violence.

Another appalling fact that emerges from the documentary is the way in which the Blacks residents of Tulsa were treated even after the violence. They were all forced to seek refuge and those who were vouched for by whites in the town had to wear ribbons to identify themselves. This fact brings to mind the way that the Nazis treated the Jews during the Second World War.

Another aspect that adds to the impression of racial motivation and planning is the fact that that the newspapers in Tulsa reported the incident as if it had been the fault of the black residents of the town. The papers also reported that only thirty black people had been killed, a fact that we now know to be false.

Stuck Writing Your "Tulsa Lynching of 1921 A" Thesis?

View All Our Example Tulsa Lynching of 1921 a Thesis

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

Furthermore, the Tulsa city council subsequently passed a number of laws that made it extremely difficult for the Black people to rebuild their devastated community. They were force to live in tents. The film provides the overall impression of a concerted effort to drive away the black community. The interviews in the film provide an excellent and disturbing insight into the time and the reactions of the people of Tulsa; for example, the story of a young girl handing out sweets that had clearly been taken from a Black store.

What makes this documentary so shocking is that through the lens and via the well-integrated interviews, the impression is created of the pure racism of the time and the way that right-wing organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan operated. It is suggested that the Tulsa riots were essentially about trying to eradicate the black population of the town. What is perhaps even more appalling is that this incident should be so relatively unknown for so many years. Therefore this documentary is important in that it brings to light an incident that should be a part of the history curriculum in our country in order to remind us of the horror of racism......

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Tulsa Lynching Of 1921 A" (2009, December 11) Retrieved May 21, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/tulsa-lynching-1921-16409

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Tulsa Lynching Of 1921 A" 11 December 2009. Web.21 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/tulsa-lynching-1921-16409>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Tulsa Lynching Of 1921 A", 11 December 2009, Accessed.21 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/tulsa-lynching-1921-16409
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example