The Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the Tulsa Race Riot, occurred in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921. It is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history.

The massacre was sparked by a false accusation of a young African American man named Dick Rowland assaulting a white woman in an elevator. This incident led to a white mob gathering outside the courthouse where Rowland was held, demanding his lynching. As tensions escalated, a group of armed African American men from Greenwood went to protect Rowland.

Violence broke out between the two groups, and the white mob later descended on Greenwood, looting, burning homes and businesses, and attacking residents. The National Guard was called in but did not intervene to stop the violence. Over 1,000 homes and businesses in Greenwood were destroyed, and it is estimated that as many as 300 African Americans were killed.

In the aftermath of the massacre, the survivors of Greenwood faced widespread discrimination and were left to rebuild their community on their own. The true scale of the destruction and loss of life was downplayed at the time, and it was only in recent years that efforts have been made to properly commemorate and remember the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre.