MLK: Never Forget

Today is the anniversary of the assassination of great, forward thinking Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Below are a collection of unpublished photographs taken only a few hours after his death by LIFE photographer Henry Groskinsky. All photos can be found on the Life magazine website.

“The Lorraine Motel photographed in the hours after Dr. King’s assassination, April 4, 1968”

 

“The building on the left is the abandoned building from which Groskinsky took several of his photographs on the night of April 4; the building on the right might well be the house from which James Earl Ray shot Dr. King.”

 

“Colleagues gather on the balcony outside the Lorraine Motel’s room 306, just a few feet from where Dr. King was shot.”

 

“Martin Luther King Jr.’s neatly packed, monogrammed briefcase in his room at the Lorraine Motel, April 4, 1968 — with his brush, his pajamas, a can of shaving cream and his book, Strength to Love, visible in the pocket.”

Tulsa Race Riot 1921

I decided to write a blog about this due to recent news of the possibility passing of Oklahoma legislation that would require state high schools to teach about the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. I believe this is absolutely crucial to teach.

The Department of Education says the state has required it in OK History classes since 2000 and US History classes since 2004. However, it’s become rather “optional” for teachers to teach. (I can attest to this. I was NEVER taught about this in any of my history classes. College courses either. And my BA Minor was in History.)

The entire nation should know about one of the largest massacres/acts of domestic terrorism of nonmilitary Americans…which occurred in our own back yard.

May 31, 1921.

Greenwood, area North of Tulsa, Oklahoma, then referred to as “Black Wall Street” and “Little Africa” was a thriving African American community. Populated by 10,000 people. It was a separate, self-sufficient city with it’s own bus system, dozens of churches, schools and hospitals. Even two newspapers.

Beginning: Dick Rowland, 19-year-old African American, entered an elevator operated by white, 17 year old Sarah Page. What transpired between the two is unknown. But Page cried assault and Rowland was arrested.

A group of 75, armed African Americans went to offer their assistance in protecting Rowland from any white mobs looking to do harm. This large group however incited a new mob of whites. A shot rang out. Pandemonium ensued.

June 1, 1921: a little after 1AM an all out assault began with looting and fires being intentionally set and spread quickly. Firefighters attempting to put out the flames were shot or held back at gunpoint.

Planes also attacked Greenwood dropping incendiary bombs and fired rifles at black residents on the ground.

The number of dead is unknown. Believed to range from 30-200 lost souls. Over 800 were admitted to hospitals. Over 6,000 Greenwood residents were arrested.

The property damage added up to $1.5 million (21 million in today’s money). 35 city blocks were destroyed. Over 600 businesses destroyed. Over 10,000 were homeless. (in 1921 dollars) and 10,000 people were left homeless.

The events of the riot were omitted from local and state history. In 1996, the state legislature commissioned a report, completed in 2001, to establish the historical record

Visit for more complete info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot