Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre, one of the most tragic domestic terrorism instances visited upon the Black community.
On May 31st 1921, the Black neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma – dubbed “the Black Wall Street” because of the concentration of wealth and successful Black-owned businesses – was razed to the ground over the course of 48 horrific hours. Ten thousand Black Tulsa residents were left homeless. Death toll estimates range from 39 to 300 dead. The devastation was so thorough that the massacre is now considered one of the worst instances of racial violence in American history.
Aftermath of the destruction on “the Black Wall Street,” on this day in Tulsa in 1921.
Sadly, our nation treated the Tulsa Massacre the same as so much of our country’s sordid history of racism – as a painful memory better left in the wastebin of forgotten past, as just one more insignificant footnote. For 80 years, Tulsa officials did not produce an accounting of the tragedy. If not for enterprising Black historians committed to telling the true story of the Black experience in America, the destruction of Black Wall Street may well have been lost to history.
But today, we remember.
We remember the lives that were lost and the community that was shattered over those fateful 48 hours. We remember the complicity of government officials who either ignored what was happening or fueled the violence. We remember that Greenwood was likely to have been bombed from the air by civilian and police airplanes, making it the first American city to have ever experienced such an assault.
We must also remember that the incident began over the Memorial Day weekend, on the national day of remembrance that traces its roots, in part, to 1865 when 10,000 freed slaves held a ceremony to commemorate the 257 Union Soldiers who died while held as prisoners of war in Charleston, South Carolina.
A number of Black Veterans tried to stop the Tulsa Massacre from happening, but they were powerless against the racist rage that consumed the city. They were the same Black Veterans who had lived through the “Red Summer” of 1919, in which thousands of Black people were murdered across the country in response to the attempts by Black Veterans to be treated equally after serving in World War I. Just like the other Black Veterans that came before and after them, they had to fight for the same freedoms at home as they did in battlefields overseas, often at great cost.
So today, we remember Tulsa and the bitter struggle of Black Veterans to be treated with honor and dignity. We remember because the success of our department’s mission to serve all Veterans and the endurance of our nation depends on knowing, acknowledging, and learning from our history.
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https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/tulsa-race-massacre
Cynthia, if you go to the “History Channel” for information on our nation’s history, you are in serious trouble. Do your own research. History Channel is a joke!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H–xP8Xvnd8
Mr Tatum is spot on with his evaluation on what happened in 1921 Tulsa, OK.
You’re wrong, Rick.
Right on.
I don’t know where you live, that you feel that way . I am in Florida and blacks and white love each other, party and mix and do not accept as truth the b.s. that the main stream media and our government is putting out their . The KKK was made up exclusively of democrats. And that party is no different today. They have kept themselves in power by exploiting blacks and trying to convince them that they are victims, and that they must rely on government to survive. Let me inform you. Young educated blacks today are whole heartedly rejecting that premise. Good luck to you. Remember. You just need your self and belief in God. Then you can do/ be anything you want.
You can spend all day digging up bones and trying to stir up hate and trouble but it is not going to work. Black people today are too smart for you democrats to keep them in chains any longer. The blacks I talk to today see through your evilness and recognize that the media is doing the same thing.. Your days of spreading this hate are numbered. The party of the kkk and Jim Crow has about 16 months and they will be fini.
This is The Biden administrations idea of healing by bringing up a tragic event from 100 years ago which the state of Oaklahoma recognized in 1996 and even passed a bill for reparations to descendents. However the problem is that the recount by the biden administration and others makes it sound like a group of whites attacked blacks in their homes spontaneously. That is not the case. The entire event was sparked by a single incident which then got out of hand through misinformation and by unintended action very similar to the events in Ferguson which were fanbec by obama and george floyd’s death. How many people died or had their property destroyed. There is no difference here except today the politicians use an old incident as a publicity stunt passing misinformation. Meanwhile they make excuses for the current situations by making excuses and turning a blind eye to the exact same behaviors.
The problem is that democrats believe blacks are stupid. The majority of blacks see this for what it is and are not buying it. The ones you see on TV and going along with the politicisns have something to gain from doing usually money, position, or noteriety.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_massacre
You should be bring Vets together not divided.
Still the WRONG PLACE
Ken
Thank you Ken!
Technidigm USA June 3, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Who are you the web master a veteran a employee?
KWB
So bringing facts into the conversation upsets ypu?
Wrong Place.
I find that most folks who side with these wide race theories
And events. Are they them self guilty of past and present racism.
The color of the V.A. Should be GREEN , nothing else.
Ken
Well said. He is regurgitating what he has been told to say. It is a campaign to spread hate and division. That is what the party of the KKK survive on. With out it they are dead, gone. You can not fool black people anymore.
How are we supposed to heal if we continue to look at the past to justify our present prejudices? I cannot undo the past but to call it systemic racism today might be a bit of an issue. I am not proud of some of our past but refuse to use it to define my future.
Veterans (of any race/sex) can and should be recognized by the V.A. when they put their lives at risk to protect their families, homes, and businesses, during war OR peacetime.
THAT.. is real green. nothing else.
The V.A. belongs to us all, living or not. You, me, and no other gets to pick and choose what veteran’s story qualifies.
REAL green handles the truth without b!tchin. The good, the bad, AND the ugly. Anytime, anywhere. Weakness is NOT addressing faults or errors.
If you feel SOME soldier’s histories (and their stories of bravery) SHOULD be left behind to be forgotten, you’re showing your true colors. But it sure a f ain’t real GREEN. I can tell you THAT.
-Avery
Yes, Avery! Truth!
Thank you Secretary Denis McDonough. The people of Earth need to understand how atrocious they can be. If the sickness is hidden it will never be cured.
Atrocities such as Tulsa Massacre are still happening and are enhanced buy one of Humanity’s greatest advances, production of killing devices.
I appreciate you, Mr. McDonough!
Liberals always call who ever doesn’t agree with their leftist views are racist. Democrats it is YOU who are the racist and always were. Check your history kids.
He plagiarized what Uncle Joe said.
Come On Man
To Michael O’neal. It is your kind of attitude that is taking America down. Thankfully, you are in the minority. Even with your squeaky wheel making noise, you are destined to fail.
Hope you can help, Secretary McDonough! Good start, Sir!
100%+ and no healthcare since my Father (Korean Vet) passed away in 2017. The LV VTS needs drivers badly. PCPs don’t stay. Some of us cannot get to the Hospital. Best wishes!
Thank you Secretary McDonough for providing a much needed history lesson. Until we understand and face the truths of racism, the injustices will continue. We have an opportunity at this point in our HISTORY to move closer to the democracy and freedom our constitution aimed at. Our founders aim was to right the wrongs of an oppressed HISTORY they and their ancestors experienced. They fell short, but laid the groundwork for change.
We will never be perfect, but we must keep up the effort.
Those of you who got so upset and offended that the VA could acknowledge this happened or write an article about it on it’s anniversary, you might be a racist. Check yourself! Personally, I am appreciative of the article. I found it educational. Our government approved history books didn’t tell the Tulsa tale. Living in OKC now, my partner took me to the Tulsa Memorial and it was horrifying to find out such violent history. My father (USN) told me of race riots on the Navy ships when he was in the service but I’ve never seen anything published on that either. Perhaps once we are educated, the racism can stop. It is terribly obvious that there are a lot of racists who read and replied to this article. People who refuse to believe the truth when it’s presented are a problem for this country. For those who have basically said that a rape of a white woman (and this was a LIE) is justification to bomb, burn, kill the people and destroy an entire part of a city just because a certain people lived there are a serious problem. I certainly hope this feeling isn’t tied to Christianity (at it’s worst) or Republicanism, because it’s not very Democratic.
Yo Melissa, check out some REAL history.
O.W. Gurley was a founder and eyewitness to what happened in 1921.
Check your racist guilt trip at the door. Shine the light of truth!
Denying facts don’t change history, don’t make wrongs disappear. America has not always lived up to their legacy. Comments berating those who mentioned the Tulsa Massacre are typical of the resurgence in hateful pronouncements. Many Germans doubted that Auschwitz and other camps actually existed until the inmates were freed by Allied troops. Old photos show Make America Great Again placards carried by the Klan in patriotic parades 100 years ago with the suggestion that people of color don’t make America great. Native Americans scouted for cavalry during the Indian Wars, Navajo code talkers died along with other Marines during the Island campaigns of WW II and came back to live on impoverished reservations lacking electricity or running water. Nisei soldiers died fighting on Italian battlefields while their families languished in internment camps like Tule Lake and Heart Mountain. Blacks served in the Civil War, WW I, II, Korea and Vietnam and came home to discrimination in jobs, schools, business, even while in uniform, forced to the back of the bus or jail for not complying. Coverups, denials don’t change history, the facts shame us all. It matters not whether the perpetrators were liberal, Democrat or Republican. What matters is that stories told keep us from repeating the crimes of the past. Old farts dying off, thankfully, have not spread the hate so much that younger generations can’t see what not to do. I served with some racists, haters, xenophobes in the service but thankfully, the majority of those I encountered were true brothers in arms. I often wondered if I saw less rancor in the Naval Services, of Sailors and Marines because our bases are named for Naval and Marine heroes and did not celebrate Confederate icons like Army bases do. And recounting long hidden disturbing history is not race baiting, it is clearing the air. the WW I vets in Tulsa were killed, standing their ground, in self-defense of their community, unlike the rampaging vigilantes and National Guardsmen who razed Greenwood. All vets and their families deserve respect and honest, fair treatment. If a man or a woman puts on boots, takes the Oath, it’s because they realize America has shortcomings but they still believe in the power of the Constitution and the stated promise of justice and liberty for all.
O.W. GURLEY’S comments are good enough for me. Why isn’t his eyewitness, sworn testimony good enough for you?
Is it because his rendition of facts does not support your racist narrative?
Why ignore him? He was there but nobody mentions him in their accounts. Wonder why.
Melissa, right on! What happened to our “Veterans Bond?”
No one else I would rather be around! Country first, not party!
Please remember all veterans who served and died for this country no matter their race. I am white, I have prejudices against anyone who does not treat another human being as he himself would want to be treated. Hate is the worst enemy, don’t give into hate. Remember and care for your fellow man as if he were your own flesh and blood. And yes not only have black people suffered many tragedies in this country over the course of history, but many other races too that do not see recognition for their service to this country. We need to stop using race, as that separates all and keeps us divided.
Agree. Stated the w a y life ought to be.
I don’t need a history lesson, I as well as many other veterans need better care. Divide and Conquer. :-(
So how is different then all the riots and murders last year?
How does this lesson in history “Divide and Conquer”. If we don’t learn from history we are destined to repeat it.
Your cliche suggest you do not recognize what is going on here., This ‘digging up bones” by the current administration has nothing to do with teaching history. If you don’t recognize that ask yourself ‘why now’?
Is just an attempt to forment hate and discontent among our people. The party of the KKK has been at this for years.
Keep to Veteran’s situations , stop your racist hate against Americans.
Rudy – how is a history lesson marking the killings sparked by veterans trying to protect someone and their homes “racist hate ” against Americans”? Weren’t the people slaughtered Americans? Hmm, probably not to you. That is the point isn’t it?
I was born at St John’s hospital in March of 1941 and in all these years never heard of the massacre. It was a bad time in Tulsa history. This country has much to be sorry for but hopefully we are not going to repeat such tragedy, or are we(Portland,Seattle,Minneapolis, ect.)? By the way it is Cavalry not Calvary unless you mean something else,relating to the Indian slaughter.
The Tulsa massacre is in the purview of other officials. The secretary should keep his eye on the ball and inform veterans of when they will get their rebates or, at least, address the issue in some manner. What office is he running for? He should just do his job.
What about all this that survived and I mean all
Secretary McDonough, you should go back and read what this actually was. It was a riot sparked off by a white lady getting her foot accidently stepped on in an elevator by a black shoe cobbler. She claimed he raped her. Yes what ensued was horrible and tragic.
It all comes down to the golden rule we’re all gods people
This acknowledgment means so much. Thank you, VA!
We must never forget our brothers who are white, black, Hispanics or other global human race who have fought for the principles we hold dears in our constitution. I shall live in eternity to make our life more constructive and productive for human kind. Bless all nations in unity.
MGSgt Víctor M Victoria
United States Marines (retired)
1978-2008
Semper Fidelis!!!!
It is extremely disturbing that Mr McDonough is using his position to try and add to the racial divide that is going on in our nation.
It is extremely disturbing that Jimmy Vining would think that review history is a “racial divide”. Unless we come to grips as to what happened in our Nation’s history, we will never heal from it. Unbelievable statement coming from a veteran.
Here’s some history for you.
O.W. Gurley’s testimony on the events that happened on Black Wallstreet and WHY!
Believable History. Accurate History is what we all want.
Not some conjured up racist crap.
Wow, thank you for the information on Tulsa. There were some things in your article that I didn’t know.
What about WOUNDED KNEE you self righteous bastards….. let ME tell you –let’s see if my memory is correct and it effing is– the UNITED STATES CALVARY– DUH HUH- the ARMY, slaughtered for no reason, Indians….. course they aint black so never much mention eh?
You seem upset! If you are go do something about it inseatd of trying to throw an underhanded racist comment in your statement.
Why do you feel ashamed? I do not. What I feel is anger…disgust…moral rage and empathy for the innocents. Feeling ashamed? Exactly how does your sense of guilt help? And why should you feel guilt and shame? White guilt? Hey, if it “works” for you, so be it. I am White but guilty about being White? No reason! But what I do choose to do is financially support organizations doing work that I find is positive and helps improve our world.
Allow me to suggest you re-write your comment: “Even though I have nothing to do with this scar on our history, I admit that I feel ashamed because……………………….and I will volunteer and donate money that I know will benefit others and I can make a positive impact.”
Your one-line comment does say certain things about you: It is vague. No admission that this is how you feel. More of a suggestion how “other people should feel.” And should someone reply to your comment and support your ‘self shaming’ that will give you satisfaction that you have done your best and your conscience will be clear.
This is not new News, however violent and sad, what does it have to do with all Veterans as a whole? As far as sad issues go, there are literally a million other „current“ Veteran issues facing us. Let’s center around Veteran Care, and leave the Century old tragic events to those law makers.
“So today, we remember Tulsa and the bitter struggle of Black Veterans to be treated with honor and dignity. We remember because the success of our department’s mission to serve all Veterans and the endurance of our nation depends on knowing, acknowledging, and learning from our history.”
If you read to the end 9fnrhe article and if you actually cared about veterans let alone the black one mentioned in this article, you would understand why it’s news. Maybe read to learn and understand instead of just writing some fubar comment to seem intelligent.
@RobetrtMueller No need to feel ashamed of belonging to the US human race, just turned those shameful feeling into action and a commitment to racial equality for all humankind, and lets work in a volunteer capacity if need be, to help eradicate racism in our country. America is redeemable, but its going to take all good hearted descent human beings to eradicate the darkness. I’m confident we can do it, but we must start with facing the Truth of our past, this is the only way can fix it. We have to redeem the past and part of this is doing for Black Americans what the US has done for the Jews and other oppressed nations and that is right the wrong -reparations.
Very happy to see this article was published and written by Denis McDonough, this is part of the healing too. Having our government to finally acknowledge the wrong done to Black Americans and remembering. Most Black Americans have heard of these stories, not just the Tulsa Massacre but all over the country and they too live with the shame, and the pain of knowing nothing was ever done about the atrocities against our people. Which has left a nagging perception in the minds of many white people that they can continue to be racist against Black Americans and many Black Americans know they can continue to get away with it, to some extent. So its a horrible dance that our generation must recover from and repair.
What happened to those people back then was wrong and everyone knows it now get over it! There is nobody alive today that was a slave so there is no need to pay people for something they nor their father or their fathers father had to endure.
[Editor: This comment has been severely edited. This space will not be used to attack others, nor to use profane names. For more on what is allowed in this space, please refer to VA’s social media policy: https://news.va.gov/social-media-policy/ ]
Wasn’t a white teenage elevator girl got raped and the black man who raped her was released and moved away?
Way to rewrite history you disgusting communist. It was not a massacre. It was a race riot. Started by blacks. Both sides took casualties. But keep up the race baiting to win more votes while you destroy the country from within.
John Johnson – you are a sad fascist. It was a massacre. It was not started by “blacks”. You and you ilk are what are destroying our country. The truth of the matter is white people were mad that the “blacks” were prospering and took and opportunity with a common rape lie used upon black men to storm this community. We all know that for years it was white men who raped both black men and women. It is hard for me to believe someone of your character (obvious from your writing) ever served in our military. I’m glad you are out and can’t spread the sickness that was evident in the in the many military persons involved in the January 6th insurrection. By the way…where you there??
Thank you.
WELCOME HOME TO ALL VETERANS!
When will some white people get it. They have been committing perverted crimes for history and they still continue to think they will get away with it. From government officials down to the trailer park trash Neo Nazi skin heads. God will clean the slate with these evil people. Hate is all they are about and hate is where they will rain for an eternity in the pits of hell. We as a country are not a good example to the rest of the world. We should feel ashamed and guilt ridden by our own perverted acts we have commit to our own citizens. Who are we and why do we babble this oath to protect and serve when it’s used against us?
We’ve gotta’ do whatever it takes to keep the hate alive.
We look back ashamed of the violence fear and ignorance bread. In 50 years we again will look back at exactly the same thing and quite possibly feel the same way.
Hopefully we will reduce the violence and learn to subdue our fears and jealous bigotry thus altering the horrible inherent traits of the human animal. We should pray we do it before we destroy ourselves.
Thank You for your service
Return all those people or their Ayers who lost their business, the current market value of what they lost. And so there’s no question about who gets the payments, make it a public list. That way the payment goes to the rightful owners. And not someone who shouldn’t. That’s the American way to show we have seen the wrong done. And are willing to do what we would want for ourselves. Are we willing to take the blame for our mistakes, and suffer what healing may cost. “In God we trust “.
Unfortunately, a lot more was lost than “stuff” and dignity. When I went to business school in 2016, I read about this town in a management course. This town had the highest currency velocities (how many times a dollar traded within a community or group) recorded in America. For instance Jews (32), Latinos (18), Blacks of Greenville (48), Blacks today (0 or 1).
I’m ashamed to have not known of this. I know much of history and this had escaped me. :( I’m confused how if this was begun from aircraft why that wasn’t documented. Even if at night those engines would have been heard. Surely there’s some record somewhere stating this.
Shocking the death count is is unknown to that extent. Horrible people to do such things. I hope they’re paying in hell in the same way.
The Tulsa massacre in 1921 was an event I never knew about the 75 years of my life until now. I had never heard of the Red Summer and all the deaths then. I have been frustrated over the years how history book have reduced the Viet Nam war to a paragraph or two. I have always felt the importance of our nations history from the pilgrims to the Constitution an on until today. For the first time my heart aches for all the history that has been hidden from us. The issue to me is not about deleting the history we have known but adding to it all the other history that has made this country what it is. Both the good and the bad. I believe our nation can come together if we understand all of our history and have more empathy for all people.
Terry, sorry to hear that. I read about about these events in the 2000s. I was in to Black lit. then and loved Langston Hughes. He would write about these events but I was too young to understand the context and that political systems don’t move continuously forward. I feel for those black veterans and their families. War and our mil experience teaches us so much….but the home team really put them back in their place.
McDonough, another democratic draft dodger. Should be out there working on veterans concerns instead of giving party line speeches to stir up racial tensions.
Exactly.
It saddens me that I’m just hearing about this at age 69. Not taught in my white school.
My hope is that we can somehow eliminate white hatred of people of
Color but lately it’s not looking too good.
I feel suitably guilty for being a white male now, just like I did after watching Roots many years ago…
This kind of history should not make white people feel guilty. Hopefully learning these things will make you aware of systemic racism so you are able to have empathy and help defeat it where ever it raises its ugly head.
As much as some would like to sweep atrocities like these under the rug of time, those who will not acknowledge the evil it took to participate in it are complicit in making excuses as to why they refuse to do so, because it means they’d have to hold some of their own accountable. The likelihood of that happening is closer to null and void.
What about the white lives that were lost. Where is the proof this happened 100 years ago. Another way of giving money to whoever. My uncle was traveling through Tulsa and was shot. Do we get the reparations.
Read about this in business school. Not so much about the massacre, but the way the town of Greenville accrued such wealth in relatively short period of time: currency velocity. The returning WWI veterans and their savings helped too. If you use that GI Bill given to you for service, you won’t need talkings heads and internet folk to hold your hand and paint your reality.
Why is there no mention of the perpetrators??? I’m glad we are considering it domestic terrorism but people NEED to know that this horrific act of violence was committed by the police and not a single one was held accountable.
Why should I have “white guilt” over an event that occurred 100 years ago?
O.W. Gurley testified to a much different chain of events.
You can also check out information on high school dropout “Diamond Dick” Roland and his foolish actions.
Maybe this reply won’t be deleted like my 1st reply yesterday. Seems like facts don’t have a place here.
Makes one feel ashamed to admit one belongs to the U.S. human race
I know. The best way to take back our pride as a nation is to face the ghosts of the past. We gotta open those closets of skeletons and look them in the eyes. Making amends doesn’t just heal the afflicted, it can heal the nation when we know that we repaired the people and their descendants that were affected by the crimes of the nation. We gotta do better than commemorating a tragedy. There must be amends made
Face what past? It’s not my past. I was never there, I never committed any crime. I don’t need to make any amends to any crime I have never committed. The best thing I can do is learn and teach that such horrid things need not be repeated and never recognize a skin color as another ”race”, but simply a skin color. Those skeletons aren’t in anyone’s closets except for those who have been long dead. So no, there must NOT be any amends made because there aren’t anyone who can make them. The best thing descendants of those involved in that tragedy should understand and learn from it. Not be made to be responsible for the actions of their ancestors and make amends.
We have come a long ways since that time. The ONLY reason it’s being brought up again is to alienate whites from blacks. We, along with other races (American Indian, Hispanic, etc). We trained together and we fought together and we relied on each other to keep us alive, so we could go back home. THAT is what we veterans already know. Don’t fall for pansy’s bs.
McDonough Stick It Up Your *ss
You Phony P**!
Elmer – you should be ashamed of yourself. However, from your comments – I see you do not have that capability. How is a history like this “alienate whites from blacks”? It is to bring awareness. How is white-washing history helpful? You are a disrespectful person I can’t believe you ever served in our military. We need to learn EVERYTHING about our American history so that it does not repeat. So that we can understand and have empathy for one another. All races. You are very ignorant and I’m glad you are no longer in our military. You may be one of the reasons so many military people embarrassed our nation by being involved in the deplorable insurrection on January 6th. By the way…where you there??
Not just the US, but the world. Terror like this and worse has taken place around the world due to race, religion, and political beliefs. It’s time we all began to belong to one race. The human race and come together.
The U.S. human race has done more good in this world than any nation that ever existed. What happened was terrible. But your response is equally bad. It would be far better to commit to building a better nation built on brotherhood instead of differences. There is only one race, the human race. May God bless the USA as we continue to grow together as Americans.
Exactly Robert
Thee Robert Mueller???
Very doubtful it is Mueller, Most likely a troll and it is working
Go be ashamed in another counrty
As long as black Americans continue to instill our history as a vendetta against all white Americans, all you are succeeding to do is farther divide a nation. Your agenda is to open up old wounds since healed over, only to promote black exceptionalism. Today’s generations are ready to homogenize but for old civil rights leaders continually stirring the pot of racism only to justify their own existence. They have rekindled this dead horse only to divide and conquer at the expense of a great Republic. There is no race ism in America only. Black exceptionalism is refueling the fires only to gain advantage not equality. Wake up America our Republic is being destroyed by black bigotry. I see all around me wonderful achievements and contributions credited to black Americans. I live in a multi-racial community. We all enjoy the same success and achievements. Ms Vice President get off this band wagon of racial injustice. Your achievements totally contradict your racial agenda!
First – 400 years of racisim is not “healed over”. How is knowing our history stirring a pot? Knowledge of truth is power. Knowledge of history prevents the bad things reoccurring. The “dead horse” you speak of never received justice and justice has no expiration date. If white Americans fail to learn everything from our history, acknowledge that it happens, recognize it’s systemic existence, then we will never come closer to the founding father’s dream of a more perfect union.;
Some folks just don’t get it. More than enough white folks died in the Civil war, fighting for equality. I don’t hear their families crying about reparations.
This is the best country on the planet. If there is a better, less racist country, tell us where it is and then, go live there. Thanks
What do you mean 400 years of racism? Racism has been around thousands of years and has effected every “race” not just “blacks”. Knowing our history and using history for idealistic propaganda and political advantage are two different things. It’s good that this part of our history is being recognized by people who were unaware of it but the way it’s being used currently is obviously a way to stir the pot in an already controversial time in our country where racial division is more prominent than it has been in the past 50 years despite most of our younger generations growing up knowing that the color of your skin should never matter or makes you better or worse. For example I grew up in a school that taught about the Civil War, about slavery, about racial divisions in our country’s history and taught about Martin Luther King and yet here I am in Southern Indiana in a small town that nobody has ever heard of that is more prominently white and yet I hardly ever seen any racism except for coming from my almost 80-year-old Grandpa who will most likely die from cancer. Time heals all wounds that includes wounds perpetrated by racism in the past. The only way those wounds will never heal is when they keep being brought up and used as a weapon against another race to shame them, to ostracize them, as well as making memorials that are used to remind “white” people of their ancestors atrocities which only make the divide worse because “white” people of today will MADE to feel ashamed of what some racist ancestors did in the past. The past is to remain in the past. If you want people of future generations to learn from it then teach it in schools as an example of our past ancestors hatred and show that we have grown above those things. Bringing up the massacre in the way that it is will only pour fuel on the fire and add more division. I’m not saying that it should be forgotten or be ignored, but it shouldn’t be used as an “In your face” reminder toward “white” people of our current time who have nothing to do with any of it. PERIOD. Despite what you may see, hear, or think. There WILL be people who WILL use this part of history as a tool to perpetuate racism toward innocent “white” people who are not guilty of being born with a certain color of skin. In fact it’s already being used right now as I type. Also as FYI, I don’t recognize skin color as “race”. I was raised to acknowledge everyone is the same color on the inside and skin color doesn’t matter. We are all human and being human means that we are flawed. Racism will NEVER disappear, it’s part of a flaw in our nature, but we CAN reduce its influence and voice in our society. As far as I can see racism is only increasing in influence and voice when it should being going away seeing as how far we have come from our history. Also Justice does have an expiration date. That’s when the person who justice needs to be served upon has been dead hundreds of years. There is no justice to be served to ANYONE for the actions of their ancestors. You just recognize, learn from their mistakes and move forward, but you can’t do that if you’re constantly reminded of that horror as if you were the one who committed in the first place.
The United States finally acknowledges us and I truly thank Iraq & Afghanistan Vets. No one ever acknowledged Vietnam Era Vets until a 20 year war and incredible Veterans sacrificed so much. We did too! Let’s be leaders in this Country!
Aren’t some of us still fighting the battle?
No time for hate! All races had each other’s backs. We can do it again, please.
UNITED, WE STAND!1