BLACK WALL STREET #1535

Caption from poster__   BLACK WALL STREET   The "Black (Negro) Wall Street" was the name given to Greenwood Avenue of North Tulsa, Oklahoma during the early 1900’s. Because of strict segregation, Blacks were only allowed to shop, spend, and live in a 35 square block area called the Greenwood District. The "circulation of Black dollars" only in the Black comm- unity produced a tremendously prosperous Black business district that was admired and envied by the whole country.     In 1921, the Greenwood Avenue district of Tulsa, Oklahoma was an exemplar accomplish. Dubbed, "The Negro Wall Street," Greenwood Avenue was was accused of attempting to rape a white woman in a Tulsa elevator. forming. Several young black men formed a defense party. At the court- say bullets) were let loose. A pitched gun battle began right there on the concentrated on looting and burning Greenwood Avenue. The mayor  In the aftermath, dozens of people, black and white, were dead. The exact burned to the ground