Greenwood in Tulsa in Tulsa County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
1921 Black Wall Street Memorial ⎯⎯⎯ O Greenwood!/Commercial Destruction During 1921 Race War
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
1. 1921 Black Wall Street Memorial side of marker
Inscription.
1921 Black Wall Street Memorial, also, O Greenwood!/Commercial Destruction During 1921 Race War. .
1921 Black Wall Street Memorial.
After statehood, Tulsa's Black community, through resourcefulness, spirit, and self-sufficiency, developed a vibrant showcase of African-American culture around the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and Archer Street. Hundreds of prosperous black businesses lined the streets and brought unheralded wealth to the community, earning the name, The Black Wall Street of America. Archer Street, the line of segregation between the black and white worlds, was the ironic symbol of opportunity and oppression. While segregation created a vital economic center for Blacks, it also defined their place in the nation, the state, and the city. , The Greenwood area suffered the most devastating single incident of racial violence in the 20th century on June 1, 1921 following a distorted, false claim of assault. In 24 hours, as many as 300 black citizens died, and 36 square blocks, 23 churches, and more than 2,000 businesses and homes went up in flames. A thick, gray pall hung over Tulsa's northern horizon for days as a result of the massive fires. With hands raised before the guns of soldiers, an estimated 6,000 Black men, women and children trudged past Greenwood and Archer Streets to temporary internment camps. , Fire and hatred had destroyed their community, but not their enterprising spirit. Tulsa's Black citizens rebuilt this famed business avenue more enterprising than before. The tragic incident of 1921 became the new beginning. This Black Wall Street Memorial is dedicated to the entrepreneurs, the pioneers, and to Greenwood Avenue's renaissance. It marks the past, the present and the future. The eternal flame symbolizes not mourning, but the resilience of a people. The fountain sanctifies those pioneering souls who refused to relinquish their dream. The Black Wall Street Memorial reaches for the unity of all God's people. , State Representative Don Ross Greenwood Cultural Center A founder 1996
, O Greenwood! Lest You Go Unheralded , She held the hopes and future of her own Others heard and came to pay her homage. She was a showcase for the industrious. Here stood the monuments of the proud. , And now, men falter amidst her rubbles. She symbolizes progress no more. A crone, stripped of her finery, so slowly changed, so lowly bowed. , Many, who she raised to dignity, Pass quickly by, all favors forgotten. Ignoring the sight of her deterioration, Aborting all thought of a second chance. , Few remain to dignify her disgrace or fight to reverse her demise. The ghosts of her better days await, Death rattles to intone the macabre dance. , O Greenwood! Lest you go unheralded, I sing a song of remembrance. While sons of your bounty, loyal still Place a headstone at the site of your victory. , Wynonia Murray Bailey Riot Survivor May 1967 ,
Commercial Destruction During 1921 Race War Place a headstone at the site of your victory. A.J. Douglas Barbershop . A.J. Smitherman, Tulsa Star Newspaper . Abbie Funchie Tailoring . Abbott, H.O. Printing . Abner and Hunter Barbershop . Albert Rooms . Anderson and Pearson Grocery . Anderson Jewelers . Anderson Rooms . A.S. Newkirk, Photographer . Attorney B.C. Franklin . Attorney E.I. Saddler . Attorney G.W. Hutchins . Attorney Graham Wilson . Attorney H.A. Guess . Attorney I.H. Spears . Attorney P.A. Chappelle . B and B Restaurant . Baker Building . Bank's Grocery . Barney Cleaver Properties . Bashear and Franklin Investments . Bayer Grocery . Bell and Little Cafι . Ben Rickett's Restaurant . Bert Saunder Groceries . Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church . Bill Woods Restaurant . Blue Goose Tailoring Company . Brisker Contracting . Brockman Brothers Rooms . Brooks Restaurant . Brothers Pastry . Brown Restaurant . Brown's Chapel CME Church . Brunswick Billiard Parlor . Bryant Eatery . Bunn's Shoeshine . Burnett Building . Burton Scarborough Tailoring Co. . Byars and Anderson Tailors . C.J. Jefferson Grocery . Cain's Cafι . Cameron Blacksmith . Cameron Waffle House . Carter Billiards . Carter's Barbershop . Carver-French Cleaners . Chalmer Electric , Charles Allen Tailor . Charles River Restaurant . Charleston Grocery . Charlie Driver Restaurant . Christ Temple CME Church . Clark Tailoring . Cleaver and Cherry Building . Clinton and Son's Grocery . Colored Insurance Association . Colored Public Library . Commodore's (Knotts) Cotton Club . Cooper and Smith Laundry . Cotton Grocery . Cox Grocery . Curry and Jarrett Grocery . Curry Meats . D.J. Lieverman Grocery . Daniel Clark Barbershop . Davis Gas Station . Dawsie Groceries . Dennis Barbershop . Dickerson Tailoring . Dickson F.E. Cafι . Dillard's Shoe Shine Parlor . Dixie Theater . Dora Wells Garment Factory . Dr. L.N. Neal . Dr. A.C. Jackson . Dr. A.J. Whitley . Dr. A.F. Bryant Building . Dr. B.F. Smith . Dr. B.A. Wayne . Dr. C.B. Wickham . Dr. C.E. Smith . Dr. F.M. Napier . Dr. G.G. Patrick . Dr. H.J. Watson . Dr. J.F. Wells . Dr. James Key . Dr. P.J. Travis . Dr. R.R. Robinson . Dr. R.T. Bridgewater . Dr. R.W. Motley . Dr. Richard Walker . Dr. S.E. Kimbrough . Dr. W.J. Woods Building . Dr. Wesley Joes . Dreamland Theater . Duke Grocery , Dunbar School . Duncan and Clinton Grocers . E.G. Howard Building . E.A. Hardy Furnished Rooms . Earl Real Estate . East End Feed Store . East End Garage . Economy Drugstore . Edward Jones Contracting Co. . Eldridge Restaurant . Eliott and Hooker Clothing . Exchange Insurance Co. . F.R. Williams Real Estate . Ferguson Drug Store . Florence Gabe Groceries . Friedman Brother's Grocery . Frissell Memorial Hospital . Fuhlman Grocery . G.W. Tate Barbershop . Gentry Real Estate . Gibbons Restaurant . Gist Building . Goodwin Building . Grace Johnson's Restaurant . Green Construction Co. . Grier Shoemaker . H. Johnson Rooms . H.L. Byers Produce . H.T. Wilson's Real Estate . Hankins Grocery . Hardy and Hardy Rooms . Harlem Cafι . Harper Chiropractor . Harris Grocery . Harris Restaurant . Harrison Dickson's Tax . Hill Building . Hodnett and Tillman Cafι . Hodnett Construction . Homan Rooms . Home Bakery Shop . Home Style Cafι . Hooker Photography . Hotel Alexander . Hotel Gurley . Howard and John's Restaurant . Howard Tailoring . Howard's Barbershop . Huff Confectionery , Hughes Cafι . Hunt Beauty Parlor . Hunter Restaurant . Hyder Blacksmith . Isaac Evitt's Zulu Lounge . J.L. Lockard Restaurant . J.B. Stradford Billiards . J.D. Mann, Grocer . J.L. McGowan Variety Store . J.L. Moseley Shoemaker . J.M. Black Restaurant . J.I. Wisman Tailor . J.W. George Meats . Jackson Undertaking Co. . Jackson's Barbers . Jacobs Novelty Shops . Jefferson Hotel . John Bell, Barber and Billiards . John R. Bell Leasing Co. . Johnson's Barbershop . Johnson's Grocery . Johnson's Plumbing . Johnson's Restaurant . Kelly Lunch Counter . Kerns Shoes . Knights of Pythias . Kyle Drugstore . Lacy Freight . Lacy Restaurant . Lafayette Hotel . Larue Jewelers . Lathan Taxi . Lawson Grocery . Lewis Grocery . Lilly Upholstery . Little-Pullman Cafι . McGregor Grocery and Meats . Logan Barbershop . Louis Newman Grocery and Meats . Loupe's Liberty Plumbing . Mabel Little Hairdresser . Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Parlor . Mary J. Parrish Private School . Matthews Grocery . Max Bischoff Grocery and Meats . McDonald's Rooms . McKeever, J.J. . Meeks Building , Metropolitan Baptist Church . Midway Hotel . Morgan Rooms . Mt. Zion Baptist Church . Murray Rooms . Myer Building . Nails Brothers Shoe Shop . Nannie Smith Beauty Parlor . Napier and Newkirk Photography . Neal Tailoring . Neal, L.S. Jewler . Neely and Vanden Billiards . Nerra Restaurant . Netherland Building . Netherland, C.L. Barber . Newman and Howard Restaurant . North Greenwood Church of God . Odd Fellows Hall . Oklahoma Laundry Co. . Oklahoma Sun Newspaper . Oquawka Cigar Store . Osborn Monroe Skating Ring . Oscar and J.H. Williams Confectionery . Osteen and Levy Tailors . Owens Restaurant . Paradise Baptist Church . Parlee Building . Pastel Steam Laundry . Paylor Barbershop . Payner Tailoring . Payne's Restaurant . People's Drugstore . People's Tailoring Shop . Percy's Cafι . Phillips Building . Phillips Building Two . Piro Building . Pullman Tailoring Co. . R.G. Dunn and Co. . R.J. Clark Enterprises . R.L. Scaggs . Ray Smith Barbershop . Red Wing Cafι . Red Wing Hotel . Redfern Building . Robinson Brothers Lights . Rogers Confectionery . Roland Furniture-Rooms , Rollerson Upholstery and Grocery . Royal Hotel . S.G. Smith Insurance . Safety First Loan Co. . Sam Mackey Properties . Sam Smith Grocery . Smith Apartments . Smith Billiards . Smith Building . Smith Furniture . Smith Hardware . Smith Real Estate . Smith's Welcome Grocery . Snobe Billiards . St. Paul Pool Hall . Stokenberry hoe Shines . Stovall Barbershop . Stovall Building . Stradford Hotel . Superior Rug Cleaners . Sutherland Plumbing . The Novelty Shop . Thompson Drugstore . Tillman and Lewis Hotel . Tip Top Grocery Store . Titus Building . Twine Real Estate . U.S. Federal Post Office . Uncle Steve's Barbecue . Union Baptist Church . Union Grocery . Vernon AME Church . Vernon Rooms . Walker Rooms . Warren Rooms . West Archer Lunch Room . Whitaker Rooms . White and Brown Restaurant . Williams Building . Williams Garage . Williams Real Estate . Wilson Barbershop . Woodard, S.Y. . Wright and Dawson Restaurant
1921 Black Wall Street Memorial
After statehood, Tulsa's Black community, through resourcefulness, spirit, and self-sufficiency, developed a vibrant showcase of African-American culture around the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and Archer Street. Hundreds of prosperous black businesses lined the streets and brought unheralded wealth to the community, earning the name, The Black Wall Street of America. Archer Street, the line of segregation between the black and white worlds, was the ironic symbol of opportunity and oppression. While segregation created a vital economic center for Blacks, it also defined their place in the nation, the state, and the city.
The Greenwood area suffered the most devastating single incident of racial violence in the 20th century on June 1, 1921 following a distorted, false claim of assault. In 24 hours, as many as 300 black citizens died, and 36 square blocks, 23 churches, and more than 2,000 businesses and homes went up in flames. A thick, gray pall hung over Tulsa's northern horizon for days as a result of the massive fires. With hands raised before the guns of soldiers, an estimated 6,000 Black men, women and children trudged past Greenwood and Archer Streets to temporary internment camps.
Fire and hatred had destroyed their community,
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but not their enterprising spirit. Tulsa's Black citizens rebuilt this famed business avenue more enterprising than before. The tragic incident of 1921 became the new beginning. This Black Wall Street Memorial is dedicated to the entrepreneurs, the pioneers, and to Greenwood Avenue's renaissance. It marks the past, the present and the future. The eternal flame symbolizes not mourning, but the resilience of a people. The fountain sanctifies those pioneering souls who refused to relinquish their dream. The Black Wall Street Memorial reaches for the unity of all God's people.
State Representative Don Ross
Greenwood Cultural Center
A founder
1996
O Greenwood!
Lest You Go Unheralded
She held the hopes and future of her own
Others heard and came to pay her homage.
She was a showcase for the industrious.
Here stood the monuments of the proud.
And now, men falter amidst her rubbles.
She symbolizes progress no more.
A crone, stripped of her finery,
so slowly changed, so lowly bowed.
Many, who she raised to dignity,
Pass quickly by, all favors forgotten.
Ignoring the sight of her deterioration,
Aborting all thought of a second chance.
Few remain to dignify her disgrace
or fight to reverse her demise.
The ghosts of her better days
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
2. O Greenwood!/Commercial Destruction During 1921 Race War side of marker
await,
Death rattles to intone the macabre dance.
O Greenwood! Lest you go unheralded,
I sing a song of remembrance.
While sons of your bounty, loyal still
Place a headstone at the site of your victory.
Wynonia Murray Bailey
Riot Survivor
May 1967
Commercial Destruction During 1921 Race War
Place a headstone at the site of your victory
A.J. Douglas Barbershop A.J. Smitherman, Tulsa Star Newspaper Abbie Funchie Tailoring Abbott, H.O. Printing Abner & Hunter Barbershop Albert Rooms Anderson & Pearson Grocery Anderson Jewelers Anderson Rooms A.S. Newkirk, Photographer Attorney B.C. Franklin Attorney E.I. Saddler Attorney G.W. Hutchins Attorney Graham Wilson Attorney H.A. Guess Attorney I.H. Spears Attorney P.A. Chappelle B & B Restaurant Baker Building Bank's Grocery Barney Cleaver Properties Bashear & Franklin Investments Bayer Grocery Bell & Little Cafι Ben Rickett's Restaurant Bert Saunder Groceries Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church Bill Woods Restaurant Blue Goose Tailoring Company Brisker Contracting Brockman Brothers Rooms Brooks Restaurant Brothers Pastry Brown Restaurant Brown's Chapel CME Church Brunswick Billiard Parlor Bryant Eatery Bunn's Shoeshine Burnett Building Burton Scarborough Tailoring Co.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
3. Closeup of 1921 Black Wall Street Memorial Side of Marker
Byars & Anderson Tailors C.J. Jefferson Grocery Cain's Cafι Cameron Blacksmith Cameron Waffle House Carter Billiards Carter's Barbershop Carver-French Cleaners Chalmer Electric
Charles Allen Tailor Charles River Restaurant Charleston Grocery Charlie Driver Restaurant Christ Temple CME Church Clark Tailoring Cleaver and Cherry Building Clinton & Son's Grocery Colored Insurance Association Colored Public Library Commodore's (Knotts) Cotton Club Cooper & Smith Laundry Cotton Grocery Cox Grocery Curry & Jarrett Grocery Curry Meats D.J. Lieverman Grocery Daniel Clark Barbershop Davis Gas Station Dawsie Groceries Dennis Barbershop Dickerson Tailoring Dickson F.E. Cafι Dillard's Shoe Shine Parlor Dixie Theater Dora Wells Garment Factory Dr. L.N. Neal Dr. A.C. Jackson Dr. A.J. Whitley Dr. A.F. Bryant Building Dr. B.F. Smith Dr. B.A. Wayne Dr. C.B. Wickham Dr. C.E. Smith Dr. F.M. Napier Dr. G.G. Patrick Dr. H.J. Watson Dr. J.F. Wells Dr. James Key Dr. P.J. Travis Dr. R.R. Robinson Dr. R.T. Bridgewater Dr. R.W. Motley Dr. Richard Walker Dr. S.E. Kimbrough Dr. W.J. Woods Building Dr. Wesley Joes Dreamland Theater Duke Grocery
Dunbar School Duncan & Clinton Grocers E.G. Howard Building E.A. Hardy Furnished Rooms Earl Real Estate East End Feed Store
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
4. Closeup of O Greenwood! Portion of Marker
East End Garage Economy Drugstore Edward Jones Contracting Co. Eldridge Restaurant Eliott & Hooker Clothing Exchange Insurance Co. F.R. Williams Real Estate Ferguson Drug Store Florence Gabe Groceries Friedman Brother's Grocery Frissell Memorial Hospital Fuhlman Grocery G.W. Tate Barbershop Gentry Real Estate Gibbons Restaurant Gist Building Goodwin Building Grace Johnson's Restaurant Green Construction Co. Grier Shoemaker H. Johnson Rooms H.L. Byers Produce H.T. Wilson's Real Estate Hankins Grocery Hardy & Hardy Rooms Harlem Cafι Harper Chiropractor Harris Grocery Harris Restaurant Harrison Dickson's Tax Hill Building Hodnett & Tillman Cafι Hodnett Construction Homan Rooms Home Bakery Shop Home Style Cafι Hooker Photography Hotel Alexander Hotel Gurley Howard & John's Restaurant Howard Tailoring Howard's Barbershop Huff Confectionery
Hughes Cafι Hunt Beauty Parlor Hunter Restaurant Hyder Blacksmith Isaac Evitt's Zulu Lounge J.L. Lockard Restaurant J.B. Stradford Billiards J.D. Mann, Grocer J.L. McGowan Variety Store J.L. Moseley Shoemaker J.M. Black Restaurant J.I. Wisman Tailor J.W. George Meats Jackson Undertaking Co. Jackson's Barbers Jacobs Novelty Shops Jefferson Hotel John Bell, Barber & Billiards John R. Bell Leasing Co. Johnson's Barbershop
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
5. Closeup of Commercial Destruction During 1921 Race War Side of Marker
Johnson's Grocery Johnson's Plumbing Johnson's Restaurant Kelly Lunch Counter Kerns Shoes Knights of Pythias Kyle Drugstore Lacy Freight Lacy Restaurant Lafayette Hotel Larue Jewelers Lathan Taxi Lawson Grocery Lewis Grocery Lilly Upholstery Little-Pullman Cafι McGregor Grocery & Meats Logan Barbershop Louis Newman Grocery & Meats Loupe's Liberty Plumbing Mabel Little Hairdresser Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Parlor Mary J. Parrish Private School Matthews Grocery Max Bischoff Grocery & Meats McDonald's Rooms McKeever, J.J. Meeks Building
Metropolitan Baptist Church Midway Hotel Morgan Rooms Mt. Zion Baptist Church Murray Rooms Myer Building Nails Brothers Shoe Shop Nannie Smith Beauty Parlor Napier & Newkirk Photography Neal Tailoring Neal, L.S. Jewler Neely & Vanden Billiards Nerra Restaurant Netherland Building Netherland, C.L. Barber Newman & Howard Restaurant North Greenwood Church of God Odd Fellows Hall Oklahoma Laundry Co. Oklahoma Sun Newspaper Oquawka Cigar Store Osborn Monroe Skating Ring Oscar & J.H. Williams Confectionery Osteen & Levy Tailors Owens Restaurant Paradise Baptist Church Parlee Building Pastel Steam Laundry Paylor Barbershop Payner Tailoring Payne's Restaurant People's Drugstore People's Tailoring Shop Percy's Cafι Phillips Building
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
6. 1921 Black Wall Street Memorial / O Greenwood!/Commercial Destruction During 1921 Race War Marker
Phillips Building Two Piro Building Pullman Tailoring Co. R.G. Dunn & Co. R.J. Clark Enterprises R.L. Scaggs Ray Smith Barbershop Red Wing Cafι Red Wing Hotel Redfern Building Robinson Brothers Lights Rogers Confectionery Roland Furniture-Rooms
Rollerson Upholstery & Grocery Royal Hotel S.G. Smith Insurance Safety First Loan Co. Sam Mackey Properties Sam Smith Grocery Smith Apartments Smith Billiards Smith Building Smith Furniture Smith Hardware Smith Real Estate Smith's Welcome Grocery Snobe Billiards St. Paul Pool Hall Stokenberry hoe Shines Stovall Barbershop Stovall Building Stradford Hotel Superior Rug Cleaners Sutherland Plumbing The Novelty Shop Thompson Drugstore Tillman and Lewis Hotel Tip Top Grocery Store Titus Building Twine Real Estate U.S. Federal Post Office Uncle Steve's Barbecue Union Baptist Church Union Grocery Vernon AME Church Vernon Rooms Walker Rooms Warren Rooms West Archer Lunch Room Whitaker Rooms White & Brown Restaurant Williams Building Williams Garage Williams Real Estate Wilson Barbershop Woodard, S.Y. Wright & Dawson Restaurant
Location.
36° 9.71′ N, 95° 59.216′ W. Marker is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in Tulsa County. It is in Greenwood. It is on North Greenwood Avenue north of Crosstown Expressway (Interstate 244), on the left when traveling north. Memorial is in front of Greenwood Cultural Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 322 N Greenwood Ave, Tulsa OK 74120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Oklahoma’s Muscogee Nation and specifically in the Cherokee Nation. It is also in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 725 times since then and 135 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 15, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 6. submitted on May 16, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
