Introduction
Events such as the Tulsa Massacre do not occur at random times or places. They are woven into a wider social framework that includes racial, political, and economic circumstances. A large number of similar instances occurred between 1900 and 1920. (Messer, 2021). Migration and labor unrest, alertness and perception of crime, worries about black radicalization, and official bias, all led to mass deaths during that era (Messer, 2021).
Economic Perspectives and Their Particular Influences
Economic conditions are largely related to the Tulsa Race Massacre. Unrest was exacerbated by migration patterns, and the state’s black population grew as black laborers tried to improve their economic situation. Fearing the increase of black people’s economic power, the white people employed techniques such as disenfranchisement and the promotion of racial images of criminality to preserve power and legitimize the employment of discriminatory practices and regulations, all in an attempt to hinder black advancement. The media was exploited for propaganda, and this increase in tension and terror was a significant cause of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Key Historical Group’s Participation in the Tulsa Race Massacre
After 19-year-old black Dick Rowland was accused of attacking Sarah Page, a white elevator operator, violence ensued (Hill, 2021). Despite the fact that Page affirmed Rowland’s innocence and that the accusations against him were eventually dismissed, an angry white crowd assembled outside the courtroom where Rowland was being detained and then attacked Greenwood (Hill, 2021). This group of people is the main one directly involved in the Tulsa Race Massacre. However, when hostile groups assembled and their clash increased, municipal and county authorities took no action to calm or limit the incident, implying their implicit complicity.
Group’s Position and Role in Society and Their Role in Tulsa Race Massacre
This group’s acts might have been sparked by the deployment of racial frameworks or racist beliefs that had been created long before the massacre. The function of ideology is crucial because it shapes and legitimizes the structures and circumstances of structural racism. At this moment, the white racial structure had entered American social institutions and projected a set of racial notions, prejudices, and discriminating dispositions that other white people readily adopted.
How Group’s Beliefs, Assumptions, And Values Influenced How They Perceived the Event
The group’s beliefs, assumptions, and values significantly influenced how they perceived the event. The group was convinced of Rowland’s guilt based on prejudices that had built up over a long period of time. Many projected it inside the entire black community of the city, and when black people realized that they would not receive protection from the authorities and stood up for themselves, this group of whites received “confirmation” of their prejudices about blacks. Moreover, neither after the event nor to this day has anyone been held accountable for the crimes committed (Richardson, 2021), which demonstrates the depth of ingrained prejudice.
How the Historical Context Caused and Influenced the Tulsa Race Massacre
Migration and labor unrest, alertness and perception of crime, worries of black radicalization, and in particular, the official bias taken to the extreme made this event possible. In addition, the Greenwood community was prospering, and the white population felt competition, which increased the likelihood of race riots (Messer, 2021).
How Did What Was Going on in Broader Society Impacted Tulsa Race Massacre
There were also events in the wider society that influenced the Tulsa Race Massacre. In particular, this is due to the inefficiency and inability of institutions to ensure the security and needs of various groups. For example, the inability or unwillingness to prevent lynching, the inability to effectively and fairly stop crime, and the widespread dissemination of prejudice, including political struggle, occurred throughout the country. There were other mass violent events on racial grounds. All this led to a sense of impunity and increased fear and prejudice among certain sections of the white population, which ultimately contributed to the event.
Conclusion
Exploring the causes and historical context of the Tulsa Race Massacre helps to explore the roots of human rights inequality issues. Many reasons led to this disaster, but most of them are due to the bias of official structures. As in the past, modern people often have a prejudice against members of racial minorities, which leads to numerous hate crimes. Modern statistics of arrests still show a more loyal attitude toward whites. Modern society must pay attention to past events to deal effectively with the problems of inequality.
References
Hill, K. K. (2021). Community-engaged history: A reflection on the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The American Historical Review, 126(2), 670-684. Web.
Messer M. C. (2021). The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: Crafting a legacy. Springer Nature.
Richardson, R. (2021). Tulsa Race Massacre, 100 years later: Why it happened and why it’s still relevant today. NBC News. Web.