MU To Host Feb. 24 Talk on Tulsa Race Massacre

Millersville University will host a Feb. 24 talk, "Black Wall Street: The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the Century-Long Fight for Reparations," by Karlos K. Hill, Regents' Professor of the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma. The event, which honors Black History Month, is open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. in the Student Memorial Center Multipurpose Room.

In 1921, Tulsa's Greenwood District, known as America's "Black Wall Street," was one of the most affluent black communities in the country. On May 31 and June 1, a white mob attacked Greenwood, resulting in the destruction of nearly every significant structure in the community and the death of as many as 300 people. Hill's presentation will discuss the history of the race massacre, the lessons that offers and the current-day legacies that must be confronted.

Hill is the author or editor of four books: "Beyond the Rope: The Impact of Lynching on Black Culture and Memory," "The Murder of Emmett Till: A Graphic History," "The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History" and Clara Lupers' "Behold the Walls: Commemorative Edition." His book on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre won the 2022 Lynn McIntosh Award for Excellence, the 2022 Joan Kerr Patterson Book Award from the Western Historical Association and the 2022 Choice Outstanding Academic Title from the American Library Association.

Hill founded the Tulsa Race Massacre Oklahoma Teacher's Institute to support teaching the history of the race massacre to thousands of middle school and high school students. He also serves on the Clara Luper Legacy Committee, the Facing History and Ourselves Board of Scholars, and Widen the Circle board.

He currently is a weekly guest and featured contributor to the Areva Martin in Real Time radio show based in Los Angeles. Hill writes a series for World Literature Today and The Nation magazine featuring the stories and work of community activists organizing for justice in Black communities.