Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District by Hannibal B. JohnsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book recounts the story of Tulsa's prosperous Greenwood district - an African American community booming with small businesses and opportunity. The area was completely destroyed by the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. This book recounts the story of the riot, the utter destruction and the horrific violence that occured, and even more amazing, the sheer determination and resiliency of the people involved to rebuild and thrive against all odds.
This book is a disturbing read, an eye-opening look at the bitter racism in one of the worst parts of our history as a country. As I read the accounts, the horrific acts of commission and omission, I was both angry and ashamed at what man can do, even worse what he can do under the guise of morality. This book tells that story, but thankfully doesn't end there. Ultimately, it is a story of hope in the midst of despair, forgiveness in the midst of hate, and integrity in the midst of hypocrisy. The character demonstrated by the Greenwood survivors speaks volumes of the indestructible human spirit and our interdependence on each other.
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