Entrepreneurship
Nearly one hundred years later, Greenwood was a historic freedom colony in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As one of the most prominent African-American businesses in the United States during the early 20th century, it was popularly known as America's "Black Wall Street." On Greenwood Avenue, there were luxury shops, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, jewelry and clothing stores, movie theaters, barbershops and salons, a library, pool halls, nightclubs, and offices for doctors, lawyers, and dentists. Greenwood also had its "own" school system, post office, a savings and loan bank, hospital and bus, taxi service, and newspaper. Greenwood was home to far less-affluent African Americans as well. A significant number still worked in menial jobs, such as janitors, dishwashers, porters, and domestics. It is said within Greenwood, and every dollar would change hands 19 times before leaving the community.
The enclave continued until the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. White residents massacred as many as 300 black residents, destroying over 1,000 homes, injuring hundreds more, and razing the neighborhood within hours. The "riot" was one of the most devastating massacres in the history of U.S. race relations, destroying the once thriving Greenwood community. The Tulsa Race Massacre, where a white mob attacked the city's black district of Greenwood, resulted in two days of bloodshed and destruction. Based on the unfounded claim of rape, which was later found to be a bogus accusation. The area had been considered one of the most affluent African American communities in the United States for the early part of the 20th century. It was no secret that the poverty-stricken local white residents resented the lifestyles of this affluent black community. Often, stating that "these Niggas don't deserve to live better than me." With the Ku Klux Klan's resurgence, blacks in Greenwood feared racial violence and the removal of their voting rights. For years, the Oklahoma Supreme Court routinely upheld the state's restrictions on voting access for African Americans, subjecting them to the poll tax and literacy tests. And lynchings increased across the country, particularly during the Red Summer of 1919, where anti-black riots erupted in major cities across the United States, including Tulsa.
Anyone who has poured their heart and soul into a business and community knows how much work it is. And to do the same within your community, in that day and time, is unimaginable. To have lives and your way of life destroyed this way is inconceivable. The anger had to seize every inch of their being, only to continue to push forward. For this reason, I am proud to be who I am, an African American man, a descendant of these great people. I will never forget what has been sacrificed so that I could be here. I am forever grateful to them and all others within the annals of history who have done the same. However, to be thankful for their sacrifice is not enough. We must rebuild our neighborhoods into thriving communities by first recognizing the difference between neighborhoods and communities. A neighborhood is merely an area or region where people live near each other. A community is a social unit with a commonality such as norms, religion, values, customs, or identities. Communities may share a sense of "place" situated in a given geographical area or virtual space through communication platforms. Durable relations that extend beyond direct genealogical ties also define a sense of community, essential to their identity, practice, and roles in social institutions such as family, home, work, government, society, or humanity at large.
There is a big difference between the two. The great people of Greenwood built far more than a neighborhood. They created a self-sufficient community, one that was aligned with their beliefs and values. We must be better and do better. We must be exceptional in our deeds, and we must build again, not just with our hands but with our souls. We believe being entrepreneurial and developing viable businesses will be an indispensable part of the process.
Greenwood: The Legacy of Black Wall Street and the Fire That Forges Us
In the early 20th century, Tulsa’s Greenwood District stood as a monument to Black self-determination. Known as Black Wall Street, it was a thriving ecosystem of Black excellence:
Over 600 businesses, from hotels to hospitals, newspapers to nightclubs
A self-sustaining economy where every dollar circulated 19 times before leaving
A community where janitors and doctors alike found dignity and opportunity
Then, in 1921, white resentment erupted into two days of orchestrated terror. A mob burned 35 city blocks, murdered 300 residents, and erased generations of wealth. The massacre wasn’t spontaneous—it was economic sabotage, fueled by the lie that Black prosperity was a threat.
The Unbroken Lineage
As a descendant of those who rebuilt from ashes, I carry their defiance. Greenwood wasn’t just a neighborhood—it was a blueprint:
"A neighborhood is geography. A community is shared destiny—norms, values, and collective power. Greenwood proved that when we control capital, we control our future."
Their sacrifice demands more than gratitude. It demands action.
Rebuilding the Ecosystem: Entrepreneurship as Liberation
To honor Greenwood, we must resurrect its spirit, not just its structures. That means:
1. Choosing Your Entrepreneurial Path
We teach four models for economic empowerment:
Small Business (The Cornerstone)
Example: A single grocery store reinvesting profits locally
Power: Stability and generational wealth
Scalable Startups (The Disruptor)
Example: A tech founder using AI to close racial gaps in lending
Power: Exponential impact
Large Company Innovation (The Intrapreneur)
Example: Launching a Black-owned motorcycle division within an auto giant
Power: Leveraging existing systems
Social Entrepreneurship (The Movement Builder)
Example: A nonprofit bank fighting predatory lending
Power: Justice as the bottom line
2. Mastering the Fundamentals
Our curriculum trains the next generation in:
Financial fluency (From profit margins to credit repair)
Community-aligned business models (How to circulate wealth like Greenwood’s 19-to-1 rule)
Resilience (Because building while Black still means building despite barriers)
The Call: Plant Seeds, Grow Forests
Greenwood’s ashes fertilize our resolve. Join us to:
✅ Start – Enroll in our Entrepreneurial Bootcamp
✅ Invest – Fund scholarships for future Black founders
✅ Amplify – Share this with #BuildLikeGreenwood
We are the heirs of Black Wall Street. This time, we rise—not just to rebuild, but to reclaim.
