The Aftermath
There was no way to accurately tally the death toll and many of the Greenwood records were destroyed during the fires, or blown to shreds during the bombings. The injured and/or deceased were left out on the street. All personal property along with homes and businesses were left in ruins; some were lucky enough to find refugee with kind white Tulsans, most however, were not so lucky.
"Many were cheering but in my judgment most of the whites in the line were filled with pity. 'Oh it is a shame, it is a shame,' cried one old white woman, as she wrung her hands. 'My son writes insurance over among those people and he says they are fine good people.' Many whites had tears in their eyes and one white man rushed out of the throng and shouted: 'My God! I am ashamed I am a white man!'" - Mrs. Dimple Bush, personal account The Black Dispatch, June 10, 1921 |
"The statement that the Negroes lost one and one-half million dollars worth of property in the colossal tragedy of June 1st is an erroneous statement. In the loss of over 700 homes and 200 business houses the Negroes of Tulsa have sustained a loss of over four million dollars." -The Black Dispatch, June 10,1921 |