What event triggered the Tulsa Race Riot in 1921?

The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 was primarily triggered by an incident involving the arrest of a Black man named Dick Rowland, who was accused of assaulting a white woman in an elevator. This accusation sparked outrage and tensions between the Black and white communities in Tulsa, particularly in the prosperous Greenwood District, which was known as "Black Wall Street."

The event escalated when a white mob gathered outside the courthouse where Rowland was being held, possibly intending to lynch him. In response, members of the Black community, including many veterans, mobilized to protect Rowland. The situation rapidly deteriorated into widespread violence, resulting in one of the deadliest race riots in American history, with significant loss of life and destruction of property in Greenwood.

Understanding that this incident was rooted in systemic racism and social tensions of the time is crucial. The accusations against Rowland served as the catalyst for an already volatile environment, eventually leading to the extensive rioting and looting that ensued.