Tulsa, 1921: Reporting a Massacre

329 Pages·27.466 MB·English

by  Randy Krehbiel

R A N D Y K R E H B I E L
t u l s a
1921
R E P O R T I N G
A M A S S A C R E
FOREWORD BY KARLOS K. HILL
t u l s a
1921

RANDY KREHBIEL
t u l s a
1921
R E P OR T I NG
A M A S S AC R E
FOREWORD BY KARLOS K. HILL
University of Oklahoma Press : Norman
This book is published with the generous assistance
of the Wallace C. Thompson Endowment Fund,
University of Oklahoma Foundation.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Krehbiel, Randy, author.
Title: Tulsa, 1921 : reporting a massacre / Randy Krehbiel.
Description: Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, [2019] | Includes bibliographical
references and index. | Summary: “Examines the events and players contributing to,
participating in, and responding to Tulsa’s 1921 race riot and massacre and the social,
political and historical context in which it occurred”— Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018054090 | ISBN 978-0-8061-6331-4 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Tulsa Race Riot, Tulsa, Okla., 1921. | Tulsa Race Riot, Tulsa, Okla., 1921—Press
coverage—Oklahoma—Tulsa. | African Americans—Violence against—Oklahoma—
Tulsa—History—20th century. | Greenwood (Tulsa, Okla.)—Race relations—History—20th
century. | Tulsa (Okla.)—Race relations—History—20th century. | Racism—Oklahoma—
Tulsa—History—20th century. | Tulsa world. | Tulsa tribune.
Classification: LCC F704.T92 K74 2019 | DDC 976.6/8600496073—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018054090
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee
on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources, Inc. ∞
Copyright © 2019 by the University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Publishing Division of the
University. Manufactured in the U.S.A.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise—except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the United States
Copyright Act—without the prior written permission of the University of Oklahoma Press. To
request permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, University
of Oklahoma Press, 2800 Venture Drive, Norman OK 73069, or email [email protected].
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
To Lenzy and Jay,
and to the people of Tulsa.
May they always seek truth.

CONTENTS
List of Illustrations ix
Foreword, by Karlos K. Hill xi
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xvii
1. May 30, 1921 3
2. Tulsa 9
3. Greenwood 18
4. “The Story That Set Tulsa Ablaze” 30
5. Chaos 43
6. “Mob Spirit and Fever Heat” 52
7. Retribution 66
8. Aftermath 82
9. “Wounds of Passion” 95
10. “It Must Not Be Again” 111
11. Directed Verdict 134
12. The New Negro 151
13. Trials and Tribulations 164
14. The Years Since 197
viii Contents
List of Key Figures 231
Chronology 235
Notes 241
Bibliography 291
Index 301
ILLUSTRATIONS
Figures
Deputy Sheriff Barney Cleaver 60
Oklahoma attorney general S. Prentiss Freeling 60
The Drexel Building in downtown Tulsa 61
Attorneys Isaac H. “Ike” Spears and B. C. Franklin
with an assistant 62
Lawman John Smitherman 62
Reporter Mary Jones Parrish 63
Dr. A. C. Jackson 63
Tulsa County Courthouse 64
Police Chief John Gustafson 64
Tulsa Tribune article headlined “Nab Negro
for Attacking Girl in an Elevator,” June 1, 1921 64
Front page of the June 1, 1921, state edition
of the Tulsa Tribune 65
Greenwood Avenue in 1938 127
Oklahoma assistant attorney general
Kathryn Van Leuven 127
Adjutant General Charles Barrett,
Oklahoma National Guard 127
ix