John Hope Franklin honored at inaugural of reconciliation center

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Scott Ellsworth: He calls the 1921 riot "unfinished business" that must be resolved.

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 10/30/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 10/30/2009 4:27 AM

Nearly 600 people crammed into the Greenwood Cultural Center on Thursday night to honor the late John Hope Franklin and inaugurate his namesake Center for Reconciliation.

"We are on a journey that's just beginning," said Julius Pegues, who has led a nine-year struggle to memorialize Franklin and the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. "Tulsa is going to be the best city in America."

Arguably Tulsa's most decorated son, Franklin pioneered the fields of African-American history and understanding the role of race in America.

He died earlier this year, just months after attending groundbreaking ceremonies for John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park in the city's old Greenwood District.

The park's opening, originally scheduled for November, has been delayed by the weather, but that hasn't stopped the center from forging ahead.

Thursday night it was announced that the Franklin Center will host a symposium keynoted by Julian Bond in June.

Plans are also under way for the construction of a physical home for the center, which Pegues said will "be a leader for the country, and where research and dia- logue on reconciliation will be a key component."

Thursday's keynote speaker, historian Scott Ellsworth, called the 1921 riot "unfinished business" that must be resolved for Tulsa's own good.

"The question we are faced with tonight is, 'Shall Tulsa simply be the city with the riot or the city that healed the wounds?' "

Ellsworth said Tulsa is now widely

associated with the riot and must show the world that it has come to grips with its past.

"There are the kinds of questions, whether we like it or not, others will ask and answer," he said.

Mayor Kathy Taylor and former Mayors Susan Savage and Bill LaFortune were honored for their efforts on behalf of the park and the center, as were Pegues and Greenwood Chamber of Commerce President Reuben Gant.

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this page were copied from "John Hope Franklin honored with namesake center," which was published on 10/29/2009.

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irwindale, Tulsa (10 months ago)

Tulsa unite. We have so much going for us yet we have remained North Tulsa and the rest. The riot is still a sore spot for a lot of folks here in Tulsa and it shows.

An opinion.

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Corvetteguy, Tulsa (10 months ago)

John Hope Franklin, truly a great man.

Now,....let's move on and unite as fellow Tulsans facing a lot of very serious problems. We can a much better chance of solving them,... by working together. A handful of seft-serving, so-called "leaders" profit by dividing us.

The great silent majority of Tulsans (of all races) are very, very good people,.....just a little too silent at times.

May God bless us.

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IrishQuaker, Tulsa (10 months ago)

Well said, Corvetteguy.

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house, (10 months ago)

It was a wonderful experience last night. I am ashamed of the Tulsa World for not putting a bigger story. I am white, female and live in mid-town. This is way more important than the Tulsa Run. This is what has caused our city so much pain and the segregation continues. Sham on You Tulsa World.

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Bledsoe, Tulsa (10 months ago)

Last night was an especially memorable event because of the truly integrated character of the crowd.

Randy, I am disappointed you did not mention Elisworth's call for compensation (aka reparations) for the riot survivors. Perhaps your editor cut it.

I was also disappointed that former Mayors LaFortune and Savage were honored. They both fought any attempt to provide any compensation to the survivors. They could at least get on board with pending federal legislation that would extend the statute of limitations so riot survivors and their families could have their day in court. Their silence on this issue sends a message and it is not reconciliation.

Taylor on the other hand has done much more IMO.

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Mindi, (10 months ago)

"To acknowledge and accept that what has hurt me, is the first step toward uniting with me as my friend"

The Tulsa Race Riot was a tragic event, but it DID Happen.....we cannot dismiss history, nor move on in the present if we do. Thanks to Scott Ellsworth,....May Taylor for the apology (first government official to do so), the Greenwood Chamber and the Greenwood Cultural Center for working to preserve a time in history that brings as much pride (Black Wall Street entrepreneurs) as it does regret.

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