TULSA, Okla. — U.S. Senators could soon decide on designating the Historic Greenwood District as a national monument.
The Energy and Natural Resources Committee met on May 15 to discuss the designation.
"This designation will serve as a catalyst for the resurgence of this economic and cultural hub of Tulsa while helping the country understand and learn from our shared history," said Senator James Lankford.
In front of fellow senators at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on May 15, Senator Lankford made the case to make Greenwood a National Monument.
"The Historic Greenwood District-Black Wall Street area in north Tulsa deserves its place among our nation's significant historic locations," said Senator Lankford.
Lankford also addressed the support from the Historic Greenwood District-Black Wall Street Coalition. It's a group of nearly a dozen local organizations who want to see this happen.
“It’s a great community here on Greenwood,” said Raittia Rogers.
Rogers visits the Historic Greenwood District from time to time and said she would love to see it designated as a national monument for the benefit of Tulsans and for visitors.
“There’s a lot of times when I come on Greenwood there are people from out of state and lots of people from around the world right here on Greenwood,” said Rogers.
2 News covered this effort from the start.
WATCH more from when Mayor GT Bynum asked President Biden for the designation:
Reuban Gant, Executive Director of the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation said it’s been more than 15 years in the making to get to this point.
“It will submit the story of Greenwood into the annals of American history,” said Reuban Gant.
He said it’ll also attract investment in Greenwood. Gant is in Washington, D.C. and attended the hearing.
“In a time of Jim Crow and segregation, we have this community of black folk that not just survived but thrived,’ said Gant. “That’s an example of resilience and fortitude and community and entrepreneurship, all of those positive things.”
He said there's still work to do to get the national monument designation.
Senator Lankford introduced the bill in the Senate, but it needs to pass both the Senate and the House. Gant met with lawmakers to drum up support while in D.C.
Along with preserving the history, the bill has protections for the land in Greenwood and potential signage marking the national designation.
“It’s progress,” said Gant.
From MLK on the west, Lansing on the east, Archer on the south, and Pine on the north, he wants the boundaries of this community and what happened inside of them to never be hidden again.
“That was the impact and effect of the massacre, but it also represented a prosperous community, and that’s what we want to focus on,” said Gant.
Gant said he’ll observe the hearing and be available to answer questions. To learn more about the effort, click here.
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