Film Kicks off Black History Month
Last Thursday night began the first of three events to be hosted on campus in celebration of Black History Month at Monmouth College. Reverend John Huxtable hosted the event, a film discussion of Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street, which examines the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and its lasting effects on the Greenwood community in Oklahoma.
The 1921 Massacre was incited after a young black man, Dick Rowland, was seen riding an elevator with a young white woman, Sarah Page, where an assumed incident of some sort occurred. After Rowland’s arrest, residents of the Greenwood community and white protestors gathered outside the courthouse housing Rowland. A shot was fired, igniting the massacre. Greenwood District was put under martial law and destroyed by white rioters. In the end, over 35 city blocks were ruined, there were over 800 injuries and as many as 300 deaths, according to tulsahistory.org. “It’s the first time that there has ever been air attacks on U.S. citizens, by U.S. citizens,” said Rev. Huxtable.
The history of the Tulsa Massacre wasn't always known to the nation and Tulsa itself. Learning about these historical events is an important aspect of celebrating Black History Month and learning more than what’s often taught in school. “It’s essential to learn about Black history, because historically Black people have been stripped of their agency, of their autonomy, and their human rights,” said President of Raíces (sponsor of the Black History Month events), Brady Arrenius,”especially with the predominately white nature of this institution it is imperative to challenge our prior knowledge about Black history even if it makes us uncomfortable.” Continuing to engage in discourse beyond Black History Month is an easy way to continue to learn about the importance and impact of Black history in our society in the United States.
The next event on campus is a game night on February 19th, in the CSB Mellinger Commons at 7:30 p.m. It will be followed up with a presentation of “How to be a Good Ally” by speaker Eboné Bell on February 22nd in Dahl Chapel at 7:30 p.m.
Karli Strom News and Opinion Editor