Tulsa Race Riots of 1921

The history of the United States has produced much in the way of race riots, from the New York City riots of 1862 to the Los Angeles riots of 1991, this country has experienced much civil unrest between blacks and whites. The year 1919 was particularly noted for the large number of riots in the urban areas of the North where returning white veterans of World War I competed with Southern Blacks for jobs during the post-war depression. The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 was perhaps the costliest incident of racial violence in American history. The riot began on May, 31, 1921, because of an incident the day before. A black man named Dick Rowland, stepped into an elevator in the Drexel Building operated by a woman named Sarah Page. Suddenly, a scream was heard and Rowland got nervous and ran out. Rowland was accused of a sexual attack against Page. One version of the incident holds that Rowland stepped on Page's foot, throwing her off balance. When Rowland reached out to keep her from falling, she screamed. The next day, Rowland was arrested and held in the courthouse lockup. Headlines in the local newspapers inflamed public opinion and there was talk in the white community of lynch justice. The black community, equally incensed, prepared to defend him. Outside the courthouse, 75 armed black men mustered, offering their services to protect Rowland. The Sheriff refused the offer.
A white man then tried to disarm one of the black men. While they were wrestling over the gun, it discharged. That was the spark the turned the incident into a massive racial conflict. Fighting broke out and continued through the night. Homes were looted and burned. Though they were outnumbered 10 to 1, blacks, many of whom were veterans of World War I, started to form battles lines and dig trenches. The conflict shifted to the northern part of Tulsa in the Frisco tracks area. The Tulsa police force was too small to stop the rioters, so Mayor T. D. Evans asked the governor to send in the National Guard. While the National Guard was on its way to Tulsa, whites set fire to houses and stores. Fire companies could not fight the fire because rioters drove them away. On June 1,1921, a big cloud of smoke covered the northern part of Tulsa. Later that morning, the last stand of the conflict occurred at foot of Standpipe Hill. According to the Tulsa Tribune, the National Guard mounted two machine guns and fired into the area. The black groups surrendered and were disarmed. They were taken in columns to Convention Hall, the McNulty Baseball Park, the Fairgrounds, and to a flying field. Some survivors later alleged that planes were involved in the destruction of Greenwood City. Many black residents left Tulsa to the Osage Hills and its surrounding towns. According to an official estimate 10 whites and 26 blacks were killed. However, later reports, never verified, raised that number to 300 killed. After the riot had ended relief started to come to the survivors, especially from the American Red Cross. Hospitals treated the wounded; food and clothing was given out; people received temporary shelters to live in while their houses were rebuilt. It took the better part of the next ten years to recover from the physical destruction and to rebuild and repatriate the residents their homes. And as for Dick Rowland? Charges against him arising out of the incident in the elevator were never brought.