Wrestling with history: One city鈥檚 100-year struggle to heal
Tulsa, Oklahoma, is commemorating the centennial of one of the worst incidents of racist violence in U.S. history. In our podcast 鈥淭ulsa Rising,鈥� we ask: How does a city reckon with its racist past?
In the summer of 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a young Black man named Dick Rowland was accused of assaulting Sarah Page, a white elevator operator. As the story spread, angry white residents came together to take matters into their own hands. On May 31, these residents attacked the thriving Black neighborhood of Greenwood, looting, burning, and killing.
The event is now known as the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, and it is one of the worst incidents of racist violence in U.S. history.
But the massacre is just the beginning of the story. Over the next 100 years, Tulsa鈥檚 Black community would rebuild again and again 鈥� in the aftermath of the massacre, and in the face of everything from Jim Crow laws and segregation to police violence and systemic racism.听
Now, at the massacre's centennial, the city is starting to come to terms with its painful history. Our new podcast, "Tulsa Rising," explores that process 鈥� of ruination, resentment, and reparation 鈥� through the eyes of Tulsa residents. Hosted by the producers of "Rethinking the News," the podcast asks: What does it look like to reckon with racism? And is reconciliation possible?聽
This is a trailer for our new podcast,聽"Tulsa Rising."聽For more episodes of "Rethinking the News," please聽visit our page.听
Episode transcript
Jessica Mendoza: Hey everyone, welcome to 鈥淩ethinking the News.鈥� I鈥檓 Jessica Mendoza, one of the producers.
You might remember that when we launched this podcast back in October 2020, we kicked off with a three-part series out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The city was preparing to commemorate 100 years since the 1921 Tulsa race massacre 鈥� a brutal event that shaped the city鈥檚 history, culture, and community. We reported the series right before the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Racial tensions were high and the city was asking itself: In light of our history, who are we 鈥撀燼nd who do we want to be?
We鈥檙e excited to announce that for the centennial, which takes place on May 31st and June 1st, we have published this series as its own separate podcast. It鈥檚 called 鈥淭ulsa Rising.鈥� And it includes the original three-part series, as well as updates and new conversations with some of our guests.听
You can find all the episodes, old and new, at csmonitor.com/tulsarising, or by searching for 鈥淭ulsa Rising鈥� wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you鈥檒l check it out, and share this series with your friends and family. For now, we鈥檒l leave you with a little teaser. Again, you can find everything at csmonitor.com/tulsarising.听
[Music]
Jess: In the summer of 1921, in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a young Black man was accused of assaulting a white woman.听
Samantha Laine Perfas: White residents formed a mob.听
Jess: And for 24 hours on May 31st and June 1st, this mob burned, looted, and killed throughout the Black neighborhood of Greenwood.听
Sam: Some Black residents fought back, but 鈥�
Sam: That event is now known as the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre 鈥撀�
Jess: 鈥� and it鈥檚 one of the worst incidents of racist violence in U.S. history.听
[Music]
Sam: But the story doesn鈥檛 end there. Over the next hundred years, the Black community in Tulsa rose up over and over and over 鈥撀犅�
Jess: 鈥� in the face of segregation and Jim Crow 鈥�
Sam: 鈥� in support of civil rights and the Black vote 鈥�
Jess: 鈥� and against police violence and systemic racism.
Sam: Now, at the centennial of the massacre, Tulsa is rising up again.听
[Music]
Jess: From 海角大神, I鈥檓 Jessica Mendoza.
Sam: And I鈥檓 Samantha Laine Perfas.听
Jess: This is 鈥淭ulsa Rising.鈥�
Sam: The story of a city wrestling with its racist past and 鈥撀爉aybe 鈥� forging a better future. We take you on the ground to Tulsa, and hear from pastors 鈥�
Jess: And politicians 鈥�
Sam: Activists 鈥�
Jess: And artists 鈥撀�
Sam: Through them, we鈥檒l come to understand the pain and the power of confronting racism head-on.听
Jess: Because we can only really move forward if we鈥檙e prepared to look back.听
[Music]
Sam: Listen to 鈥淭ulsa Rising鈥� for free wherever you get your podcasts, or visit csmonitor.com/tulsarising. All episodes will be available on May 28th. Again, you can find everything at csmonitor.com/tulsarising.
[Music]
Jess: This podcast was produced by 海角大神, copyright 2021.听
[END]
