‘Built From The Fire:’ Journalist, Author Helps Share Stories From Generations Of Greenwood’s Community

Some of the descendants of the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors say even though more people are learning the story about the massacre through social media and TV shows like "The Watchmen," the whole story isn’t being told.

“It’s important for me to be as accurate and as authentic as I can in telling these people's very treasured stories," said journalist and author Victor Luckerson. 

Luckerson moved to Tulsa in 2018 to start writing a book called, "Built from the Fire" which details the history of the Greenwood district before and after 1921. He's also telling the stories of those who've lived through it all.

"I really wanted to be able to tell people's stories across generations in this community and not just fixate on the massacre. That was one event in Greenwood history, but it doesn't define that neighborhood's entire history,” said Luckerson.

His book includes the story of John and Loula Williams, who traveled to Tulsa in the early 1900's with their son WD.

"They were the first Blacks with a car in Tulsa," said WD’s grandson, Charles E. Christopher II.

Ahead of the massacre, the couple opened a candy store, an auto repair shop and the historic Dreamland Theater. The buildings burned to the ground, but the Williams family survived the massacre.

"They were very resilient in the entire process and they overcame a lot," said Christopher.

Christopher said he first remembers learning about the massacre, when his grandfather, WD, sat down for an interview with State Representative Don Ross.

"I was seven years old, and he came to interview my grandfather in his den at his house off of Denver," said Christopher.

Christopher said the massacre wasn't talked about much when he was a child, but lately the story has come to the surface, especially when the HBO Series, “The Watchmen” first premiered.

He said the young boy sitting in the theater in the very first scene reminds him of his grandfather, WD.

“It was the Dreamland Theater and I believed the little boy was my grandfather and the story goes on," said Christopher. 

But Christopher said the story that isn't told is how Black Wall Street came back to life. Christopher connected with Luckerson during a previous anniversary of the massacre. Both believe it's important for people to know the stories of the those who survived.

"We have this narrative about Black Wall Street rebuilt and everyone is so resilient and that's true, but there were still scars that remained after that horrible attack and I think it's important to talk about those aspects of the story as well,” said Luckerson.

Luckerson said he was inspired to come to Tulsa after realizing there wasn't much written about the powerful people who built Black Wall Street, like John and Loula Williams.

He said he started finding so many people willing to share their stories, that he had to start publishing some of his research in a bi-weekly newsletter called 'Run it Back.'

"When you understand the full lives people lived, I think the horror of what happened to them is easier to comprehend and identify with and want to make sure never happens again,” said Luckerson. 

Luckerson said it’s his mission to make sure people know the stories of those who created the empire. He said the families of the descendants are thankful their stories are finally coming to light.

"History is very much alive right now, in a lot of different ways, and Americans are waking up to that fact in a way that they weren't even two years ago. And I think that's a positive thing for us moving forward,” said Luckerson.

Luckerson's book, "Built from the Fire" is expected to be published in 2022. You can find Luckerson’s newsletter “Run it Back” at this site here.