Upon reading this book, I was dumbfounded by how I had never heard of this event throughout my years of schooling. Furthermore, I was shocked to hear about the example of a lynching by the “Washington Eagle” and how it described the barbaric happenings during its course. I am sickened to hear how cruel and hateful humans can be towards each other. What’s worse, is how we can be that way when it deals with something as natural and unavoidable as race. I guess what this shows though, is how little we’ve grown as a species since our time on this earth.
I will suggest the following as to how we shall not only learn from this event, but make good on it as well. Since this event was caused by systemic government policy, law enforcement’s dereliction of duty, and media misrepresentation, the redress for the massacre of African Americans in Tulsa should be:
1. Any living survivors should be compensated for theirs, or their relatives losses in property, life, or grievances, which was a result from the riots in Tulsa of 1921. The compensation should be equal to the amount lost (taken in to consideration for inflation), and should be paid for by the state, since this was a failure of the state. For consideration of loss of life, the state will pay a lump sum to the family name an amount equal to the years of employment lost due to the age of the departed; accounting for 65 years of age being the time no longer employable.
2. All efforts should be made to exhume the remains of the suspected mass graves in Tulsa, in an effort to properly lay to rest all those entombed.
3. If not done so already, all Gun free zones should be abolished and the state should adopt a “Shall Issue” Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW), permit policy. As the Tulsa issue targeted indiscriminately people of color. The state should harbor a policy that allows all of its citizens to protect themselves in time of peril.
4. The state would do well to introduce this event into public school systems and community affairs. Learning about the past helps us to avoid repeat occurrences. Initiating a remembrance day, or something of that nature, will assist the community in feeling remorse for our past actions and thereby taking steps to ensure events like these do not happen again.
The Tulsa riots spawned from the country’s attitude towards race during the time period. Racism was a thing. It was embedded in our local communities, our military, and our federal policies. It’s what people were born into. Looking through a 21st century lens, it’s easy to vilify and condemn the actions of the past. However, it is important to not only understand why these event s happened but also to ensure they never happen again. One giant step we can take in the latter, is for us to collectively scrutinize the reporting of the media. Not being quick to believe what we all hear from news sources may assist the human-race in slowing our reaction to brash behaviors. Researching and questioning rhetoric may be a healthy step forward.
Obviously, condemning and removing any and all measures that seek to suppress or barricade people of color from activities or freedoms should be put at the forefront of our efforts.
Holding our elected officials and law enforcement officers accountable for their actions is paramount for securing our national liberty.
In closing, it can be said that the Tulsa race riots of 1921 were a product of the time. They were inexcusable, horrible, and shameful. However, we all must use this atrocity as an opportunity to learn and grow from. It’s unfortunate that it happened, but now we must use this example to implement policies that make a repeat of this event less likely, if not impossible. No more racism, no more gun control, and a start to calling out our politicians and media when they are blowing smoke.
Eric Schmutzer-HIST 336 