Most local residents agree that so-called “alternative theories” about the Tulsa race car massacre and other historical tragedies should not be taught in schools, and teachers should stick to the facts acquaintances
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters recently traveled to several Oklahoma communities to discuss how schools should be run. Walters has raised several controversial topics in these forums, including the notion that there are “alternative theories” about the Tulsa race massacre.
On July 6, Walters was criticized for his comments about the Tulsa race massacre during a talk at the Norman Public Library. He was responding to a question from an audience member about how students can learn about the tragedy under HB 1775, the “Critical Race Theory” bill, and why he thinks the event falls outside the your definition of CRT.
Walters said she would never tell children that because of their race, skin color or gender, they are less of a person or inherently racist, and that people should be judged by their actions.
“But to say it was inherent, because of his skin, that’s where I’m saying it’s critical race theory, you’re saying that race defines a person; I reject that,” he said.
Walters has since claimed that his comments were misinterpreted and that all students should be taught about the massacre.
District 9 state Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, said he had no comment on what Walters said.
“[His] the remarks didn’t make much sense, and he needs to be held accountable for his responses,” Pemberton said.
State Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, was out of town last week and could not respond to a request for comment.
The Tulsa Race Massacre was a two-day attack in 1926 against black residents of Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood, one of the wealthiest black communities in the country at the time, also known as “Black Wall Street” , by the whites of Tulsa. Experts consider that the events that occurred are a historical fact and motivated by racism.
Superintendent Tanya Jones explained when and what Tahlequah Public Schools students learn about the Tulsa race massacre.
“These events are taught in Oklahoma history and discussed in American history when the proper era is taught,” Jones said. “Students receive required Oklahoma academic standards for social studies, including ‘the emergence of Black Wall Street in the Greenwood District, the causes of the Tulsa race riot, and the continuing social and economic impact.’
During a Saturday, June 24, Facebook forum, Tahlequah Daily Press readers were asked what children should be taught about the Tulsa race massacre, including “alternative theories” about the event.
Tahlequah resident Josh Lucas said young people should be taught all the angles so they can choose for themselves what they believe.
“You touch on all the angles, whether they contradict each other or not, and then conclude the class with ‘the importance of keeping the story true.’ [and] Honor those who died during that time never letting the truth be distorted over other shams,” Lucas said.
He was challenged in his comments by some who claimed that “truth” is not negotiable.
Many respondents said they did not learn about the event until later in life.
“One time I was reading a Stephen King novel and the riot was mentioned,” said Tahlequah resident Deborah Payton. “That was my first knowledge.”
Local resident Cathy Cott said she grew up in Oklahoma in the 1960s and 1970s and didn’t hear about the Tulsa race massacre until 2013.
“It was never mentioned in my Oklahoma History or U.S. History classes. I wonder what else my Oklahoma public education ignored or left out. I can name at least one thing: the Osage People murders in an oil, land and money grab,” Cott said. “That’s what Ryan Walters and many others in state government want to go back to. They want to rewrite history. Ignoring or whitewashing the facts and history doesn’t make it go away. It leaves a gap in children’s education.”
Cott said Walters got exactly what he wanted when he proclaimed that the history of the Tulsa race massacre should be taught without tying it to race.
“It’s been all over the national news,” he said. “Mission accomplished.”
what you said
In a website poll, TDP asked readers if they thought “alternative theories” of the Tulsa race car massacre and other similar tragedies should be taught in schools. Slightly more than 51% said no; 19.4% said absolutely; 11.1% said probably; 11.1% said they were “undecided and don’t know enough to say”; and 6.9% said probably not.
