Surviving Destruction of ‘Black Wall Street’
Black business executives lend time, money to finance New York screening
Article written by Marcia Wade Talbert.
- Posted in Arts & Culture on Friday, November 21, 2008, 17:50
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look like a war zone. Nobody denies that the event takes place, but for about 70 years nobody really talked about it.”
To make matters worse, after the riots, black Tulsans filed more than 100 lawsuits in 1921, but the opinion of a grand jury ruled that the victims caused the riot so whatever destruction occurred was their fault. As a result, insurance claims were all denied, and the victims were told they brought it upon themselves.
John Rogers, CEO of Ariel Capital Management, was a significant financial contributor to the film and appeared in the movie. His great-grand father owned the Stratford Hotel, which was destroyed after the riots in Greenwood. “I can imagine he was never quite the same,” says Rogers. “[I think] he lost some of his confidence and his entrepreneurial spirit.”
Today, Hooker says she thinks it is important for people to know that in the United States, these kinds of things can happen. “The people who were supposed to protect [us] did not,” Hooker says.
Otis Clark, who was 18 at the time, hopes that the film will “help us realize that we can do better now than we did then.” That hope has yet to be fulfilled.
In 1999, the Tulsa Race Riot Commission looked at tens of thousands of documents related to the riot to verify stories and gather information that had not been revealed since 1921. In 2001, they issued findings that the survivors should get reparations and that there should be a memorial and a scholarship set up for the descendants for the survivors.
So far, in addition to not receiving any reparations, the survivors have not received an apology from the State of Oklahoma or any U.S. president. The movie has helped raise $100,000 at a screening in Oklahoma, and garner an apology from the current Tulsa mayor, Kathy Taylor, but the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the case in 2005.
“The movie is necessary for the rest of the world to see what the great American flag stand for,” says 92-year-old Wess Young, who was 4 years old when the riot took place. “It does not protect all.”
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Kindly return any and all information at your disposal on the massacre of Black Wall Street.
If their are historical periodicals that I can research, please let me know.
Hope to hear from you soon.
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how can i get a copy of the movie
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I am so glad that this story is being put on film.
My Grandmother came out of Tulsa,OK but, she never talked about the "riot", too painful I guess.
"What's done in the dark, shall come to the light"
How can I get a copy of the film?
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The film can be purchased and donations to the Tulsa Project Inc.
the fund for the survivors can be made at http://www.beforetheydiemovie.com
You can also finds numerous links to documentation and information regarding the riot and the survivors Journey To Justice. A schedule of screenings dates is also available. Please sign our guest book and join our movement to pass the pending Congressional legislation on the survivors behalf....Before They Die!
Reggie Turner Director Producer Before They Die!
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I'm glad this film has been produced. There is another film about the riot that I rented from a public library many years ago. Sorry, I do not know the name of the film. Also, the History Channel did a piece called "The Night Tulsa Burned" back in 1999.
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I'm a student at an HBCU. I've ordered my copy of the film and I can't wait to get it. I've heard bits and pieces about this story and I've always wanted to know more. Hopefully we can get this shown on campus!
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I am doing a current event for a Eng Class and I would like to read more about The Black Wall St.; if possible. I would like to know if the movie is out and where could I find it? IF the movie is not ready when will it become public so I can include it in my report
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I just wanted to say that I love this site
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