One hundred years ago, May 31—June 1, 1921, an increasingly large white mob burned the black community of Tulsa, Oklahoma to the ground. It was the wealthiest black community in the United States known as "Black Wall Street." Firebombs were dropped from airplanes and upwards of 300 people were killed. It is said that the dead were thrown into the Arkansas River. Mass graves are only being excavated now. The massacre was not acknowledged in state history records until 1996.
Over 35 blocks —
600 black owned businesses were destroyed,
21 churches,
30 grocery stores,
2 movie theatres,
1 hospital,
1 bank,
1256 homes were burned out,
215 others were looted,
the hotels were destroyed.
And when it was over,
6000 people were held under armed guard in a convention hall.
Father, forgive.
This painting is titled — The Arrest of Jesus. The late-Gothic German painter's name is unknown. We would do this again. You know that, don't you? And we'd be shocked and disappointed beyond belief at whose faces we might discover in the ugly crowd.
