HOW IS IT THAT YOU CAME TO GREENWOOD? DID YOU GROW UP IN OKLAHOMA? 

I’m originally from St. Louis. I came to Tulsa back in 2003 for Rhema Bible College. Its funny most folks end up in Tulsa because of the big Bible schools here, and you know just end up staying. So, I was here going to school. I started as an office manager for a bails bond company here on Greenwood. I worked with the owner for probably five years. He encouraged me to open up my own bail’s bonds company.

So, I was already here on Greenwood before the loc shop— just running a different business.  At first, my doing locs just started off kind just as a hobby. I’ve got locs. Soon, I fell in love with it.  I ended up opening up the loc shop and doing the bails bond and doing both out of the same suite. 

I officially opened The Loc Shop on Black Wall Street last year in the middle of the pandemic (2020). While it was exciting to open the shop, I soon was paying rent on a place I couldn’t get in, because the city was shutdown. 

WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE?  CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THE STORY YOU HEARD? 

In about 2006. I know for several years, I never heard anything about the Massacre. Before that, I didn’t know the rich history of, you know, where I was working.  When I came across that information of historic Greenwood, before and even after the Massacre, I was like, “Wow, what a pleasure!” 

I began looking up and researching women. I came across Mary Jones Parrish. I learned so much from reading her story and her take of events as they were.

I also learned of [Lucile Andrea Troupe] who was listed as an agent of Madam C.J. Walker. And I think that probably she started somewhere else in Oklahoma and then moved here.  I actually know her great nephew, Guy Troupe, co-owner of the Black Wall Street Liquid Lounge. [Through the 1970s, Troupe owned a beauty school on North Greenwood.]

WOW! IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DO A LOT WITH HISTORY. WHAT DO YOU THINK KNOWING ABOUT THOSE WOMEN REVEALS TO YOU OR TO OTHER PEOPLE? 

Well one thing, I think it inspires, you know? I looked at folks that were the first generation out of slavery. Many grew up on plantations and things of that nature. But for them to still have faith and believe in themselves that there’s more to life! You know growing up, seeing your parents being beat or worked to death, and, you still say man it’s you know, this is not life, that it is more to life than you know, I know that I can accomplish, certain goals.  I have a back wall in the shop and it has four women, Annie Turnbo Malone, Madam C.J. Walker, Sarah Washington Spencer, and Maggie Walker. These women were successes in the 1900s!  When you read the stories of Black people in Tulsa and of Black women like Madam C.J. Walker and Sarah Spencer, more broadly, it’s hard not be inspired!

PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT INSPIRES YOU. WHAT IS YOUR MISSION TODAY?

I like to think of the loc shop as a launching pad to help younger Black women and men take care of their natural hair and their families. I enjoy working with younger stylist and helping them get their cosmetology certification.

I also teach people that hair care is a way to maintain a livable wage, make money, and generate revenue that launches know bigger ventures.  

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A FUTURE OF GREENWOOD, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT LOOKS LIKE? 

When I think of Greenwood and I look at its future, I look at it as developing North Tulsa. I look at, I envision us taking back our mom-and-pop stores, relieving all the Family Dollars and Dollar Generals of their duties. You know what made Greenwood into Greenwood was the turning over of the black dollar.  We lost Greenwood. When we look at urban renewal or people spending their money at businesses that they don’t invest in Greenwood——all those things play a huge part in the economic downturn of Greenwood. The city also shot their own selves in the foot. They could’ve have helped us to rebuild Greenwood. Imagine the tourism dollars! 

Ultimately, I see us, reclaiming Greenwood. Some many consider my owning of a salon as having a piece of the pie. But we don’t just want the pie; We want the recipe. 

The recipe is us starting to buy up more commercial properties in North Tulsa, becoming more proactive in establishing business, and being intentional about supporting these businesses. We can’t just spend our money elsewhere. 

I make it a point to invest in my community.  Every year I sponsor at least two kids at the dance school that’s owned by Victoria Brunson [VickyB’s Dance Company]. That’s the vision that I see for Greenwood.

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The interview was edited for length and clarity. Transcriptions by LaJenna Thomas.

To cite this interview, use the following citation: Brandy Thomas Wells, Interview with Gina Woods, April 2021, Brandy Thomas Wells, ed., Women of Black Wall Street, https://blackwallstreetwomen.com/gina-woods-the-loc-shop-on-black-wall-street/