Journalist: Lina Quinones (TCC)
Today on the House floor was, what the author deemed “a controversial bill”, the further education of the Tulsa Race Massacre within sixth (6) to twelfth (12) grade schools.
The Tulsa Race Massacre started May 30th, 1921. A young black man was arrested by police because a white woman said that he attacked her. That same night, white mobs began to circle around the police station to lynch the young man. Many other black Americans had to surround the young black man that was arrested. But the following morning, June 1st 1921, Greenwood was being completely destroyed by looting, burning, and bombs being flown down from planes.
After this event the Race Riot Commission officially named the event the “Tulsa Race Riot”. Essentially covering up any information about this event, even though there are historical facts of this event.
This bill wishes to change that. In this bill, the State Department of Education will work with experts on this massacre to help better educate sixth (6) through twelfth (12) grade students within the state.
During the time that this bill was on the floor there were many questions that arose within the representatives. Such as is this too much to even start in Middle School and what will this education look like?
But as these questions arise, so did an amendment. A hostile amendment.
This amendment wanted to change the wording of Tulsa Race Massacre to keep it the name of “Tulsa Race Riot”. The author of this amendment wanted to keep this name, since in his words “many older Scholars already use the wording ‘Tulsa Race Riot’ as that is how they were taught.”
But as this amendment was put up to a vote within the house. Almost all house members stood up against this amendment. Many representatives understood that hurt, the pain, and the hardship that Black Americans went through during the Tulsa Race Massacre; and to rename this massacre to a name that cover up this horrible event could not stand. But the only two standing up for this amendment were only two: the author and one other voter.
After this failed hostile Amendment, the bill itself was put up for vote. As a house chair spoke “for the affirmative” almost all house members stood up to pass House Bill TU-502. Allowing this bill to finally pass the house.