Lovecraft Country: Tulsa Race Massacre

Published October 14, 2020 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hello Gene and Ashley,

I am a huge fancontacting yall for the first time. This became my podcast of choice through Westworld and Watchmen.

This episode of Lovecraft Country has been haunting me. I am a white woman from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I went to Booker T Washington Highschool and graduated in 2002.

There, I was taught about the Tulsa Race Massacre. I think this was necessary to make the next event significant to the students-

In 2000, I attended my first prom along with 95 year old Veneice Sims, who missed her prom the night of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

I wish I had felt the significance of that day as I danced the night away with my black and white friends. Veneice spent the day after what should have been her prom in 1921 attending to the wounds of her black neighbors who had been wounded by people that look like me.

I must have felt that things were better in 2000, than 1921, but I know now, that they still arent good enough.

During my last stint of living in Tulsa, Terrence Crutcher was shot and killed by Officer Betty Shelby. I can understand a little bit the legacy of the bad black dude based on how people responded- as if he deserved to die for being high on PCP and disobeying orders.

If I am feeling so heavy, I wonder how Veneices life was forever changed. It is good to see Tic softening toward his father after witnessing his tragic history.

Ive been reading everything I can get my hands on to understand. The sad thing is the collective cover-up! I learned in school about the Massacre but only because we students were about to meet a survivor! This history is only now becoming apart of Oklahoma history books. 99 years later and 20 years after a commission began investigating this history.

After this weeks episode, I saw a depiction of my old stomping grounds and asked my Pastor husband- is there no land that is not soaked in blood? He said no, there isnt. Today, I say, Come, Lord Jesus.

Ill am interested to see what baptism will mean for Tic and Letie in the season finale.

Thank you for your time,

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