#13: Greenwood Cultural Center
I went to a United Nations Day celebration at Greenwood Cultural Centre, attended by no less than the Finnish Ambassador to the UN. I will try to self-censure any snark when it comes to documenting this evening put on by the United Nations Association of Eastern Oklahoma.
Date of creation: 1995
The Centre was created in 1995 to serve as a symbol of "hope for the community's future". There is a museum, an art gallery and a banquet hall. The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame moved on in 2007. The State of Oklahoma withdrew 100% of its funding for the Centre in 2011. Historical significance: 78
Liberated slaves moved to what would become the State of Oklahoma in the hope of enjoying the freedom denied by Jim Crow laws in much of the South. Many settled in a community known as Greenwood (aka "Little Africa" to white residents), which had swelled to 10,000 residents by 1921.The community thrived and became known as Black Wall Street due to its business success. Men like J.B. Stradford believed pooling resources and supporting each other's businesses was the best chance of economic progress for black people. O.W. Gurley bought 40 acres of land only to be sold to blacks. This ethos was reinforced by segregration laws prohibiting blacks from shopping in the white part of Tulsa.
Then on the 31st of May 1921, a mob of whites descended on Greenwood because of an alleged assault of a white elevator operator by a black shoe-shiner. The massacre killed ~300 blacks and left 10,000 homeless as law enforcement officials dropped firebombs on Greenwood to prevent a "Negro uprising". Greenwood was rebuilt but fell into economic decline during the Great Depression and the 1960s.
African-American property owners received no compensation despite many legal battles, often dismissed for fears it might open the door to reparations for slavery. For years the massacre was largely written out of history. As of last year, it will be taught in Oklahoma State history classes following a state government report in 2001.
European-ness: 9.1
Located at a cultural center with a Finnish speaker, this is as European as Tulsa gets.Cowboy hats: 0
No.Collective consciousness: 68%
Odd meal. The starter and the dessert were on the table before we arrived. People milled in slowly. Some brave souls began on their starters, others held off in the hope of some order. Nothing giving. Eventually a critical mass is reached and everyone starts to tuck in to the pecan and feta salad.At some point the speeches start. The United Nations Association of Eastern Oklahoma (UNAEO) is admirably egalitarian. Everyone gets a chance to speak and thank someone for something. My favourite was the emotional coming-of-age story based on representing Egypt at a Model Arab League. People reflected on years spent on UNAEO's board and mulled over the state of polarisation in the US.
Letting one university's chair of the UN have his 2 minutes of mic time prompted every other university to send their model UN speaker. Teachers were thanked. Funders were thanked. Our table was conspicuously not thanked for anything. Although we did get a shout for buying a table.
Once everyone in the room had a chance to speak, the main event began and the Finnish ambassador took the mic. He recounts a thoroughly Liberal history of the 20th century with the USA leading international institutions and seems to uncritically endorse Fukuyama's end of history. He ends his speech with a call to arms for the US to reclaim global leadership. The audience is enthralled. (Shit, I'm being snarky aren't I)
Anyway, the questions were thoughtful and his answers pretty candid (for a diplomat). By the time the poor bloke had finished the Q&A everyone had finished the main and dessert and the plates were being cleared away. The evening ended with everyone taking photos with the Ambassador, on reflection I'm not exactly sure why.
Wokeness: 88
Yeah pretty woke.Overall
Nice evening, especially given I didn't pay for my ticket. I was the token Brit.
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