HIS 100 Final Project - DJR

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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100

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History

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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5

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HIS 100 Final Project Human Rights and Inequality Tulsa Massacre, i.e., Tulsa Race Massacre By: Derek J. Raposo Part 1: Creating a Research Question 1. Describe how your assumptions, beliefs, and values influenced your choice of topic. Events like this and other past stories are embedded in African American culture here and abroad. Their struggle for equality seems never to end, regardless of the times. These stories make me embarrassed to be a white male in this country. Unfortunately, I am not surprised by these events occurring in our country. Ethnic cleansing permeates the American story, beginning with the Native Americans and the new settlers. I value family, community, education, and the support of black-owned businesses. It is upsetting to know that "Black Wall Street," a once flourishing, self-sustained black community, was savagely destroyed. By the false news reported on by the white-run newspapers, one can only assume that this lit the fuse that these whites needed for a reason to act in such a way that their disdain for the black community of Greenwood led to such a horrific event. These were not just any blacks. They were blacks who dared to be educated, business owners, and self-reliant. I initially believed that a combination of resentment, hate, envy, and vengeance was the fuel the whites needed. 2. Discuss the significance of your historical research question about your current event. What events led to the Tulsa Race Massacre? I now understand how Jim Crow affected the events that resulted in the Tulsa Race Massacre. As it relates to my current event, this way of thinking is far from extinct. Current laws and social standards are in place to continue the oppression of minorities and people of color. The survivors suing for reparations are fighting an uphill battle against years of racial injustice and laws created to protect the segregation and white nationalism agenda. 3. Explain how you used sources to finalize your research question. The historical perspectives and evidence from sources influenced my finalized research question by providing insight into the racist views, segregation, and jealousy of the white citizens in Tulsa and why they would feel it necessary to do such an act as the "Tulsa Race Massacre. Part 2: Building Context to Address Questions 1. Describe the context of your historical event that influenced your current event. One narrative that has significantly influenced the contemporary understanding of the Tulsa Race Massacre is that 1921 was "ultimately and officially framed as an uprising of a dangerous black mob (Messer, Beamon, Bell, 2013)." 2. Describe a historical figure or group’s participation in your historical event. On May 28, 2021, a woman who survived the Tulsa Race Massacre gave her first-hand account of what she and her family experienced during the "riot." Olivia J. Hooker (1915-2018) was the daughter of Samuel D. Hooker, owner of Samuel and Son, a store known for carrying named brand merchandise at that time. She testified that she saw white approaching her home with 1
torches. She stated in the interview, "We saw a bunch of men with those giant pine torches come through the backyard. And I remember our mother put us under the table. She took the longest tablecloth to cover four children and told us not to say a word. It was horrifying for a little girl who was only six years old - trying to remember to keep quiet, so they wouldn't know we were there. As those marauders entered the house, they tried to destroy anything they could find. They took a giant axe and started whacking at my sister Aileen's beloved piano - whack, whack, whack. It was a good piano, and they thought that was something we should not have. Despite this traumatizing event, Ms. Hooker became "the first African American woman to become a U.S. Coast Guard and helped form the Tulsa Race Riot Commission in 1977 (Chang, 2021). 3. Explain the historical figure or group’s motivation to participate in your historical event. Ms. Hooker was not a voluntary participant. Her home and her father's business were ransacked. They did what many would do in that situation to survive. "After the riot, we didn't stay in Tulsa. We moved to Topeka. Our parents tried to tell us, don't spend our time agonizing over the past. They encouraged us to look forward and think about how we could make things better. I think things can get better. But maybe it won't be in a hurry (Chang, 2021). Because of what Ms. Hooker experienced, she was motivated to fight for justice by forming the Tulsa Race Riot Commission. This commission would be the commission that would sue for reparations for the survivors. Part 3: Examining How Bias Impacts Narrative 1. Describe a narrative you identified while researching the history of your historical event. A narrative I identified while researching the history of my historical event was "ultimately and officially framed as an uprising of a dangerous black mob (Messer, Beamon, Bell, 2013)." The whites told the story in a way that made the black community appear to have waged war against the whites. I now understand that at that time, Jim Crow laws existed. Segregation and racially motivated violence were not viewed as injustice in 1921. Jim Crow etiquette stipulated that blacks could not ever behave in a manner that could be considered as being on equal plans as whites, and they definitely could not defend themselves or each other in any way or for any reason. 2. Articulate how biased perspectives presented in primary and secondary sources influence what is known or unknown about history. In Both primary sources, we have the presence of bias. Their point of view is of those directly implicated and present when the tragedy occurred. In this case, you will find that both women saw only white citizens attacking their families and their neighborhood without objective justification. They were both young children at the time and believed it was all done out of hate and spite because of the success of the black community of Greenwood. The white citizens didn't think they deserved it and used fake news to facilitate this disgusting attack. The bias is that these interviews were only of African Americans who survived and not white survivors. Although my opinion on the tragedy is that it was an almost unprovoked massacre, it still shows that the bias is there, and very few would be open to hearing from the other side of the spectrum. 3. Identify the perspectives you think are missing from your historical event’s narrative. 2
Identified perspective missing from this historical event was the whites involved. They would express the same fears and concerns I have described, and I also think some of them genuinely believed that they were within their legal and social rights to react and retaliate in that manner. I'm confident these missing perspectives would ultimately be against any acknowledgment, justice, and reparations for the event and the survivors. I do not believe that they would be remorseful in any way. It has been just over 100 years, and black Tulsa residents still feel and live with the effects of this horrible event. Part 4: Connecting the Past with the Present 1. Explain how researching its historical roots helped improve your understanding of your current event. I now understand that Jim Crow Laws existed at that time. Segregation and racially motivated violence were not viewed as injustice in 1921. Jim Crow etiquette stipulated that blacks could never behave in a manner that could be viewed as being on equal plans as whites. Government and legal officials legitimized oppression, racial violence, racial inequity, racial disparity, and white supremacy. Judges and law enforcement officials used the KKK society to instill fear by any means they saw fit. Many were lynched, burned, rapped, and pillaged by whites who did not fear repercussions or the danger of legal accountability. 2. Articulate how questioning your assumptions, beliefs, and values may benefit you as an individual. Biased perspectives often paint a one-sided view of a story, and these biases can lead to closemindedness. One would think that education would be enough to change the perspectives of those who agree with Jim Crow, but only if the answer were that easy. We are who we are because of many factors. How one reason and uses logic to decipher anything directly correlates to how one processes information. Their judgments and ideals comprise many things, such as their upbringing, education, moral code, experiences, religion, societal and cultural influences, and many other variables. The accuracy or amount of information one has is not enough if they do not have the palpability, flexibility, and courage to change their mind. To change their way of thinking and perhaps go against the grain. Once this is accomplished, we recognize that there is no one way of doing anything. Alternatively, when we understand that our original thoughts, beliefs, and values may not be the most viable option, this is when actual growth happens. We should be ever progressive. Question everything. Why do you ask? Why not? 3. Discuss how being a more historically informed citizen may help you understand contemporary issues. I believe that citizens must recognize the impact and implications of history, especially as it relates to contemporary issues. Basic knowledge of historical events helps us analyze, compare, and evaluate domestic and international concerns, current issues, and events. We must understand that life, living, and problem-solving are not one size fits ALL. It is imperative to ask questions, examine data from primary and reputable secondary sources, and analyze a topic based on the time frame in which the event happened. In addition to the culture, one must research the laws and social, economic, and geographical influences. There are many variables to consider when concisely trying to be historically informed. It is our responsibility to make the best-informed decision about any subject. Informed decisions are made when we employ best practices, have well-rounded information from multiple sources, and are willing to 3
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