TULSA, Okla.–TTCU FCU has pledged $100,000 over the next four years to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission and Greenwood Rising, a state-of-the-art history center located in the heart of historic Greenwood designed to honor the legacy of what was known as “Black Wall Street” before and after the massacre.
The facility is under construction with a scheduled public opening in late June 2021. One-hundred years earlier, over 18 hours from May 31-June 1, 1921, a white mob attacked residents, homes and businesses in the predominantly Black Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa. More than 1,200 homes and business were burned over a 35-block area, and at least 36 people were officially said to have been killed, including 26 Blacks and 10 whites.
"Greenwood Rising will become one of the most transformative initiatives for our city and nation, leading the way towards greater racial healing and justice," TTCU FCU President and CEO Tim Lyons said. "We think it's important to learn from the past as well as look forward to the future, and we are very honored to help support this vital effort."
The Objective
According to the credit union, the efforts of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission will educate Oklahomans and Americans about the race massacre and its impact on the state and nation; remember its victims and survivors; and create an environment conducive to fostering sustainable entrepreneurship and heritage tourism within the Greenwood District specifically, and North Tulsa generally.
"We are grateful for the financial support of TTCU to help us build Greenwood Rising," said Phil Armstrong, project director of the Commission. "These funds get us closer to our fundraising goal to finalize the visitor offerings within the history center and provide programming to facilitate the reconciliation and healing process."