Date:
The U.S. national Advisory Council on Historic Preservation invites you to its annual Preserve the Past, Build for the Future webinar series, starting in January 2025.
The Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, famously known as America’s Black Wall Street, was a beacon of Black prosperity in the early 20th century. This historic freedom colony thrived as a self-sustaining community, home to Black-owned grocery stores, hotels, theaters, nightclubs, churches, and medical offices. But in 1921, this flourishing district was devastated by racial violence, with blocks of businesses and family legacies reduced to ashes, leaving behind the haunting question: What might have been if the generational wealth and businesses had survived? In this webinar, we’ll journey through the rich history of Greenwood and other thriving Black business districts across America. We’ll explore the powerful legacy of Black entrepreneurship and community building, while discussing how we can honor this history and ensure the preservation and future development of Black-owned buildings, businesses, and cultural institutions. Join us as we commemorate the past and reimagine the future of these iconic districts.
Panelists:
Ben Anderson, Park Ranger, Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Raymond Doswell, Executive Director, Greenwood Rising and Black Wall Street History Center. r.doswell@greenwoodrising.org
John Sherrer, Director of Preservation, Historic Columbia
Part of the Preserve the Past, Build for the Future 2025 Webinar Series.
