Hannibal Johnson's "Black Wall Street" is an important and informative resource for anyone interested in what has taken place in Tulsa, OK, over the last century and beyond. Tracing the roots of the Greenwood District all the way to its Renaissance in the late 20th century, including the horrific Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, Johnson explores what made Black Wall Street what it was, and how Greenwood might be regained, if only in part. Ultimately, the destruction of the District in 1921, followed by economic decline in the area and urban renewal--otherwise known as "urban removal"--has left many scars not only in Greenwood, but in much of North Tulsa; to say that this is simply "how it goes," or that it is predominantly because of the poor choices of the individuals in those areas, would be naive and ahistorical. It is important for anyone interested in race relations in the U.S. to take a long and hard look at the happenings in Tulsa's Greenwood District; especially for Tulsans, this book is a must-read.

The book is insightful and historically grounded, but Johnson is also an engaging writer. It is a relatively short work, with about 150 pages of main text, which is followed by 100 pages of appendices. I would greatly appreciate a 2nd edition or revised edition of this work, because in the past 20 years since its writing in 1998, much in Tulsa and in Greenwood has changed and taken place. 2020 is a fitting year to read about the history of Greenwood, but also to ask to seek justice for Greenwood, reparations for the African-American community in Tulsa, and to create a Tulsa that is both just and unified. I strongly encourage people in Tulsa to read this book and to face our dark and painful history. #JusticeForGreenwood