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The massacre of Tulsa's "Black Wall Street"

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In 1921, a white mob destroyed an American neighborhood called “Black Wall Street,” murdering an estimated 300 people in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That incident — known as the Tulsa Race Massacre — has been largely left out of US history books. Today, the city still has a lot of questions. For one, where are the bodies of the victims? Vox takes a look at what happened 100 years ago.


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Additional Resources for you to Explore
Take a look at photos of the Greenwood District known as Black Wall Street, before and after the 1921 massacre.

Learn about 9 entrepreneurs who helped build the businesses of Black Wall Street and turned the district into a successful and thriving community.

Explore the Tulsa Historical Society’s exhibit of the massacre, including photos, audio recordings from survivors of the attack and historians of the era, primary source documents and legal suits by those who had lost property, and more. 

Listen to the Tulsa Burning podcast, a six-episode narrative that traces the rise of the Greenwood district into a successful business community and the lasting legacy of the massacre, and its impact on Tulsa and the country.

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About TED-Ed Best of Web

TED-Ed Best of Web are exceptional, user-created lessons that are carefully selected by volunteer teachers and TED-Ed staff.

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