Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

niyad

(120,610 posts)
Thu Dec 6, 2018, 12:46 PM Dec 2018

Dr. Olivia J. Hooker: Oldest Survivor Of Black Wall Street & Tulsa Race Massacre

Dr. Olivia J. Hooker: Oldest Survivor Of Black Wall Street & Tulsa Race Massacre

?resize=860%2C490&quality=50&strip=all&ssl=1



Home to over 10,000 Black residents, Black Wall Street, also known as the Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was one of the most prominent concentrations of African-American businesses in the United States during the early 20th century. People would watch movies at the Black-owned Bill Williams Dreamland Theater. People would shop for their essentials at Black-owned D. L. Hookers General Stores. People would get treated for health issues at Dr. A. C. Jackson, an African-American Surgeon. Many people would stay, have meetings and events at the Black-owned Stratford

That is until the massacre. Later called the Tulsa race riot of 1921, white residents massacred hundreds of black residents and torched the neighborhood within hours. The riot was one of the most devastating massacres in the history of U.S. race relations, destroying the once thriving Greenwood community.

Many say the massacre started when a young, Black man, who was getting off the elevator, tripped and grabbed hold of a white woman to keep his balance. Back in those days it was understood that Black men couldn’t even look at a white woman in the eye, let alone touch her in any way. Rumors spread and white supremacists attacked.

About 10,000 blacks were left homeless, and property damage amounted to more than $1.5 million in real estate and $750,000 in personal property ($30 million in 2017). Some blacks claimed that policemen had joined the mob; others said that National Guardsmen fired a machine gun into the black community and a plane dropped sticks of dynamite. In an eyewitness account discovered in 2015, Greenwood attorney Buck Colbert Franklin described watching a dozen or more private planes drop burning balls of turpentine on Greenwood’s rooftops.

. . . . .

https://blackdoctor.org/512294/dr-olivia-j-hooker-last-survivor-of-black-wall-street/
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Dr. Olivia J. Hooker: Oldest Survivor Of Black Wall Street & Tulsa Race Massacre (Original Post) niyad Dec 2018 OP
Thank you for posti g yhis info. bobbieinok Dec 2018 #1
you are most welcome. niyad Dec 2018 #2
Thanks for this post, Niyad. spicysista Dec 2018 #3
you are most welcome. I am in awe of Dr. Hooker's amazing life. niyad Dec 2018 #4
Excellent post. byronius Dec 2018 #5
There really are no words to describe this atrocity. I've heard and read about it hostalover Dec 2018 #6

spicysista

(1,731 posts)
3. Thanks for this post, Niyad.
Thu Dec 6, 2018, 01:43 PM
Dec 2018

The Tulsa massacre was one of the major driving forces behind my church's decision to found our own credit union.
It was wonderful to see/meet Dr. Booker through your post. Thanks for lifting her story.

hostalover

(447 posts)
6. There really are no words to describe this atrocity. I've heard and read about it
Thu Dec 6, 2018, 03:38 PM
Dec 2018

several times in the past. At least it is not an event that has been buried.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»African American»Dr. Olivia J. Hooker: Old...