The Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the Tulsa Race Riot, was a devastating racial massacre that took place in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921. Greenwood was a thriving African American community with a prosperous business district, often referred to as "Black Wall Street," due to its economic success and cultural significance.

On May 31, 1921, a young Black man named Dick Rowland was accused of assaulting a white woman in an elevator, though the details of the incident remain unclear. The accusation led to heightened tensions between the Black and white communities in Tulsa, and a white mob gathered at the courthouse where Rowland was being held. In the early hours of June 1, the white mob clashed with Black residents who attempted to protect Rowland.

The ensuing violence resulted in widespread destruction, with white mobs attacking and burning homes, businesses, and churches in the Greenwood district. The Tulsa Race Massacre lasted for two days, during which an estimated 300 Black residents were killed, and thousands were left homeless. The true death toll is difficult to determine, as many victims were buried in mass graves or their bodies were never recovered.

The survivors of the massacre faced significant challenges in the aftermath, as the city and state governments did little to provide support or justice for the victims. The Tulsa Race Massacre was largely hidden from historical records for decades, with many residents and historians only learning about the events years later.

In recent years, efforts have been made to acknowledge and commemorate the Tulsa Race Massacre, including calls for reparations for the descendants of the victims and efforts to uncover and memorialize mass graves. The massacre serves as a tragic and important reminder of the legacy of racial violence and systemic racism in the United States.