In remembrance of the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre, President Biden visited Oklahoma today marking the 101st anniversary of one of the most horrific attacks on Black Americans in U.S. history.
The massacre, which left more than 300 people dead and hundreds injured, mostly Black, was referred to as a race riot for decades when discussed in American history. The site of the tragedy was known as Black Wall Street, where thousands of African Americans thrived in a self-sustaining community where residents economically prospered.
Biden issued a statement on Wednesday, which said in part, “This was not a riot; it was a massacre. As many as 300 African-Americans were killed, and nearly 10,000 people were left homeless. There were fires in homes, businesses, and churches. The wealth of a generation of Black people was extinguished.”
More about the history of the Tulsa Massacre can be found here.
Opinion: The Biden administration deserves credit for bringing attention to the Tulsa Massacre. Biden also visited Tulsa on the 100th anniversary last year. 101 years later, the impact is as relevant as ever, especially with the ongoing discussions about why reparations are a necessity.
