A Century Later | May 21
In 1986, I was a sophomore in high school taking the required semester of Oklahoma History. I actually enjoyed the class. It felt personal because I could connect with some of the events...having been to Tsa-La-Gi as a kid and Har-Ber Village and Woolaroc. When we talked about our state’s history, I saw these places in my mind.
At the end of the semester, we were assigned a research project, including a class presentation. We got to spend a few class sessions in the library picking out our subject. In a tucked away journal, I ran across a mention of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. Naturally curious, I went back to our text book and looked it up in the index. Nothing. I looked through a few more resources. Nothing. It wasn’t until I started looking through microfiche copies of Tulsa newspapers that I unearthed the tragic events now referred to as the Tulsa Race Massacre.
When I presented my project to the class, no one else had heard about this either, not even my teacher. Yes, I asked. I wondered aloud why this story appeared to be hidden. I didn’t have the feeling it was hidden on purpose - just that it wasn’t perceived as significant. Our class learned all about the Trail of Tears, the Land Run, and our state’s less than stellar beginnings by trying to make reservations suffice for Native American homelands. It wasn’t like we only told the stories that made us look good...although it is likely they were a bit biased toward the victors. But, this story of what happened over the Memorial Day weekend in 1921 seemed like it just didn’t make the cut.
It has taken us 100 years to count this story as one that needs to be told. People more adept than me can list the reasons. I’m sure there are many. I would simply like to reflect my experience as a pastor. I have noticed our expansive human capacity for denial. I’ve seen families deny the addiction story they live every single day. I’ve seen spouses deny the grief of losing their partner after the requisite 6 week period of mourning. I’ve seen parents deny their kids are involved in illegal activities...even after they’ve been caught! It seems to be a coping mechanism. When we don’t know how to respond to a situation, we just deny that it exists. It requires mental gymnastics, for sure. However, gymnastics seem to be easier than facing our truth and muddling our way through the messiness it brings.
We tend to count the cost of facing our truth without counting the cost of denying it. Unfortunately, the ones who pay the price for our denial are often out of sight, out of mind. As we approach the 100th Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, let us simply see those whose lives are still impacted. Their faces count. Their voices need to be heard. Their losses need to be given space and grieved. Certainly, those with darker skin lost immeasurably more than me. But, the moment any person or group of people feel like the life of another is expendable, we all lose. Over the next 10 days, and in the weeks, months and years to come, may we acknowledge that we lost so much during an event that was hidden for the majority of the 100 years between the event and this commemoration.
This Sunday, we will make another big step toward our expanded schedule. We’ll worship with two distinctly different services and both will be livestreamed on our three channels: Facebook Live, YouTube, and our website. At 9:00, we’ll worship with hymns, liturgy, a creed and a sermon. At 11:00, we’ll worship with our praise band, the altar open again for prayer, and a sermon. Adult faith groups continue to meet during the 10:00 hour. This step in our transition will be two weeks long. On June 6, we’ll add nursery, kids and youth activities to the Sunday morning schedule.
In response to the CDC guidance last Thursday, we dropped our mask requirement. I shared that information for the first time on Sunday morning because the CDC announcement happened too late for our normal communication channels. We are still encouraging masks. The CDC has said those who are not vaccinated still need to wear masks. In a step of solidarity and to protect our kids and youth, most of whom are not vaccinated, mask wearing is welcome and encouraged. We also still encourage you to maintain social distance. In this period of transition, we’ll do our best to keep each other safe.
We honored Neisa Lock this week, a 22 year member of our church staff. Your cards were a treasure for her. And, her chariot was waiting for her when the party finished. Thanks, Ed Goodrich!
