Voting Station

Black Wall Street

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Organization

The Resume

    (1907-June 1, 1921)
    Born in United States
    Originally known as 'Negro Wall Street'
    Based out of the Greenwood district of Tulsa
    Boasted 600 businesses, 21 churches, and 21 restaurants
    Also had 30 grocery stores, 2 movie theatres, and 6 private airplanes
    Community was decimated by the infamous Tulsa 'race riots,' in which white residents massacred hundreds of black residents and razed the neighborhood within hours (May 31-Jun. 1, 1921)

Why they might be annoying:

    Its name was misleading.
    It became a pet project for John Legend.
    It has been virtually forgotten save for the unprecedented riot it was snared by.
    Attempts to rebuild the area in the aftermath of the riots flailed with varying success, especially after desegregation in the 1960s enabled residents to do business elsewhere in Tulsa.
    Into the '70s, much of the area was leveled during urban renewal efforts, making way for a highway loop in the downtown district.

Why they might not be annoying:

    It housed one of the most successful Black economies in American history, and later became a hotbed for jazz in the late 20s/early 30s.
    The average income for a Black family was well over what minimum wage for the period. (six families owned their own planes when the state had only two airports).
    It was the object of Southern white jealousy for its success, even though segregation laws more or less pushed them into the Greenwood neighborhood.
    It was the base for two local newspapers, 'The Tulsa Star' and 'The Oklahoma Sun' (the buildings housing it were both burned to the ground during the riots).
    It was home to the esteemed Dr. A.C. Jackson, whom The Mayo Brothers named 'the most able Negro surgeon in America' (he was shot to death leaving his house in the unrest).
    The riot was provoked after a 17-year old white elevator operator alleged a sexual assault by a 19-year old black shoeshine boy.
    The riots sent over 800 residents to surrounding hospitals, and an estimated 10,000 were left homeless.
    In addition, 35 city blocks of housing, 1,256 residences and 600 successful businesses were destroyed.
    The city of Tulsa was complicit in the KKK-led pogrom on the neighborhood, overseeing the arrest of 6,000 residents whom they claimed were attempting to stage 'an uprising.'
    Law enforcement officials also firebombed buildings, homes, and fleeing families.
    It was living proof that the black community could thrive under the right conditions.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 26 Votes: 65.38% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 33 Votes: 51.52% Annoying