TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — The Black Wall Street Rally, an annual event held in the historic Greenwood District of Tulsa, will once again serve as a national symbol of resilience, remembrance and resistance when the three-day event kicks off next week.
Each year, thousands gather to honor the memory of a thriving Black community that was destroyed more than a century ago in one of the deadliest acts of racial violence in U.S. history.
The Greenwood District — once known as “Black Wall Street” — was among the most prosperous African American communities in the country during the early 20th century.
But on May 31 and June 1, 1921, a white mob, incited by a false accusation against a young Black man, descended on Greenwood.
The attack left more than 1,200 homes and businesses destroyed and as many as 300 Black residents dead.
Thousands were left homeless.
The massacre was largely silenced in mainstream history for decades.
Today, the site has become a place of remembrance and resurgence.
“There is a balance, and it has to start with investing and putting into our youth,” said Byron Perry with the Black Wall Street Rally. “We have to let them know that there is a history that they came from that was prosperous.”
WATCH: Full interview with Black Wall Street Rally’s Byron Perry
The rally, which began as a regional motorcycle event, has grown into a national movement.
Each May, riders and supporters from across the country travel to Tulsa to honor the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and to celebrate Black culture, excellence and unity.
“We have a city that’s full of great culture, great history, and for us, that centers around what was Black Wall Street — and what is Black Wall Street,” Perry said. “More than anything, we wanted to spotlight and bring people to Greenwood to basically feel the Greenwood spirit.”
The rally features more than motorcycles.
It is a fusion of culture, history, activism and economic empowerment.
Rally organizers host panels on racial justice, promote Black-owned businesses from across the nation, and provide platforms for descendants of massacre survivors to share their stories.
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“With the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 2021, we had a lot of people that were coming from out of town just to experience Greenwood,” Perry said. “A lot of people didn’t know about Black Wall Street or the history of the Greenwood District.”
Each year, the rally continues to grow — not just in size but in impact.
As calls for reparations and historical recognition persist, the Black Wall Street Rally stands as both a tribute and a testimony — a reminder that justice delayed is not justice denied, and that healing begins with truth.
“It reaches outside of Tulsa; it does a lot for the city,” Perry said. “It’s an event for everyone. It’s in the spirit of unity, community.”
The 2025 Black Wall Street Rally kicks off Wednesday, May 15.. For more information, click here.