A number of coffins, believed to be of victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre, have been uncovered according to city officials.
The five coffins are the latest to be found in the continuing search of Oaklawn Cemetery. The latest discovery takes the number of coffins found to twenty. The search began last year when researches discovered the remains of 12 people. The remains were in an unmarked mass grave, although officials currently will not confirm whether these are victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre or not.
The latest discovery will start a formal exhumation process. Excavation and analysis will be completed this week. Last year, Mayor GT Bynum budgeted £71,000 to find victims of the massacre after other attempts failed.
State Archaeologist Kary Stackelback says the bodies will not be moved. The continuing findings institute a “mass grave”. She estimates that at least thirty bodies are on the site.
Forensic Anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield explains “this site is not the only site of interest.”
What was the Tulsa Race Massacre?
The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the largest mystery of hate crimes against race in recent history. Between 31st May and 1st June 1921, a white mob set upon Tulsa’s Greenwood District.
An alleged sexual assault between a white woman named Sarah Page and young black man named Dick Rowland. It is unknown to this day exactly what happened. Allegations became diluted and exaggerated with each persons retelling.
When Rowland was arrested and detained, a report was written in the Tulsa Tribune which spurred a confrontation between black and white armed mobs. Despite the sheriff and his men barricading the station to protect Rowland, shots were fired and the African Americans retreated back to Greenwood. Greenwood was known as the “black wall street”.
In the early hours of 1st June, Greenwood was looted and burned to the ground. Govener Robertson declared martial law and called in the national guard to help control the situation. Over 6,000 people were held in Convention Hall and the Fairgrounds for over 8 days.
In just 24 hours; 35 city blocks lay in ruins, over 800 people were treated for injuries and a death toll of 36 was announced. In the years since, historians estimate the number at over 300.
No one will ever know exactly what happened that day, but historians are determined not to le the victims go unheard.
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