Greenwood Rising Historical Marker Dedicated in Remembrance of 1921
STANDING TALL: Community leaders gathered to dedicate the first of six historic boundary markers surrounding the Greenwood District. From L to R: Nathan Koob and Stephen Dinnen with Selser Schaefer Architects who designed the boundary markers; Sam Combs, vice chair, Greenwood Rising; Phil Armstrong, interim executive director, Greenwood Rising; Komari Crisp, Booker T Washington student and Youth and Race Leadership Forum 2020 participant; Sen. Kevin Matthews, chair and founder of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission; and Dep. Mayor Cassia Carr, City of Tulsa.
The final project of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission was dedicated in November. Six boundary markers will ensure visitors know they are entering the historic Greenwood District and remind people that the Greenwood District encompasses a large area of Tulsa than is commonly recognized.
Commissioners, Greenwood leaders and elected officials attended a short dedication ceremony at the first marker at the corner of Archer and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The following individuals spoke during the event:
Sen. Kevin Matthews, 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission Founder and Chair; Cassia Carr, Deputy Mayor, City of Tulsa; Jessica Lowe-Betts, Chair, Greenwood Rising Board of Directors; Sam Combs, Vice Chair, Greenwood Rising Board of Directors; Phil Armstrong, Interim Executive Director, Greenwood Rising; and Rev. Dr. Eric Gill, Pastor of Operations for Metropolitan Baptist Church.
Greenwood Rising is the legacy project of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. The Commission began in 2015 under the leadership of Senator Kevin Mathews dedicated to a vision of a stronger and more just Tulsa.
The Greenwood Rising History Center and other projects of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission (including these Historic Boundary Markers) 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.
