By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Two
of my dear Brother Friends under separate circumstances sent me links
to the 100th Commemoration of the Tulsa, Oklahoma massacre. I thought
it was wonderful of them to think of me and send me the links. There is
one on top and three others at the end of this post. They know how
seriously I take this, and how proud I am of my Oklahoma heritage.
I am sharing my response to them with you, and hope you will also keep my commentaries in mind as you watch the programs.
Stay Blessed/ECLECTICALLY BLACK/GDW
Good Morning ALL!
I am grateful that they are trying to make amends for the GREENWOOD, OKLAHOMA (not Tulsa) massacre
GREENWOOD was an all Black town - one of 67 - of which 13 still remain.
GREENWOOD
was assaulted by whites and fired upon not because of the elevator boy
incidence, but because the red neck crackers of Tulsa were jealous of
the progress, wealth and development of Greenwood for and by Black
people. The elevator incidence was bogus.
When
they tried to fan the flames of hatred, they focused on the ALL BLACK
TOWN OF GREENWOOD THAT HAD THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, CHURCH, HOMES,
FARMS - PEOPLE OWNED CARS, DRESSED WELL, WERE INTELLIGENT AND SPOKE
"GOOD ENGLISH" - LOL
Whites
thought they were going to go into Greenwood, scare the Black people
and take over what they had. Black people had gathered together, got
their guns and fought back. BLACK PEOPLE OF GREENWOOD FIRED BACK - The bombing occurred because the crackers were losing!!!
The whites were able to decimate the town only by bombing it - Black people in Oklahoma had/have guns - we don't play that ish!!
But
they didn't stay decimated - BLACK OKLAHOMANS CAME TOGETHER AND REBUILT
THE ENTIRE TOWN 6 MONTHS LATER. Black people in Oklahoma are known for
our resilience in the face of danger, craziness, privation. The reason
it was not featured in our history books was because we did rebuilt
it. We built all our own homes, schools, banks - without white help, or
permission. We studied Black history in all our schools, from
kindergarten through high school. If Greenwood had been a permanent
tragedy, it probably would have been included - we knew everything
else. We ain't scared of caucasoids.
What
killed Greenwood, OK happened decades later when (dis)integration
happened, and folks started shopping with and patronizing white
businesses - somehow folks developed a serious case of amnesia. I
visited Tulsa and Greenwood in 1994 with an associate, on a trip home to
Oklahoma City, and ate at a restaurant there. It was rather shabby
looking, so I asked her about the massacre. She told me what I'm
telling you about the rebuilding of the town. She also told me that she
was one of the few restaurants left now that people go to other fast
food venues.
Not
that Greenwood was alone in the psychological malady - there were many
towns that thought the white man's ice was colder, and began abandoning
what they had built.
It's
just that there has been built up so much about this event - and I
definitely want my people to be compensated for the atrocities - But I
also want us to be honored for something most whites try to ignore, and
that's our RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, TENACITY, CREATIVITY, INGENUITY,
AND TOUGH MINDEDNESS. BLACK
PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR THEIR RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF RABID
WHITENESS!! Caucasoids want to think they left us cowering in the
dust, scared, naked and afraid for life.
Ever
since the PBS documentary, BLACK WALL STREET, THIS STORY HAS GROWN AND
GROWN. THE FACT THAT THEY LEFT IT AS THOUGH WERE IN THE PILE OF RUBBLE
HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF MOST BLACK PEOPLE WHO COME FROM A
HISTORY OF NOT STANDING UP TO WHITES. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, THAT IS NOT
TRUE OF BLACK PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA! But not that the stories have grown
and grown, I have nothing but respect for the love that is shown through
those who have kept it before the public eye. We are nothing if not
compassionate and imaginative. So I salute those who faced off the
crazy caucasoids in 1921 - and those who came behind them. I am proud
to be an Okle - no matter where I live in the world.
And
remember, OKLAHOMA MEANS LAND OF THE RED PEOPLE - ie. those brothers
and sisters who were driven from their lands in the south to a desolate
territory so some greedy whites could benefit from the work they had
done there. A goodly number of Black people, slaves, ex-slaves, and
those who had intermarried with the various nations, were right there
with them. Those were the ones who built the all Black towns. Just
like they tried to push us off the land in 1835 and 1889, was what they
tried to do in 1921. We were thriving, they weren't. Same ish,
different day. Greenwood was not the only town to have their own bank
and investment program, most of the 67 towns did the same thing. The
title Black Wall Street was used to help get white attention to the
documentary; but they certainly did not call it that in Greenwood.
I HONOR THE BLACK ANCESTOR/ANGELS WHO STOOD UP, FOUGHT BACK, AND SUFFERED THROUGH THIS;
BUT I ALSO HONOR THE SPIRIT THEY IMBUED IN US TO KEEP ON DESPITE THE ODDS AND ONSLAUGHTS!
ALSO THANKS TO MY GRAND PARENTS AND GREAT GRAND PARENTS OF THE HORNBEAK CLAN
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
FROM AN OKLAHOMA KID
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
 |
| Gloria DULAN-Wilson |
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