Sharing the full history is part of the centennial projects CAS students are creating. Students and faculty members from computer science, geography, history, media and strategic communications, political science and theater are compiling information to build a comprehensive view of the massacre. “It’s a part of our obligation as a land-grant institution to the people of Oklahoma to help them understand Oklahoma history,” said Craig Freeman, director of and professor in the School of Media and Strategic Communications. “This is about providing a sound educational experience for the people of Tulsa, the people of Oklahoma and the people of America; there’s not a better place for people to get this information than from the College of Arts and Sciences students.” The faculty and students are working together on different facets of the educational experience. Students from the School of Media and Strategic Communications are working on a magazine that will detail the history of the event and the rising of Greenwood today. In addition, SMSC and theater students are shooting a documentary to highlight parts of the massacre and the events that followed. For the SMSC students, the opportunity also includes working with National Public Radio. Thanks to alumnus Doug Mitchell, students will be able to further share this story. “Doug has been amazing in helping our students find opportunities nationally through Next Generation radio, which scouts talent for the next generation of diverse broadcasters,” Freeman said. “The program will take place the week after Mother’s Day. We’re going to have amazing professionals and students from here as well as from all over the country coming to Tulsa to do those stories, which will then hopefully appear on NPR during the week leading up to the race massacre anniversary.” In addition, the media students will get realworld public relations experience by reaching out to media outlets to promote the projects on morning shows across the U.S. “In Greenwood, Black citizens owned everything because they came to that land largely via land allotments from postCivil War treaties that were granted to the Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, Seminole and Cherokee tribes. It’s important to emphasize how the district came to be in order to get a real understanding.” QURAYSH ALI LANSANA Quraysh Ali Lansana The Tulsa Race Massacre left up to 300 dead, more than 800 injured, and 35 city blocks in ruins. OSU COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 13
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