John Hope Franklin Center Observation

I chose to do my service learning at the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation in Tulsa. The center is inside the Greenwood Cultural center in the heart of what was once “Black Wall Street” and works to end racism through the positive influence of art and culture. I chose the center because I am a firm believer in the statement “all men are created equal”. Color is just color, and should not define a man, woman, or child. Secondly, I chose the center because of a personal connection. I am the great-niece of a Klu Klux Klan member, my great uncle Clarence Williams was a participant in some form during the Tulsa Race Riot, and as his niece I want to show that hatred and fear is not an inherited trait, that future generations can change. I have been in this area of Tulsa many times and I have always appreciated the murals that line the streets. They are a fascinating glimpse into the humanism of the area. However, I did have trouble finding the center. My GPS wanted to take me to a location past the OSU campus and I had to ask a pedestrian if she knew where the center was. She however, had never heard of the center itself and only knew of the park. I only found the JHFC by accident when I stopped at the Cultural Center to ask them. …show more content…
I spent a considerable amount of time reading the stories that adorned the walls, and I felt such a sense of helplessness as I read what happened during the riot. While reading I could only imagine the sense of fear and terror that the citizens of Greenwood experienced during those terrible events. One thing that particularly struck me was the search for possible mass graves conducted by Dr. Clyde Snow. I am an admirer of the work of Dr. Snow and it is unfortunate that the planned excavations could not take