News

Today marks the 101st anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre

Clay Cane
June 1, 2022

In this 1921 image provided by the Library of Congress, smoke billows over Tulsa, Okla. For decades, when it was discussed at all, the killing of hundreds of people in a prosperous black business district in 1921 was referred to as the Tulsa race riot. Under new standards developed by teachers for approaching the topic, students are encouraged to consider the differences between labeling it a “massacre” instead of a “riot,” as it is still commemorated in state laws. (Alvin C. Krupnick Co./Library of Congress via AP)

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Today marks the 101st anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma race massacre. The horrific cover-up of which has been brought to light in recent years by several documentaries and news stories surrounding the terrorism that permanently altered the fate of a successful community known as “Black Wall Street.”

On the fateful day 101 years ago, a 17-year-old white girl accused a Black teenager of assault in downtown Tulsa and violence ensued. There have been countless reports, including from TulsaHistory.org, that 300 or more people were murdered in an act of bloody white terrorism. The media of the time downplayed the destruction of the prosperous community, which caused $1.8 million in property loss according to the New York Times. The brutal massacre of 1921 and Black Wall Street was just one of many.

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Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane