Death in a Promised Land: Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 - Hardcover

Fellsworth, Scott

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807108782 ISBN 13: 9780807108789

Publisher: Louisiana State University Press, 1982

Synopsis

When a crows began to gather outside the jail in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the evening of May 31, 1921., the fate of one of its prisoners, a young black male, seemed assured. Accused of attempting to rape a white woman, Dick Rowland was with little doubt about to be lynched.

But in another part of town, a small group of black men, many of them World War I veterans, decided to risk lives for a different vision of justice. Before it was all over, Tulsa had erupted into one of America's worst racial nightmares, leaving scores dead and hundreds of homes and businesses destroyed.

Exhaustively researched, 'Death in a Promised Land' is compelling story of racial ideologies, southwestern politics, and yellow journalism, and of an embattled black community's struggle to hold onto its land and freedom. More than just the chronicle of one of the nation's most devastating race riots, this critically acclaimed study of American race relations is, above all, a gripping story of terror and lawlessness, and of courage, hedonism, and human perserverance.

About this title

From the Publisher

Extracts from reviews
"The definitive book on the subject." --WASHINGTON POST (MAY 30, 1996) "The definitive book on the riot."--CIVILIZATION (February/March 1997) "A useful reminder of America's tradition of race discrimination at a time when the nation clearly would rather ignore such unpleasant matters."--WASHINGTON POST "Ellsworth has treated this complex and emotional story with great care and sensitivity. . . . This volume will no doubt merit the rare distinction of having considerable value to general readers and specialists alike."--JOURNAL OF AMERICAN HISTORY "An exemplary social history case study of American race relations and racial ideologies. This splendid book belongs in any library serving readers in American history."--LIBRARY JOURNAL

Synopsis

First published in 1982, this work covers the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. The riot - possibly the worst incidence of racial violence in American history and hushed up for more than 50 years - has been recently subject to a new investigation by the State of Oklahoma.

About this edition

• Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
• Publication date: 1982
• ISBN 10: 0807108782
• ISBN 13: 9780807108789
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224