As discussed in class, racial bigotry and institutionalized racial bias that provided an avenue for horrific violence against Blacks to go unpunished facilitated the “exodus” of many from their homes. Many of these people migrated west to build a new life with other like-minded individuals. Black Wall Street was such a place.
View the accompanying videos and take a few moments to consider if such a western migration was worth the travel. Please comment on topics such as: What were the pitfalls of such a movement? What were the successes of the creation of all-Black towns? Do you consider “Black Wall Street” a success? What does its destruction mean?
This is my first time ever learning or hearing about Black Wall Street, in all my years of school. Black Wall Street acted as a safe place for African Americans during this time period. The community was a place of African American success. There were over 100 black owned businesses, two theatres, two schools, and fifteen doctors offices. The 11,000 residents built a place of their own called Greenwood. Which was later destroyed in what is known as the worst race riot in American history. The entire community was burned down with little to nothing left. The hatred within the hearts of the white Tulsans led them to tear down all that the African Americans had worked so hard to build. White Americans hate to see people in a place of power or doing well for themselves, and I think this is what led to the destruction of Black Wall Street.
One thing that stuck out to me the most was towards the end of the video. When head white people of Tulsa made it seem like they had good intentions. That would lead to the reconstruction of Green Wood, and really was trying to steal their land. Talk about being mean, it’s clear that they didn’t care about black people. Not even the one’s they burnt up which was also kids in the mix. Then try to make it hard for the black people to re build that land. Honestly is very disappointing and causing confusion for me, knowing that their are people who have true hatred in them. To kill and burn down something they did not create at all.
This video just shows how much they didn’t wanna see African Americans win we couldn’t do anything or have anything good going for ourselves without them trying to take it away. The hatred and jealousy was beyond crazy. Black Wall Street was a great thing owned by us and it was going to be powerful and that the whites was honestly frightend to see us do such an amazing thing.
African Americans finally had access to live a regular lifestyle that consisted of having normal opportunities. They idea would prescribe them to have jobs, housing, attaining an education, having access to normal health care and natural resources. Black people were able to thrive in a community that consistently uplift and elevated one another. They were finally going to be free, but of course white people opposed of this idea. The destruction of Black Wall Street was caused by a fair share of disagreements of white people not wanting to see Black people excel.
This video emphasizes how Black Wall Street was very extraordinary and successful. Black communities aligned to support and elevate one another. They had opportunities to have access to jobs, housing, individuals to attain an education and not be exempt from anything. White people opposed of the freedom black people would have, therefore Black Wall Street fell short and ended in catastrophe.
Black Wall Street was powerful, it was a success until white people burned it down out of jealousy. African Americans made their own community so they could feel safe,and have their own business. The destruction means and just shows did not want to see African Americans prosper, be better than them, or have a mind of their own. This is my first time hearing about this and wonder why this is not taught in school.
In just the first few minutes of watching this i am struck by what black people had for themselves and how good they were doing, Just to have whites take it from under them by burning it all down. It hurts to know tat black people cannot have nothing that makes them happy for very long. In this act people were killed and left homeless.
I love how Black Wall street was also seen as the “Magic City”. To me that shows how black people don’t need to be given anything especially at that time by any white person. Other than that I feel strong emotions over all, but annoyed that the riot wasn’t put into the history books despite it being the largest riot in history. The whites took things too far and it all started with assuming and spreading rumours. The fact that a gun shot went off caused by a white man trying to take a black mans gun, which lead to things turning on the black people who were just trying to help and blacks in general is baffling how quickly things turned. In the video it mentioned that whites seeing blacks do good for them selfs created jealousy that they felt the need to destroy. It’s truly sad how the lack of self and jealousy can trigger people.
This video shows me that black people can not have anything for themselves. And it’s crazy to like why haven’t they been teaching this in school because this is the first I’m hearing this. Black people can do amazing things like they had there own town with everything they needed. Black Wall Street was an accomplishment for black people because we had our own land, build buildings and they was not hating on nobody. But it sucks that people really did not want to see black people succeed. I would have loved to see how black Wall Street would have become if it was never burn down.
It’s so crazy to me that I found out about this just a few months ago. It literally goes to show how white people envy us and can’t simply mind they business. The video also shows how black people as a whole could form their own town and make a decent living out of it without the help of white people. It’s like white people are enraged and jealous because we could possibly do the same things they can but possibly better.
Black Wall Street was a very impressive and powerful accomplishment for African Americans during this time. To create a fully functioning city with all of the amenities that they needed proved that they were self sufficient citizens. It is extremely unfortunate that an alleged assault that wan never tried in court was the spark of such harsh race riots. I believe that Black Wall Street was a success because it showcased the independence of African Americans. Something worth noting is the effort to rebuild after the city had been virtually wiped out. One specific situation that I liked was the Mt. Zion church. The brand new church with a hefty mortgage was burnt down in the riots, however its congregation came to gather to not only rebuild but also pay off the mortgage in the decades that followed. This shows the resiliency and resolve of the African Americans that went through the crisis.
Black Wall Street was a very powerful movement that showcased many African American accomplishments. They were able to build their own community and businesses. Then the white people had became upset because of their independence and began burning and rioting the buildings. Although all the destruction i believe Black Wall Street was a success because it showed their independence and advancements of the community.
I agree black Wall Street was a very powerful movement… that shows us when black people work together nothing can stand in our way when we have a goal or destination
The black wall street was where in the early 20th century African Americans had created a self sufficient prosperous business district. I agree black wall street showed how African Americans were able to have their own businesses. Black wall street was thriving at the time of the Tulsa race riot of 1921, however it took a heavy toll financially on African Americans. During the riot many homes and businesses were destroyed! It’s really sad that white people wanted to destroy black businesses and didn’t want African Americans to be successful.
Black Wall Street was something that African Americans created that showcased all of their accomplishments. It was a success and finally gave the black community something positive to look forward to. The whites couldn’t stand the fact to see how evolving the blacks were. It was such a threat to them that it caused them to want to riot and ruin everything. Yes, it did ruin everything but as a community the black stood together and was able to rebuild everything. We can’t be stopped at greatness, it was a major setback for a major comeback. After all we deserve it more than anyone.
After watching this video, Black Wall Street was a very powerful meaning for African American it was a great way on how they should success in the community and which white people didn’t want to see. African American were able to express themselves they were able to run their own businesses at the time, started to gain accomplishments in the community because they were winning with everything but the whites didn’t like to see it so it was taken away. Whites had wanted to start a riot because of the jealousy hatred ways they had toward African Americans white people had felt threatened because African Americans had finally succeeded .
This video shows us that Black Wall Street was the epitome of a a thriving community.. We supported each other which allowed us to have access to resources, jobs, housing, and education which honestly we don’t see much of in white races which is why they destroyed the image of Black Wallstreet. It’s really devastating to see anything we created was destroyed.
I agree, black Wall Street was something very powerful and prospering for the black folk, the whites did not want to see black people well off and doing good on their own so they will find anything thing to disrupt the process. Watching and listening to how well African Americans was doing and how they took it upon they selves to make a decent living for their self and their family was heart warming
Whites hated to see Black people for being able to do things that would be better for them, they had their own jobs and they were in dependent. They hated black people for having their own wall street. wall street was supposed to be a positive thing. Where all the African Americnas can truly be who they wanted to be, experssing themselves freely.
I believe that the movement was something that blacks had to look forward to and it was something to be very proud of. Whites didn’t want to see us succeed at something we stared. I feel also that whites were kinda of threaten that blacks was doing things for blacks and finally wining with schools, houses, and hospital were they where treated as humans. The reason why it was taken away was because whites felt some kinda of way and to see blacks on the up rising just crawled their skin. Honestly blacks tolerated a lot during this time.
I think its worth noting how they used segregation as an opportunity to thrive, however the pure spitefulness of Tulsa whites wouldn’t allow them to ignore the success of the Greenwood community. The tactic of deputizing common people in order to oppress the minority is something that is still done today. I think its another example of the depth of hatred racism ingrains in people.
Black wall street was definitely the “Magic city” for African Americans. It was their way of showing success and having a community where they are uplifted. During the time African Americans did what Whites thought they couldn’t do. That’s why the destruction of Black wall street happened. Whites hated to see Black people shine for once, they had their own businesses and they were independent. They hatred for black people having their own wall street was very evil and was uncalled for.
I believe that Black Wall Street was something powerful that African Americans created. it was something that African Americans build for their community to run their own businesses, however The burning of wall street and people dying was very harsh, This race riot was not necessary at all. I believe they did this because blacks was prospering in their life.
I agree, black wall street was something powerful and was taken away because they didn’t want to see black people prospering.
Black Wall Street meant much more than just blacks prospering. It proved that blacks could survive on their own which upset whites of course. The destruction of this proved that whites were threatened by the advancements of blacks and blacks being independent. Black Wall Street was definitely a success.
I agree, The whites had to be threatened because of how the blacks made their own town with many businesses, schools and hospitals for colored only.
I agree i believe that the whites were threatened way before and that why they burned down black Tulsa because the blacks were growing stronger around that time
Black Wall Street was definitely a success for African Americans at the time. To be able to create a community that was “prospering” was you know something to me thought of as a “myth” in this time period. The destruction of it shows how it was seen as a threat to white-dominated American Capitalism. This is a reoccurring theme through time, where you have a situation in which it may endanger the white capitalism in any form or fashion in this case money it must be stopped before they lose the edge.
I feel that the black wall street was supposed to be a positive thing. Where all the African Americnas can truly express themselves and build a coummunity where everyone could feel safe. But the whites didnt like the idea that blacks where finally independent and having a mind of their own. At the end of the day, black wallstreet was a succees, i blame the white people for the fall of it. There is no reason anyone should have died or why they burned the wall street to the ground with nothing to come back to.