Was the Vegas Terrorist Act/Massacre The Worst In US History? No, It Wasn’t. Let’s Not Forget About Black Wall Street

Although Horrendous, the Vegas Shooting Was Not the Worst Case of Domestic Terrorism

A few days before the Vegas terrorism act perpetrated against innocent concert-goers, I invited a friend from my college days to attend an event with me; a birthday celebration of a mutual friend. He got back to me and said he would not be able to make it as he was going to a conference in Vegas.

Then all hell broke loose, Sunday, October 1, 2017. I stayed away from the news that day until later that evening. It was hard to comprehend. At the time, it was reported that two were confirmed dead. I sent a facebook message to my friend, just checking to see if he was okay, and went to bed a few hours later.

When I awoke, the death toll was updated to 58. What the hell? I checked my facebook message to see if my friend had gotten back to me. He did not. But a few hours later, after a few rounds of phone calls, he let me know he was okay.

Phew.

But 58/59 other families (and 500+) were not so fortunate.

Immediately, I begin to hear reports that labeled this the “worse mass shooting in US history,” that the gunman killed more people than at the Pulse Nightclub a few years ago.

But the reports are wrong.

As a writer of historical fiction (with an emphasis on stories which take place between 1920-1940), and an avid researcher, I came across a little-known incident in American history about 15 years ago. I put articles in a folder, expecting to write about it in a screenplay, but never did.
The incident I am referring to is the bombing of Black Wall Street. What is Black Wall Street?

Here is information from its Wikipedia page:  Greenwood is a neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As one of the most prominent concentrations of African-American businesses in the United States during the early 20th century, it was popularly known as America’s “Black Wall Street” until the Tulsa race riot of 1921, in which the Oklahoma state government with the assistance of Tulsa’s white residents massacred hundreds of black residents and razed the neighborhood within hours. The riot was one of the most devastating massacres in the history of U.S. race relations, destroying the once thriving Greenwood community.

Have you ever heard of Black Wallstreet? If you get a chance, watch this interview of a witness/survivor of the atrocities visited on her town.

During this time, the local townspeople did not like seeing “prosperous negros,” and vowed to jump at the first opportunity to do something about it.

And this town was prosperous. They had their own airport, grocery stores, clothing stores, distribution of mail, paved roads, own oil fields… everything they needed to be self-sufficient.

More information from the Wikipedia page:

The Tulsa Race Riot occurred in late May 31 and June 1, 1921. On the day of the riot, 35 square blocks of homes and businesses were torched by mobs of angry whites. The riot began because of the alleged assault of a white elevator operator, 17-year-old Sarah Page, by a black shoeshiner, 19-year-old Dick Rowland. The attack killed hundreds and left an estimated 10,000 people homeless. The City of Tulsa conspired with the mob, arresting more than 6,000 black residents and refusing to provide assistance. Law enforcement dropped firebombs on buildings, homes, and fleeing families, stating they were protecting against a “Negro uprising.” The massacre was omitted from state and local records, and “rarely mentioned in history books, classrooms, or even in private.”

Did you catch that? FIREBOMBS were dropped on this community. So not only did they have to dodge bullets, but firebombs.

It was estimated that over 300+ people were murdered, while 10,000 were left homeless. Think about that for a second. Families who kept to themselves, avoided run-ins with the townsfolk, were gun down and bombed.

While every innocent life lost is tragic, let’s not sweep under the rug how an entire town was crucified. Those 300+ lives mattered and should not be forgotten when news reports slap stories together and label an event, “the worse in American history.”

I think I’ll dig up that folder.