Events

This documentary produced by Cox Media Group and WFTV, an ABC affiliate in Orlando, uses oral histories and archival records to tell the story of the massacre of the thriving black community in Ocoee, Florida. When African American citizens of the town insisted on their right to vote in the 1920 election, white supremacist groups stormed the town. Lead by deputized members of the KKK, residents were burned alive in their homes, shot while trying to escape, or lynched. The violence resulted in the displacement of hundreds of black residents; their property was then seized and resold without their consent. This powerful film will be screened at 7pm, followed by a group discussion.

Guest Speaker: Lynn Wallace, Library Director, Oklahoma State University-Tulsa.
A growing and prosperous African-American community had their aspirations and dreams destroyed on the night of May 31st 1921 when a newspaper article and rumors incited one of the worst incidents of racial violence in this nation’s history. Deliberate efforts to suppress the truth of these events kept Tulsa Oklahoma out of the history books for decades and members of the community either silenced or unaware.

What happened that night?  Why have so few heard about this history?  What happened to the dreams destroyed?  Where are the records and documents that record this history? 100 years later, what questions still go unanswered?  
Join us February 23rd to explore the history of Black Wall Street, The Tulsa Race Massacre, the aftermath, the fear that silenced a generation and the efforts to document, preserve and provide access to surviving documents and eyewitness accounts.

Okorafor is considered by many to be the successor to Ursula LeGuin for her literary quality fantasy and sci-fi creations. She’s a multi New York Times bestselling author, and her many literary awards include a Nebula and Hugo Award. She has a passionate YA following for her Binti series, and the Akata Witch books. Okorafor is also a celebrated author of several comic book series. She writes for both The Black Panther and Shuri, both from Marvel Comics, and she authored a spinoff graphic novel, Wakanda Forever. Her other comics include Antar: the Black Knight (IDW/Mirage Films), and LaGuardia. Author George R.R. Martin and HBO are turning Nnedi’s adult novel, Who Fears Death, into a TV series. Students in several classes will be reading Okorafor’s work this semester and the Humanities Institute has selected the first Binti novella for its spring book group.