The Tulsa race massacre was a two-day terrorist attack perpetrated by white supremacists against the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, between May 31 and June 1, 1921. The massacre targeted one of the wealthiest black communities in the United States at the time, colloquially known as "Black Wall Street." Mobs of white residents, some of whom had been armed and appointed as deputies by city government officials, attacked black residents and their homes and businesses, reflecting the severe racial tensions and violence that characterized the period.
During the massacre, white attackers burned and destroyed more than 35 square blocks of the Greenwood neighborhood in a coordinated campaign of destruction. The article notes that the massacre began during Memorial Day, though specific details about commanders, key tactical moments, or the precise sequence of events are not provided in the source material.
The immediate outcome of the massacre was devastating for the black community. More than 800 people were admitted to hospitals, and as many as 6,000 black residents of Tulsa were interned, many for several days. The Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Statistics officially recorded 36 deaths, though a 2001 examination by the Tulsa Reparations Coalition identified 39 people dead based on contemporary autopsy reports and death certificates, with commission estimates ranging from 39 to around 300 people. The event is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history, leaving a profound and lasting impact on the black community and the nation.
Official recorded deaths: 36 people (Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Statistics); 2001 Tulsa Reparations Coalition examination: 39 people dead (26 black and 13 white), with estimates ranging from 39 to around 300 people dead; more than 800 people admitted to hospitals
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