BLACK RECONSTRUCTION & BLACK WALL STREET

Members of the Niagara Movement

The period immediately following the abolition of slavery in 1865 marked a transformative yet tumultuous phase in American history, often referred to as the Black Reconstruction in America. After the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, which formally abolished slavery, freedpeople rapidly mobilized to establish institutions that would secure their newly acquired rights. One of the most significant developments was the establishment of Black political organizations and participation in local, state, and federal governments.

During the 1868 and 1870 elections, Black Americans voted in large numbers—estimates suggest that over 70% of eligible Black voters participated in some Southern states—exerting substantial influence over electoral outcomes.

Black Americans also ran for and held public office in unprecedented numbers. Notable figures such as Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce served as U.S. Senators representing Mississippi, marking the first Black individuals to hold such positions. At the state and local levels, Black men served as legislators, judges, and sheriffs, actively shaping policies related to education, civil rights, and landownership.

In 1890, Edward McCabe, an Architect saw land in Tulsa Oklahoma and envisioned it as “Black made and Black Owned.” He purchased property and pushed for the many city members to do the same. Black Wall Street, officially known as the Greenwood District, was a thriving African American economic and cultural hub in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the early 20th century.

Edward McCabe, 1878

Founded in the early 1900s, Greenwood emerged as a self-sufficient community largely due to the exclusionary practices of white society and the resilience of Black entrepreneurs.

By 1910, Greenwood had developed into a vibrant district, boasting approximately 36 square blocks filled with over 600 Black-owned businesses, including banks, hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, barbershops, and professional offices. Notably, the Seventh Street Business District became the commercial epicenter, with establishments like the Dunbar Barber Shop, operated by prominent Black entrepreneurs, and the Williams Dreamland Theater, which served as a cultural gathering space.

The economic success of Greenwood was fueled by figures such as O.W. Gurley, a real estate investor who purchased land and promoted Black homeownership; J.B. Stradford, who owned a well-known hotel and was a key figure in establishing Black-owned businesses; and others like A.J. Smitherman, a publisher and civil rights activist. Greenwood’s prosperity was remarkable, especially considering the pervasive segregation and discrimination of the era, which largely confined Black residents to their own community.

O. W Gurley (1868-1935)