Breaking News
NBA Superstar Russell Westbrook is channeling his internal Ken Burns … ’trigger the Wizards guard is engaged on a brand new documentary in hopes of training folks concerning the atrocities of the 1921 Tulsa race bloodbath.
The former MVP and History Channel introduced Thursday they’re engaged on a two-hour doc titled “Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre” (non permanent title) … with Brodie serving as govt producer and Marco Williams and Emmy-Award winner Stanley Nelson on as administrators.
Excited to convey this venture to life about such a major occasion in American historical past. Coming this spring to @HISTORY pic.twitter.com/peQQSsjmq8
— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) February 18, 2021
@russwest44
The documentary is claimed to take a deep have a look at the occasions of a century in the past and the way the impression continues to be being felt immediately … in hopes to coach tens of millions on a 100-year-old tragedy.
If you aren’t conversant in the story, here’s a temporary run down — In May and June 1921, a race struggle erupted in Tulsa, OK after a 19-year-old Black man was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old white girl in an elevator.
Black males went to defend the person after some within the metropolis wished him lynched … and an ensuing altercation with white folks ignited a large race struggle.
This led to one of many worst acts of racial violence in American historical past … during which mobs of white residents attacked and finally destroyed the Greenwood District in Tulsa, OK, which at the moment was the wealthiest black neighborhood within the United States — AKA “Black Wall Street.”
Many historians imagine the bloodbath has since been underreported and even lined up … and Westbrook — who performed in Oklahoma for the Thunder for 11 years — says he had no concept concerning the incident till he arrived in OKC in 2009.
“The Tulsa Race Massacre was not something I was taught about in school or in any of my history books,” Westbrook mentioned in a press release. “It was only after spending 11 years in Oklahoma that I learned of this deeply troubling and heartbreaking event.”
“This is one of many overlooked stories of African Americans in this country that deserves to be told. These are the stories we must honor and amplify, so we can learn from the past and create a better future.”
Director Stanley Nelson added … “The horrific story of the burning of Black Wall Street has long haunted me — I’m grateful to be working on this film with such wonderful partners.”
The venture is slated to air within the spring of 2021 on The History Channel on the one centesimal anniversary of the bloodbath in Tulsa.
