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4. Law, Order, and the Politics of Relief
- Louisiana State University Press
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Chapter 4 Law, Order, and the Politics of ReDef i The aftermath of the riot provides us with a valuableview of the interworkings of power, race relations, and racial ideologies in Tulsa. The various responses to the riot revealed both humanitarianism and greed, mutual aid and exploitation. "Relief" efforts were in some cases honest, while in many others were but a guise for further abuse. The characters were many. The first problem faced by black Tulsans after the riot was a question of getting free. Roughly one-half of the city's black population was forcibly interned under armed guards—at Convention Hall, in public buildings downtown, at the baseball park, and at the fairgrounds . James T. West, a teacher at the Booker T. Washington School, reported that "people were herded in like cattle" into the Convention Hall, and that "the sick and wounded were dumped in front of the building and remained without attention for hours." At least one black man was shot in front of this large auditorium on Brady Street. Other blacks had a grand tour of imprisonment. Although he was interned at Convention Hall first, Jack Thomas was taken to a Catholic Church, then to the fairgrounds, and finally to a Methodist Church. By June 2, all black Tulsans who were interned —over 4,000—had been moved to the fairgrounds.1 There, they were held under armed sentries and "sheltered" in the 71 72 Death in a Promised Land cattle and hog pens. Food, clothing, and some bedding were given out on June 1 and 2. Apparently the physical condition of the prisoners generated concern among doctors, as vaccinations for smallpox , tetanus, and typhoid were administered to some 1,800 people at the camp during its first few days of existence. Black men did road repair work around the camp under the direction of the National Guard.2 At first, black Tulsans were allowed to leave the camp only if a white person would come and vouch for them, a system designed to allow only those blacks who were employed by whites to bereleased immediately. Generally, any white employer could secure the release of a black employee by identifying that person and promising that he or she would be kept "indoors or at the scene of their labor." There were, of course, some exceptions.}. C. Latimer, a black architect and contractor who was interned, claimed that he did not know any whites since he was self-employed.He later stated that a white man lied to the authorities and claimed him as his brother-in-lawto gain his release. A few black Tulsans such as Dr. R. T. Bridgewater, an assistant county physician whose home had been burned by whites, worked outside of the camp during the day and returned to it at night to sleep for at least a short period. Most of the imprisoned citizens, once they secured their release, left for good. The 4,000 plus of June 2 dwindled to 450 by June 7. Eight days later, the fairgrounds were empty.3 In addition to the internment camps, black Tulsans faced other restrictions . While on the streets, they were required to wear or carrya green card with the words "Police Protection" printed on one side, and various other data recorded on the other, including the person's name, address, and employer. It has been reported that "any black found on the street without a green card properly filled out was arrested and sent back to the detention camp." Black Tulsans had to carry these cards, which had been paid for by the City Commission and the Chamber of Commerce, until July 7." Blacks were not allowed to purchase or possess firearms for a period of several weeks. On June 6 an order was issued which prohibited the use of servants' quarters in white districts by blacks "other than those employed regularly on the premises" prior to the riot. [3.85.211.2] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 22:36 GMT) Internment at McNulty baseball park. Courtesy of the McFarlin Library, University of Tulsa White Tulsans roamed the streets while blacks were imprisoned. Courtesy of the McFarlin Library, University of TXilsa Greenwood Avenue,looking north from Archer. Courtesy of Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma Library 74 Death in a Promised Land Theodore Baugham, black editor of the Oklahoma Sun, "succeeded in getting out a little daily paper," which included lists ofpeopletrying to locate their loved ones. However, it is highly doubtful...