If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! As a lover of cultural history, visiting the Greenwood…read moreCultural Center has been high on my must-see list and it exceeded every expectation.
On the way home from our 49th Hammond Batts Family Reunion, we stopped in Tulsa to visit family, and I knew it was the perfect opportunity to bring the kids to Greenwood to walk the streets of what was once known as Black Wall Street and to truly connect with our legacy.
Let me tell you nothing compares to being here.
The Greenwood Cultural Center is a powerful, sacred space that preserves the brilliance, resilience, and tragedy of one of the most prosperous Black communities in American history. At its height, Black Wall Street was home to over 10,000 Black residents and boasted more than 600 Black-owned businesses, including 21 churches, 21 restaurants, 30 grocery stores, a hospital, a library, a bank, two movie theaters, and even a private airplane. Yes, you read that right a private plane in the 1920s!
In just 18 brutal hours during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, an estimated 1,200 homes were burned, and over 35 square blocks of the Greenwood District were reduced to ashes by a white mob. The destruction caused an estimated $1.5 to $2 million in property loss at the time which would be over $30 million today. The human and economic toll was immeasurable, yet the story was buried for decades.
Ms. Rebecca, our guide, brought the experience to life. She was brilliant, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable the kind of person who makes history stick. We later found out her mother has worked at the center for over 30 years, and that love and dedication radiated from every corner of the space. Her storytelling made us laugh, cry, and reflect.
This place is not just a museum. It's a promise to never forget and to keep building.
I'm already making plans to return for Juneteenth, which I hear is unforgettable here.
If you're anywhere near Tulsa, even for a layover, make your way to the Greenwood Cultural Center. Bring your kids, your elders, your friends.
This is not just Black history this is American history. Period.
#NeverForgetGreenwood #BlackWallStreet #LegacyAndLearning #FamilyMatters #GreenwoodStrong