Greenwood Business Owners Prepare For Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Events

As Greenwood businesses and event organizers prepare for the Tulsa Race Massacre centennial, they hope people will continue to learn about the massacre even after the weekend.

Some Greenwood business owners said the 100th anniversary will be one of the most important things to ever happen in Tulsa.

Signs are up and last-minute preparations being made as Tulsa's Greenwood District prepares for a week in the national spotlight.

“This is a terrific opportunity for businesses across the city," said Venita Cooper, owner of Silhouette Sneakers & Art.

The Black Wall Street Legacy festival will host events Thursday through Monday, including local musicians, speeches, marches, and art unveilings to amplify black Tulsans.

“I love being here," Cooper said. "One of the reasons I wanted to be here was to carry on that legacy of successful black business owners before me.”

Silhouette Sneakers and Art downtown and will host some of those local artists.

“I believe in the talent here, and any role we can play, we want to do that,” Cooper said.

The Black Wall Street Times will also open up its storefront on Thursday as part of the festival.

“We grew from there, and now we’re able to have a storefront," said Associate Editor Deon Osborne. “The significance is not lost on us. It's in the same area that was once part of Black Wall street.”

Osborne said the publication started as a blog a few years back, aimed at educating people about the Tulsa Race Massacre. Now, they’re a fully staffed news operation publishing stories daily.

"Whether it was education or politics, [it has] the African American perspective that was missing," said Osborne.

Osborne said this week is more of a commemoration than a celebration and he wants people to realize the centennial is just the beginning of education and change.

“We want to lift up those ancestors and voices," said Osborne. 

Next Monday, there will be a Justice for Greenwood survivor town hall, and then thousands are expected for the Remember and Rise event featuring speakers and musicians at OneOK Field. 

You can find a full list of events planned for the weekend in this story here.