Over a century after the tragic Tulsa Race Massacre, efforts to honor and preserve the legacy of Greenwood, Oklahoma, are gaining momentum in the Senate. Senate Bill 3543, introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and James Lankford (R-OK), seeks to designate Greenwood as a national monument, a bipartisan initiative with widespread support.
The bill’s primary goal is to ensure the preservation of Greenwood’s historical significance under the stewardship of the National Park Service. Senators Booker and Lankford recently testified before the Senate Energy Subcommittee on National Parks, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging Greenwood’s past, particularly the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, a tragic event often overlooked in American history.
Advocates, including descendants of the massacre, such as Tiffany Crutcher and Reuben Gant, have been actively lobbying on Capitol Hill for monument status. Their efforts, supported by the Historic Greenwood District Black Wall Street National Monument Coalition, underscore the urgency of preserving Greenwood’s heritage and fostering its resurgence.
