Legislation Introduces Bill To Make Greenwood District A National Monument

A U.S. Senate bill would make the Historic Greenwood District, the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a national monument.

It's had trouble meeting National Park Service criteria because of a lack of buildings that still exist from before the 1921 Tulsa Race massacre.

The Greenwood District hosts several small business owners, including Eric Johnson of Supreme Wings, who says the district he works in is long overdue for becoming a national monument.

"I think it’s about time,” Eric Johnson, Wing Supreme owner, said. “I think it should have happened a while ago."

Chanta Isom, a barber in the area, agrees.

"I think that would be awesome,” Isom said. “Kind of surprised it hadn't already been done,"

More than 100 years ago, a violent mob destroyed the thriving Black neighborhood of Greenwood.

"We need the recognition, it happened, Greenwood is the original Black Wall Street. It was a great thing going on before the race massacre," said Isom.

During the massacre, more than 1,250 homes burned. Now, Johnson wants the district to move forward.

"I focus on what it was before, not during the massacre or riots of 1921,” Johnson said. “I think we concentrate on what was built afterwards and just the spirit and the soul of the people of Tulsa during that time of how they supported each other."

Isom believes that spirit and soul have created a certain mindset that makes Greenwood special.

"It's a feeling on Greenwood where you know everyone down there, we believes in encouraging one another,” Isom said.

Johnson says making the district a historical monument would only bring positives for businesses.

"The city of Tulsa needs to highlight this area more so because it is a tourist attraction,” he said. “We need to make this area beautiful, we need to preserve it, and we need to enhance it.”

He believes it's his duty to make sure Greenwood's history is handled with care.

"I think I have a responsibility to carry on tradition that started way before me. We owe them that respect, and we owe them that honor to preserve what they have started," Johnson said. 

The bill to name the district a historical monument is co-sponsored by Oklahoma Senator James Lankford and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.

If it becomes law, the National Park Service would be required to preserve the site's resources and create an outstanding visitor experience.