Between May 31 and June 1, 1921, a white mob burned, looted, and killed in a 35-square-block area of Tulsa, Oklahoma, destroying a prosperous Black neighborhood in what became known as the 1921Tulsa Race Massacre. Some witnesses reported seeing and hearing airplanes overhead firebombing and shooting at businesses, homes and people in the city’s Greenwood district. This June 1st, as President Joe Biden flew in to pay his respects at the site, a small crew started excavation at Oaklawn Cemetery in a search for victims of the massacre believed to be buried in a mass grave, reports the AP.
Linda Porter of Birmingham, Ala., kneels at a makeshift memorial of flowers for the Tulsa Race Massacre at stairs leading to a now empty lot near the historic Greenwood district during centennial commemorations of the massacre, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. “We came to remember,” said Porter, who came to Tulsa for the centennial commemorations. (AP Photo/John Locher)People look at a poster, before the arrival of US President Joe Biden, in the Greenwood district on the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 1, 2021. In Tulsa, the city that still bears the scars of a 1921 racial massacre, African American residents are eagerly awaiting the arrival of President Joe Biden on Tuesday, hoping he will hear their call for financial reparations. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)Workers join hands at the site where excavation will take place at Oaklawn Cemetery in a search for victims of the Tulsa race massacre believed to be buried in a mass grave, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)A mother holds her daughter as she reads a sign, before the arrival of US President Joe Biden, in the Greenwood district on the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 1, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)Michelle Brown-Burdex, program coordinator of the Greenwood Cultural Center, speaks as she leads President Joe Biden on a tour of the Greenwood Cultural Center to mark the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Tulsa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)A worker examines a piece of dirt as excavation begins at Oaklawn Cemetery in a search for victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre believed to be buried in a mass grave, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)Workers join hands at the site where excavation will take place at Oaklawn Cemetery in a search for victims of the Tulsa race massacre believed to be buried in a mass grave, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)A resident of Tulsa tells people about the history of the area as he stands under a US national flag, before the arrival of US President Joe Biden, in the Greenwood district on the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 1, 2021. In Tulsa, the city that still bears the scars of a 1921 racial massacre, African American residents are eagerly awaiting the arrival of President Joe Biden on Tuesday, hoping he will hear their call for financial reparations. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)Nehemiah Frank, teaches his cousin David McIntye II of the Tulsa massacre, in the Greenwood district, on May 28, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)Edna Osborne, center holds her head down in prayer during the dedication of a prayer wall outside of the historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Greenwood neighborhood during the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Monday, May 31, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. The church was largely destroyed when a white mob descended on the prosperous Black neighborhood in 1921, burning, killing, looting and leveling a 35-square-block area. (AP Photo/John Locher)People pray during the dedication of a prayer wall at the historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Greenwood neighborhood during the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Monday, May 31, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. The church was largely destroyed when a white mob descended on the prosperous Black neighborhood in 1921, burning, killing, looting and leveling a 35-square-block area. (AP Photo/John Locher)People pray as they hold their hands on a prayer wall outside of the historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Greenwood neighborhood during the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Monday, May 31, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. The church was largely destroyed when a white mob descended on the prosperous Black neighborhood in 1921, burning, killing, looting and leveling a 35-square-block area. (AP Photo/John Locher)Malcolm Turner and his brother Robert Turner listen during a Prayer Wall memorial gathering at the AME Church in the Greenwood district during commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 31, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)In this Wednesday, May 26, 2021 file photo, people watch the documentary “Rebuilding Black Wall Street,” during a drive-in screening of documentaries during centennial commemorations of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Tulsa, Okla. Over 18 hours, between May 31 and June 1, 1921, whites vastly outnumbering a Black militia carried out a scorched-earth campaign against the Greenwood neighborhood of the city. Some witnesses claimed they saw and heard airplanes overhead firebombing and shooting at businesses, homes and people in the Black district. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)People hold candles during a vigil for the centennial commemorations of the Tulsa Race Massacre in the historic Greenwood neighborhood, late Monday, May 31, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/John Locher)A woman dressed as Loula Tom Williams waves during commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 29, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)Members of the Buffalo Soldiers bike club participate in the Centennial Black Wall St. Heritage Parade, in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, during commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 29, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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