The Burning of Black Tulsa

<p><i>This episode includes disturbing language including racial slurs.</i></p><p>In the early 20th century, Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was an epicenter of Black economic influence in the United States. However, in the early hours of June 1, 1921, a white mob — sanctioned by the Tulsa police — swept through the community burning and looting homes and businesses, and killing residents.</p><p>A century later, the question before Congress, the courts and the United States as a whole is: What would justice look like?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/brent-staples?smid=pc-thedaily">Brent Staples</a>, a member of the New York Times editorial board.</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>A century ago, a prosperous Black neighborhood in Tulsa perished at the hands of a white mob.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/24/us/tulsa-race-massacre.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> Here is what the massacre destroyed</a>.</li><li>The three known survivors, who were all children in 1921, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/20/us/tulsa-massacre-survivors.html?smid=pc-thedaily">offered their firsthand accounts of the race massacre</a> at a hearing in Washington last month.</li><li>A centennial commission that raised $30 million for a history exhibit center has said the government<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/us/tulsa-race-massacre-commission.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> should be responsible for repaying survivors and their descendants</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>