amysutton's review against another edition
5.0
What an important story to tell! While I knew about "Black Wall Street" and the Tulsa Race Massacre prior to reading this, I didn't know nearly as much as I thought. I love how this focused on all the entrepreneurs and investors who built Greenwood from the ground up. One man's initial investment compounded to create a community with its own grocery stores, libraries, school, law offices, theater, mechanic, dress shop, cab service, and more. This was all during the 1920s when American Jim Crow policies were widespread.
The riot and destruction happened in only a few pages, echoing how the years of progress were destroyed in such a short time. Most of the book was focused on the building and the rebuilding of the community, and the success that could be achieved through group effort and dedication. What a world we could live in if this was everyone's focus...
As a side note - I didn't realize that the Creek in Oklahoma were owners of the most enslaved African Americans collectively at this time period. In the ending essays, there was an thought-provoking history described of the victims (Native Americans) becoming the oppressors to the next set of victims (African Creeks).
The riot and destruction happened in only a few pages, echoing how the years of progress were destroyed in such a short time. Most of the book was focused on the building and the rebuilding of the community, and the success that could be achieved through group effort and dedication. What a world we could live in if this was everyone's focus...
As a side note - I didn't realize that the Creek in Oklahoma were owners of the most enslaved African Americans collectively at this time period. In the ending essays, there was an thought-provoking history described of the victims (Native Americans) becoming the oppressors to the next set of victims (African Creeks).
resslesa's review against another edition
5.0
Short and powerful with excellent strong illustrations and a devastating picture of how white supremacy ruined a prosperous town but Greenwood refused to give up.
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Slavery and War
abkinlaw's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
dame_samara's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feeling on being critical towards the how in depth Ball goes into "Greenwood, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre", being a very white person, who hadn't known about this piece of history until roughly two years ago. But I felt like this didn't have the impact it could have.
I was surprised that Barnes and Noble has this listed a book recommended for those between 12 and 18. Because the way this book is presented reminds me of the non-fiction books I consumed between 8-12.
This reminds me of those pieces of non-fiction because it feels incredibly surface level, and while in an accessible form. It reads incredibly similarly to reading a textbook, where nothing is delved into to deeply, we don't get any first hand accounts from people. It is just information. That will likely need more follow up information provided with it.
I was surprised that Barnes and Noble has this listed a book recommended for those between 12 and 18. Because the way this book is presented reminds me of the non-fiction books I consumed between 8-12.
This reminds me of those pieces of non-fiction because it feels incredibly surface level, and while in an accessible form. It reads incredibly similarly to reading a textbook, where nothing is delved into to deeply, we don't get any first hand accounts from people. It is just information. That will likely need more follow up information provided with it.
lyzz's review against another edition
5.0
Across the Tracks
Author & Illustrator: Alvere Black
Illustrator: Stacey Robinson
Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 72
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
This graphic novel is being released in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred on May 31-June 1, 1921. The graphic novel talks about the founding and development of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was also known as Black Wall Street. The oil boom in Tulsa allow blacks to own land and Black Wall Street was founded. The community was quite prosperous with multiple building schools, having access to two physicians, a vibrant transportation system, multiple grocery stores, a theater and even a confectionary store.
On May 31, 1921, an accidental shot at the courthouse resulted in the sheriff deputizing white men who crossed the tracks into Greenwood. Over the next 24 hours, 300 African Americans had been killed, 1,200 homes destroyed, 320 homes looted, and 4000 people left homeless.
What I liked about this graphic novel:
*The retelling of the Tulsa Race Massacre is powerful. It shows the rise of Black Wall Street and the context for the massacre. I really liked that the emphasis was on the Greenwood District instead of on the massacre itself. It really brings home the point of what was destroyed during this horrible event.
*I appreciated the in-depth afterword that provides more detail about the history leading up to the Tulsa Face Massacre.
*The illustrations were gorgeous. The ARC I reviewed was black and white and will have color in the final edition. I think it will only improve this masterful design already provided.
*I appreciated that the artist varied the number of panes/splashes to match the content of the pane.
What I didn’t like:
*While the novel ends on a hopeful note, I wanted to know what happened afterwards.
*I would have liked to have a bit more context in the actual illustrations about the racism rampant in the US at the time. There are mentions of Jim Crow laws but not of the 1919 Summer of Red and the increased Klan activity that may have helped fuel this tragic event.
This graphic novel is powerful reading and a beautiful commemoration for this community that was destroyed. I believe this should be on the list of anti-racist reading as understanding history and why it was erased is critically important.
ARC provided to me by Abrahams Comics – Megascope, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.
Author & Illustrator: Alvere Black
Illustrator: Stacey Robinson
Genre: Graphic Novel
Pages: 72
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
This graphic novel is being released in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred on May 31-June 1, 1921. The graphic novel talks about the founding and development of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was also known as Black Wall Street. The oil boom in Tulsa allow blacks to own land and Black Wall Street was founded. The community was quite prosperous with multiple building schools, having access to two physicians, a vibrant transportation system, multiple grocery stores, a theater and even a confectionary store.
On May 31, 1921, an accidental shot at the courthouse resulted in the sheriff deputizing white men who crossed the tracks into Greenwood. Over the next 24 hours, 300 African Americans had been killed, 1,200 homes destroyed, 320 homes looted, and 4000 people left homeless.
What I liked about this graphic novel:
*The retelling of the Tulsa Race Massacre is powerful. It shows the rise of Black Wall Street and the context for the massacre. I really liked that the emphasis was on the Greenwood District instead of on the massacre itself. It really brings home the point of what was destroyed during this horrible event.
*I appreciated the in-depth afterword that provides more detail about the history leading up to the Tulsa Face Massacre.
*The illustrations were gorgeous. The ARC I reviewed was black and white and will have color in the final edition. I think it will only improve this masterful design already provided.
*I appreciated that the artist varied the number of panes/splashes to match the content of the pane.
What I didn’t like:
*While the novel ends on a hopeful note, I wanted to know what happened afterwards.
*I would have liked to have a bit more context in the actual illustrations about the racism rampant in the US at the time. There are mentions of Jim Crow laws but not of the 1919 Summer of Red and the increased Klan activity that may have helped fuel this tragic event.
This graphic novel is powerful reading and a beautiful commemoration for this community that was destroyed. I believe this should be on the list of anti-racist reading as understanding history and why it was erased is critically important.
ARC provided to me by Abrahams Comics – Megascope, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.
5elementknitr's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent graphic novelized telling of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
It ends with a few pages of text.
Highly recommended reading!
It ends with a few pages of text.
Highly recommended reading!