Tulsa Burning

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Tulsa Burning

In the early 20th century, the Greenwood area of Tulsa, Oklahoma was known as America's "Black Wall Street." After the race riot of 1921, it no longer existed.

1921 would be a coming-of-age year for white, dirt poor, fifteen-year-old Noble (Nobe) Chase. It starts out bad with his pa dying. Then circumstances force him and his mother to move in with the mean, local sheriff who shot Nobe's dog. This instilled a burning hatred in Nobe--the sheriff deserves the same.

One of Nobe's few friends is Isaac, an older African-American. In 1921, Oklahoma was part of segregated South. Racial prejudice was normal and the Klan was active. African-Americans were expected to know their place and stay on the bottom rail of the economic and social ladder. Poor whites had the assurance and confidence that there were always folks below them. Prosperous or "uppity" blacks such as those in Tulsa's Greenwood threatened the status quo--"I ain't sure Ma told the truth about not thinking colereds was different, because she sure didn't like it that Mrs Mitchell and Isaac lived in a nice solid little house with boxes of flowers on the windowsills. It was a lot better house than ours...I'm pretty sure it bothered Ma, colereds living better than we did."

The spark or excuse of the Tulsa riot that destroyed Greenwood, killing up to 250, was the standard canard of a black man being accused of assaulting a white woman. Encouraged by local media, a lynching was imminent. Some African-Americans showed up with guns to protect the accused. Nobe's friend Isaac got involved attempting to diffuse the situation. Shots were fired and violence exploded. Although beaten by a white mob, he was courageously rescued from being killed by the loyal Nobe.

As Nobe's relationship with his mother deteriorates and a budding, romantic interest surfaces with his other friend, Cinda. Isaac, while driving, accidently kills a little white girl. Again, brave Nobe takes the initiative and rescues Isaac from being lynched. The turbulent events of 1921 forced Nobe to make grownup decisions. If you are going to fight: fight for justice, the present, future, and things worthwhile. Past events, even though unfair and tragic, can't be undone. Don't waste time and energy on hate. Nobe has become Noble.

Through diverse fleshed out characters and dramatic description, the author accurately captures the atmosphere and people of a specific historical time. By focusing on a sliver of history, she dramatically opens a window to the Jim Crow South. What happened to Greenwood was symptomatic of a national problem. The Tulsa Riot was a harbinger of the later unrest and the civil rights movement. Even today, the smoldering fire can occasionally flame up.

In Tulsa, as with the author's more recent historical fiction such as Spy! (2008) and Time Of Witches (2009), today's YA readers can readily relate to the main character's predicaments. They can easily slip into Nobe's shoes. If they were Nobe, what would they do if confronted with similar choices? 152 pages.

If a reader's historical interest is piqued by this terse novel or librarians want collection resources pertaining to the history and details of the "1921 Tulsa Riot", I recommend Death In a Promised Land (1982) by Tulsa native, Scott Ellsworth, and Riot and Remembrance (2002) by James S. Hirsch.

Awarded by: Kansas Reading Circle, New York Public Library' books For Teens

Recommended by Robert L. Hicks, librarian

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Amazing, absolutely love it. Today I got to meet Anna Meyers today, she is so kind. You can tell she is so passionate about her books and writing. I love her personality, passion, and attitude.
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