ABOUT THE PROJECT
Many accounts of Greenwood do well in capturing the experiences of its male leaders. The names O.W. Gurley, J.B. Stradford, John Williams, and AJ. Smitherman are virtually synonymous with Greenwood.
It’s clear and understandable why. Emphasizing men’s leadership and success helped to refute the extreme marginalization that Black men faced in larger society. Even as White Americans upheld patriarchal views that proclaimed men as society’s rightful leaders, too many also held racist views that discounted Black men as equals.
As both Black and female, Black American women, including those in Greenwood, lived lives that were shaped both by racism and sexism. The discrimination they faced often relegated them to hard and undesirable jobs, especially work as domestic servants in households. Many accounts of Greenwood do well in capturing the experiences of its male leaders. The names O.W. Gurley, J.B. Stradford, John Williams, and AJ. Smitherman are virtually synonymous with Greenwood.
In the face of these burdens, countless Greenwood women joined their neighbors in making Greenwood into a bustling district. Some developed businesses such as candy shops, theatres, and restaurants, and schools. Others served as teachers who instructed the future of the community. A few became writers who told people throughout the nation what Black people were accomplishing in Greenwood and what happened when a White mob tried to burn it down.
Women of Black Wall Street (WBWS) captures the experiences of Black Greenwood women to add to the larger story of this dynamic community. By focusing on women, it also challenges the intersectional invisibility that this population faced because of their race and gender.
THE WEBSITE.
The WBWS website gives users access to ten biographies, including Mary Jones Parrish, Emma Gurley, Dora Wells, Loula T. Williams, and others. Readers can test what they know through short quizzes on each woman.
Background essays tell about Black Americans’ arrival to Oklahoma, situate the Tulsa Race Massacre in U.S. history, and describe what Greenwood looked like in the days following the Massacre.
The website features maps, allowing users to see where these women lived and worked and where these addresses are in present-day Tulsa.
Connecting the past and the present WBWS interviews capture the experiences of some contemporary business owners and Greenwood descendants.
In future years, WBWS will continue to expand its biographies and time period. We invite you to check back on the website. You can also tell us what you learned and what you hope to see in future editions.
