Part 1: The Greenwood Riots
Considered one of the wealthiest African American community in the early twentieth century, Greenwood is a region in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Greenwood was often referred to as America’s “Black Wall Street” not until the year 1921 when it was rocked by devastating riots. These riots were connoted as Tulsa Race Riot, which posed shocking impacts on the flourishing Greenwood community. The riots are considered one of the most devastating holocausts in the history of United States race associations (Rucker & James 24). Close to five years after these riots, Greenwood populations who survived the massacre stayed in Tulsa and tried their best to salvage what remained of their once thriving neighbourhood. Despite the efforts of these populations to rebuild Tulsa, white business and political leaders opposed them immensely. Nonetheless, these populations managed to accomplish rebuilding the Greenwood neighbourhood.
What led to the Outbreak of Greenwood Riots?
Before the greenwood riots, Tulsa was characterized by increased rates of crime coupled with the presence of vigilante groups. This was evident by the lynching of a suspected white murderer in the year 1920. However, it was not until the months of May and June, 1921 when the Tulsa was rocked by riots. The riots were initiated by an incident that happened in a building known as Drexel Building (Gallagher & Cameron 68). The incident involved an African American; Dick Rowland, and a white elevator operator; White Page. While stepping on the elevator, Rowland stepped on Page making her scream. Tulsa’s newspaper; Tulsa Tribune misreported this incident by claiming that Rowland had attempted to rape Page. The paper further published an editorial named “To Lynch Negro Tonight.” This did not auger well the Tulsa populations as it elicited talks on lynching.
Thereafter, Rowland was arrested, and rumours spread around Tulsa that whites who wanted to lynch had converged in Courthouse. This prompted armed African Americans who participated in the World War 1 to converge at the Courthouse to “protect” Rowland from the whites who wanted to lynch him. The authorities managed to contain these two groups, but later on false rumours spread that whites had managed to break into the Courthouse. The African Americans responded swiftly and went to the Courthouse and a confrontation started between them and the whites and this marked the start of the Greenwood riots (Brown & Barry 9).
Summary and Immediate aftermath of Greenwood Riots
After the incident discussed above, chaos plunged Tulsa as whites frustrated over their failed attempt to lynch Rowland vented their rage on African Americans. This resulted in furious fight along railroad tracks of Frisco, but black managed to hold off members of the white mob. However, an unarmed African American was murdered as whites made drive-by shootings in the black residences (Brophy 17). Overall, Greenwood riots resulted in a crisis marked by increased number of fatalities. The impacts of the riots include arrest that were made, destruction of homes, and injuries inflicted on the populations.
Significance of Greenwood Riots to American History
Deductively, Greenwood riots are significant to the American history in that they present the persistent discrepancies that exist in racial relations amongst blacks and whites (Banks 71). The riots offer a critical analysis of racial discrimination that whites and blacks have often vented on each other. In fact, the riots confirm common notions that racial discrimination between blacks and whites can be traced back to the ancient times.
Part Two: The Teapot Dome scandal
Occurring during the tenure of President Warren G. Harding, Teapot Dome Scandal occurs as one of the most controversial scandals that have rocked the United States Presidency. In fact, this scandal almost wrecked Harding’s presidency. The scope of the Teapot Dome Scandal can be traced to the close of the early 1920’s when federal oil reserves were secretly leased by Albert Bacon; the then secretary of interior. Before the occurrence of this scandal, Harding had transferred the management of naval oil reserve lands to the Interior Department, which was previously under the supervision of the navy. After this transfer, Bacon in secret granted Sinclair Harry from Mammoth Oil Corporation exclusive rights to Teapot Dome reserves. On a similar note, Bacon approved similar rights to Pan American Petroleum Company owned by Doheny Edward for Buena Vista Hills and Elk Hills oil reserves, both situated in California. In exchange, Bacon was accorded grants (loans with no interest) and huge cash gifts. Certainly, this was corruption of the highest order.
Soon the congress learned of the leases and asked President Harding to withdraw the leases. In fact, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that the leases were falsified. In addition, the Court declared that transfer of authority by President Harding was illegal. While it is true that Harding was not mutually implicated in the transactions pertaining the leases, the fact that he had associations with Bacon, showed that he might have been an asset of the transactions. Investigations were launched pertaining this scandal, but unfortunately the scandal took a toll on Harding leading to his ill health, which eventually caused his death. Bacon was convicted for being corrupt, whereas Sinclair and Doheny were acquitted of any criminal conspiracy and bribery charges. However, Sinclair was imprisoned for six and a half months for contempt of senate and contempt of court. This scandal had collateral effect on the Republican Party, but a republican candidate; Coolidge Calvin succeeded Harding in the elections that were held in the year 1924.
Work Cited
Banks, Marlene. Greenwood and Archer. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2012. Print.
Brophy, Alfred L. Reconstructing the Dreamland: The Tulsa Riot of 1921. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print.
Brown, Nikki L. M, and Barry M. Stentiford. The Jim Crow Encyclopaedia. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2008. Print.
Gallagher, Charles A, and Cameron D. Lippard. Race and Racism in the United States: An Encyclopaedia of the American Mosaic. , 2014. Print.
Rucker, Walter C, and James N. Upton. Encyclopaedia of American Race Riots: Vol. 1. Westport, Conn [u.a.: Greenwood Press, 2007. Print.
