Racism exists, but thankfully, Tulsa has come a long way in overcoming racism. We must continue moving forward.

George Jetson, I too am tired of hearing about something humanity should never have to talk about, but the fact is racism exists, and we must talk about it if we are to overcome it. Unless we study the past, we cannot better the future, and if we do not better the future, there is nothing to "move on" to.

The question is answered by the fact we have never truly allowed blacks to flourish as a group again ever since. This happened early on in Oklahoma state government. Within 14 years of forming, this happened. Blacks and Indians basically had a place in America where they were supposed to be free from oppression, what we know as Oklahoma. We took it away, and both races bore the brunt of the worst of human traits.

It still goes on today, as a group we are still going to cut off economic opprotunity at every step. It's a disgrace to our race to allow this to go on, and all are part and parcel to the effort. Natives have been given a lifeline to economic opprotunity, with such a remarkable result. We have learned from that experiment what a wonderful people to interact with. Most of our race do not like the idea they have profit, even though it is voluntarily interacting.

It is time for Tulsa to have an experiment for the black communtiy to make amends for what we have allowed to occur, and continue to allow. We are ground zero from which the worst human traits reared it's ugly head, and exposed us for what we are. Say not me, but as a group it is you. Blacks had opprotunity in Tulsa under the Natives rule, as evidenced by black wall street, and the amazing abilities of a truly free people. Tulsa was an example that gave blacks nationwide hope.

We have always thought the respect between the Blacks and Natives was due to the low economic standing, seen as both are inferior to us. Truth be told, these are Gods children of the innocent sort and they see beauty in each other, and have endured together the wrath of our people. It is an insight that if we could learn, America would shed the chains on us all.

We have believed America is as good as it could get, much of our history has been far outpacing the world. What we do not realize is the untapped human potential that we spend vast insane resources to suppress. All it would take to unleash this potential is to remove our rule, and hold at bay our people from enforcing thier will on this race. Different cultures are different, given the opprotunity they would excell beyond our wildest imagination in thier own way.

I would propose a federal level experiment in Tulsa, where a people can rule themselves free from our control. Believing only choas would ensue, is to believe only our control on them works. We could only allow support from our people to help them establish basic services under thier control, as to do otherwise would definatly condemn them to what they have now. The beauty that is in the souls of these people would appear, and we would all want to interact in whatever they offer us to participate in.

The vast resources of a poor race spread throughout the country in individuals, would flock to Tulsa to join in a new adventure. A transformation of monumental proportions would occur. In actuality it would only be giving them back what they had 100 years ago. Freeing the human spirit has consequences that are unimaginable. Maybe a list like the natives use that the decendants of those brought in chains would rule, and adoption etc. would be at thier discretion.

I know what the question was, I offer a solution. Obama and our leaders can make it happen. You think America is great?, you haven't seen nothin yet!

Mr. George Jetson's response to this board is a prime example of why it's certainly too soon to "move on." To answer the question posed in the headline -- "Is racism still a problem in Tulsa today?" -- one need only read any Tulsa World message board anytime there's story about a black person involved in a crime. A special viciousness is in the comments that's not apparent in the responses to any article about whites snagged running a meth lab. It's not uncommon to see comments calling for the partitioning of all north Tulsa -- a problem-plagued area, to be sure, the problems of which aren't addressed by such throwaway quips.

The hate displayed in the message boards is a sad commentary on its own, but without it I suspect that many of us might be lulled into thinking that racism vanished from Tulsa long ago. After all those decades of suppressing any news or discussion of the riot, the city is now seeing an effort to make up for lost time and to educate the new generation. It sure can't hurt.

rocket I think your misunderstanding is in not comparing crimes of similar nature. When it's a violent crime (black or white) like armed robbery, drive-by shooting, home invasion, murder, etc, you will see responses like "fry him!" and "throw away the key" and other things I cant say here. Case in point is the 2 white guys that broke into a house, one shot the homeowner until the gun "dry fired". Everyone was calling for their heads on a platter. Another case was the 3 black guys that did the Rib Crib job. Everyone wants them fried also.

Now when it's something less serious, like a meth lab, (which is very bad I admit, but not nearly on the level of the other things mentioned) or maybe someone caught dealing crack, you will see less virulent responses by the posters.

It seems to be pretty consistent to me, the worse the crime, the worse the comments.

Now, are blacks or minorities more likely to commit the more serious crimes?, or are whites? I don't know, I have never researched those statistics and don't care to. Generally people make their own conclusions based on what they see, hear, and experience for themselves.

Racsim is still a problem in the United States, period. When the economy worsens, racism seems to get worse. Why is it economic success or survival is good for one race.