Learning resources

    Children's Corner · Grades 3–5

    The Story of Greenwood

    A true story about a neighborhood that dreamed big, faced something terrible, and rebuilt.

    1

    A Town Built by Dreams

    More than one hundred years ago, in a city called Tulsa, Oklahoma, Black families built a busy neighborhood called Greenwood. In 1906, a man named O.W. Gurley bought land and sold it to Black families so they could build homes and stores of their own.

    2

    Black Wall Street

    Greenwood Avenue was so full of shops that people called it "Black Wall Street." There were grocery stores, hotels, a movie theater called Dreamland, newspapers, churches, doctors and lawyers. Neighbors helped neighbors, and the money people earned stayed in the community.

    3

    A Very Sad Day

    In 1921, angry crowds attacked Greenwood because of racism — unfair hatred toward people because of the color of their skin. Many homes and businesses were burned, and many people were hurt or lost their lives. It was one of the saddest days in American history. It is okay to feel sad or upset when we learn about it.

    4

    Building Again

    The people of Greenwood did not give up. They worked together, went to court to protect their land, and rebuilt their homes and shops with their own hands. Within about a year, many businesses were open again.

    5

    Remembering Today

    Today, people visit Greenwood Rising, a museum in Tulsa, to learn this story. We remember Black Wall Street to honor the people who built it and to remind everyone to treat each other fairly.

    Words to Know

    Community
    A group of people who live in the same place and help one another.
    Business
    A place where people make, sell, or do things to earn money, like a store or a theater.
    Segregation
    Unfair rules that kept Black and white people apart.
    Racism
    Treating people unfairly because of the color of their skin.
    Resilience
    The strength to keep going and rebuild after something hard happens.
    Entrepreneur
    A person who starts their own business.

    Match the Owner to the Business

    Tap a person, then tap the business they ran.

    0 of 5 matched

    Draw Your Own Main Street

    Greenwood Avenue had grocery stores, a hotel, a movie theater, newspapers and churches. Draw your own main street below. What shops would your community need? Give each one a name!