New Curriculum Gives Schools Online Tools To Teach Race Riot History That’s Often Glossed Over

• Emily Wendler
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Emily Wendler joined KOSU in February 2015, following graduate school at the University of Montana. While studying Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism with an emphasis on agriculture, a professor introduced her to radio and she fell in love. The Cincinnati native has since reported for KBGA, University of Montana’s college radio station, and Montana’s PBS Newsbrief. She was a finalist in a national in-depth radio reporting competition for an investigatory piece she produced on campus rape. She also produced in-depth reports on wind energy and local food for Montana Public Radio. Since moving to Oklahoma, Emily's work has won many awards and has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Tulsa Historical Society And Museum

The curriculum on the Tulsa Race Riot includes discussions on articles, video clips and photos, including this one of the flourishing Greenwood District before the riot.

The Tulsa Race Riots lasted 2 days. Thirty-five blocks of black neighborhoods were destroyed and at least 39 people died. Historians now agree it was among the worst episodes of racial violence in U.S. History. However, State Senator Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, says many Oklahoma teachers often brush over the topic, or teach it incorrectly. He hopes a new Tulsa Race Riot curriculum can change that.

“It has been dirty secret that we haven’t pushed,” he said Tuesday, unveiling the program at  Frederick Douglass Mid-High in Oklahoma City. “It’s time for us to look at the past, and change the future.”

The curriculum includes a set of books, websites, photos and activities that teachers can access online.There are various lessons tailored to different grade levels, and teachers can choose from a one-day syllabus, or something that can be spread over five days.

Matthews worked with history teachers, local librarians, African American historians and Republican U.S. Sen. James Lankford to create the curriculum. The Race Riot lessons are not mandatory. Matthews says they’re simply a way for teachers to easily access accurate material if they want it.