The Burning of Black Wall Street: A Case Study on the Tulsa Race Massacre

Abstract

Until the beginning of the 21st century, the Tulsa Race Massacre was omitted mainly from the social studies curriculum and state-mandated standards in the United States. However, the featured lesson provides a valuable springboard to explore the historical perspectives and injustices against the Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 31, 1921. This lesson exemplifies how social studies teachers can effectively explore controversial issues, such as racial discrimination in U.S. history, by investigating the Tulsa Race Massacre. Students are encouraged to engage in a comprehensive analysis and discussion of newspaper articles to investigate the events prior to the Tulsa Race Massacre and the obstacles faced by the inhabitants of Tulsa in the aftermath of the tragedy. Through implementing the case study approach, this pedagogical lesson aims to foster higher-order thinking skills among students by providing an opportunity to analyze, compare, and contrast various reports in a secondary classroom setting.