Documented history
In 1921, Tulsa’s Greenwood district was one of the wealthiest Black communities in the United States. Beginning on May 31, the Tulsa Race Massacre devastated the district over two days. Approximately 35 blocks of homes, churches, and businesses were destroyed.
Attorney B. C. Franklin survived the massacre and defended other survivors. His legal work helped overturn a city ordinance that restricted rebuilding in the Black community.
Source: National Park Service: John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.
Our point of view
We believe that remembering Greenwood should begin with its people. A community is more than the violence committed against it. Its homes, work, ambitions, and everyday relationships deserve space in the story.
This is the cultural perspective behind our Greenwood collection concept. Clothing is an invitation to learn, not a substitute for historical evidence.
Keep reading
Visit the source above to explore the memorial and its historical context. Additional archival voices and collection-specific design notes are awaiting editorial research and owner approval.
Explore the collection concept →