David Payne

Throughout American history there are a lot of obscure stories that are hidden in clear sight. One such concealed story of guilt and shame is the story of Greenwood Oklahoma. Nicknamed the "Black Wall Street", it was a one square-mile community on the north side of Tulsa. As one of the most prominent concentrations of black businesses in the United States during the early 20th century, segregation ironically gave rise to a nationally renowned black entrepreneurial center. Seemingly escaping the harsh racism of a nation that had deprived black people of even the most basic dignities, in the 1900s, Greenwood was everything the South was not. Filled with black lawyers, doctors, business owners and flush with prosperity, Greenwood was an area where people of color finally had a chance to make something of themselves. Unfortunately the economic status of this proud community could not save its people from the racial hostility of their day. The community of Greenwood was a tale of two cities. Black residents saw Greenwood as their own Atlantis. Greenwood was a perfect society where everyone lived in harmony and everything is done for the good of its citizens; a perfect Utopian society. On the other hand, most white people refused to acknowledge the accomplishments of Greenwood maliciously calling it "Little Africa". Instead of accomplishment, white people were frightened and saw a community of uppity blacks lacking social control. Black success was an intolerable affront to the social order of white supremacy. On May 31, 1921, white atrocities were performed against the black residents nearly put an end to the thriving district. This book is the unbelievable and obscure story of Greenwood Oklahoma.

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