Tulsa Trespass
The third title in the Tulsa Series, Tulsa Trespass gives a clear picture of the aftermath of the riot. Had the riot not been bad enough, there was even more mishandling of the situation in the months following. Word went out from the community saying:
“Tulsa feels intensely humiliated and …pledges its every effort in wiping out the stain…the disgrace and disaster. The rest of the United States must know that the real citizenship of Tulsa weeps at this unspeakable crime and will make good the damage, so far as can be done to the last penny.”*
To “make good the damage” never happened. Meanwhile the “real citizenship” as they called themselves, set forth to pass a particular fire ordinance that would forever prohibit the citizens of Greenwood from ever rebuilding.
(Thankfully, this folly was later defeated in the Oklahoma Supreme Court.)
In the midst of this strong opposition, Tessa and Gaven give their best efforts to assist the black community in the rebuilding process. But then, there’s still the issue of Hod Latham, the ruthless bootlegger, who will not give up trying to claim Tessa as his own.
Will Tessa be yet another victim of an unforgiving world? Or the victor lifted high by the only force greater than hate?
*Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, Scott Ellsworth, p. 83.