1921-1938

Tulsa Riot

Tulsa was a booming city due to the discovery of oil. The blacks were also prospering. The KKK was rapidly spreading throughout America and had an active group in Tulsa. The riot was triggered by a report in two white newspapers that claimed a black youth attempted to rape a young white elevator operator. Thousands of white men created a mob killing black men and women. The blacks were arrested even though the whites did all of the killing and damage.

Moore v. Dempsey

The Moore v. Dempsey case was a huge legal victory for the NAACP. Twelve black farmers were sentenced to death for allegedly killing whites during a riot. These five white men were most likely accidentally shot by other whites. During the first trial a mob of whites surrounded the court, saying that if the blacks were not guilty they would kill them. Other prisoners were forced to confess or testify against others. Each man was pronounced guilty. Justin Holmes argued that the court's ruling was unconstitutional. The case was sent back to the lower courts and Arkansas freed all 12 men.