Report About the Tulsa Race Massacre by Maurice Willows
12/31/1921
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Maurice Willows, Director of Relief for the American Red Cross, compiled this report about the Tulsa Race Massacre that took place May 31-June 1, 1921.
The Tulsa Massacre was one of the worst instances of mass racial violence in American history. The violence was driven largely by White hostility toward African-American economic prosperity, and it centered on Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District (also known as Black Wall Street), a commercial area with many successful Black-owned businesses. In 24 hours, hundreds were killed, thousands displaced, and 35 city blocks were burned to ruins. The attack on Black Wall Street included the first aerial bombing of a U.S. city.
The American National Red Cross provided relief to many victims of this massacre. The Tulsa Chapter compiled reports and a photo album relating to their management of the disaster relief effort.
This report provides an overview of the "disaster," including causes; numbers of dead and injured; burning and property loss; lack of response by the police and fire department; relief provided by the Red Cross - including money, food, housing, first aid and medical care; claims for relief funds submitted by white people claiming to be "innocent bystanders"; reconstruction; and the "Negro attitude" after being denied payments from insurance companies to account for their losses.
Also included is a newspaper article about the supposed initial cause of the violence - a claim by a white woman working in an elevator that a Black delivery man assaulted her (the charges were dropped and there were no grounds to prosecute the man).
This report comes from a larger file of Red Cross reports about the Tulsa Race Massacre. See the full file in the National Archives Catalog.
The Tulsa Massacre was one of the worst instances of mass racial violence in American history. The violence was driven largely by White hostility toward African-American economic prosperity, and it centered on Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District (also known as Black Wall Street), a commercial area with many successful Black-owned businesses. In 24 hours, hundreds were killed, thousands displaced, and 35 city blocks were burned to ruins. The attack on Black Wall Street included the first aerial bombing of a U.S. city.
The American National Red Cross provided relief to many victims of this massacre. The Tulsa Chapter compiled reports and a photo album relating to their management of the disaster relief effort.
This report provides an overview of the "disaster," including causes; numbers of dead and injured; burning and property loss; lack of response by the police and fire department; relief provided by the Red Cross - including money, food, housing, first aid and medical care; claims for relief funds submitted by white people claiming to be "innocent bystanders"; reconstruction; and the "Negro attitude" after being denied payments from insurance companies to account for their losses.
Also included is a newspaper article about the supposed initial cause of the violence - a claim by a white woman working in an elevator that a Black delivery man assaulted her (the charges were dropped and there were no grounds to prosecute the man).
This report comes from a larger file of Red Cross reports about the Tulsa Race Massacre. See the full file in the National Archives Catalog.
This primary source comes from the Collection ANRC: Records of the American National Red Cross.
National Archives Identifier: 157670060
Full Citation: Report About the Tulsa Race Massacre by Maurice Willows; 12/31/1921; DR-6.08 Oklahoma, Tulsa Co. Riot Reports and Statistics; Central Decimal Files, 1881 - 1982; Collection ANRC: Records of the American National Red Cross; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/report-tulsa-massacre-willows, April 25, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.