Greenwood Rising Opens To Tulsa Race Massacre Descendants, Local Community

Greenwood Rising isn't open for most people yet, but those who have seen it say they're blown away by the museum.

The History Center is open for Tulsa Race Massacre descendants and people who live near Greenwood. The History Center tells the history of Black Wall Street before and after the Tulsa Race Massacre. 

Senator Kevin Matthews said he hopes the exhibit will inspire the youth of today.

"That kind of history is very important to the confidence of a child. To a child to know their potential, and for us to go 100 years without being able to have this story told is just a shame," Matthews said. "I grew up in north Tulsa schools, I never got taught this in school, in any school I went to. I didn't know it until I was in my thirties." 

Some lifelong Tulsans said the museum showed them elements of the past they hadn't seen.

"It brought back a lot of emotion, questions that I've had as a child growing up about Tulsa, north Tulsa versus south Tulsa," said native Tulsan JaMeece Brisco. "When you understand what the history is, it helps you to build your future, to have hope and know that there is hope for a better future." 

Matthews said he still learns something new about the massacre every day. He's glad this chapter of Tulsa's history is being told in this way. 

"I didn't know or believe it until I saw it in other places, and now we can see it here," Matthews said.