The digital guide makes the history and collection available to scholars, historians, teachers, and students anywhere in the world
Tulsa, OK – August 11, 2022 – Today, Greenwood Rising announced a new, digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Connects app, available for download from Google Play or the App Store, makes Greenwood Rising accessible for either onsite or offsite visits through photo, audio, and video features. The guide offers insights into the history of Black Wall Street, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and the continued road to reconciliation.
Users of the virtual guide will be able to access exhibits like Greenwood Spirit which explores the establishment of this historic community, Memories of Greenwood, a rare collection of first-person accounts from witnesses of the Black Wall Street massacre, and “20 for ‘21” a photo series that combines historic and present-day photographs of Tulsa. The Greenwood Rising exhibitions feature immersive experiences to bring the history of Greenwood’s historic Black business district to life. Users of the app will also access virtual reality experiences developed by Tulsan, Kujanga “KJ” Jackson, that will showcase what Black Wall Street was like before the 1921 massacre.
“To say that we are thrilled about this partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies is an understatement,” said Greenwood Rising Interim Executive Director Phil Armstrong. “Communities around the world continue to struggle with racial conflict and violence, and while Tulsa still has important work to do, the lessons gleaned from our history are more relevant than ever.”
Greenwood Rising will join the Greenwood Art Project guide on Bloomberg Connects. The Greenwood Art Project was a winner of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge. On view from May 26, 2021 – August 7, 2021, the Greenwood Art Project was a collaborative partnership between the City of Tulsa, University of Tulsa, George Kaiser Family Foundation, artist Rick Lowe, and 32 local artists to commemorate the centennial of the Black Wall Street Massacre. The temporary public art projects of Tulsa’s Public Art Challenge winning project explored the past, present, and future of Greenwood to strengthen, unify and heal the historic community. More information on each installation is currently available on the Bloomberg Connects app.
Bloomberg Philanthropies founder Mike Bloomberg was moved by the story of how a predominantly Black neighborhood had become one of the country’s most prosperous communities – and appalled and angered to know that its destruction at the hands of a racist mob had been whitewashed from history books. In 2020, he announced an ambitious plan called the Greenwood Initiative – a portfolio dedicated to accelerating the pace of wealth accumulation for Black individuals and families and addressing systemic underinvestment in Black communities. In remembrance of the hundreds killed in Greenwood, and in recognition of how racism has prevented Black families from building wealth,
“The story of the Greenwood massacre was hidden for far too long, but thanks to the people of Tulsa, that is now changing – and it’s a chapter in our history every American should know,” said Patricia E. Harris, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Greenwood Rising joins a roster of world-class cultural organizations on the Bloomberg Connects app. Their guide brings the rich history of an inspiring and vibrant Black community to new and broader audiences across the world. We hope this digital guide will empower and motivate audiences to commit themselves to building a more just and equitable world.”
Bloomberg Connects offers free digital guides to cultural organizations around the world. The app platform is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ longstanding commitment to supporting digital innovation in the arts. Bloomberg Connects makes it easy to access and engage with arts and culture from mobile devices when visiting in person, or anytime from anywhere. With dynamic content exclusive to each partner organization, the app provides a range of features including video, audio, and text; expert commentary; and way-finding maps. Follow Bloomberg Connects on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Click here to download the free. In addition to Bloomberg Philanthropies, the virtual experience is also supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Boeing Foundation.
About Greenwood Rising
Greenwood Rising opened in 2021, one hundred years after the worst racial violence in U.S. history—the Tulsa Race Massacre. The legacy project of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, Greenwood Rising started from a vision to build a stronger and more just Tulsa, but quickly expanded in scope to educate the world about the events of 1921, the legacy of Black Wall Street and the continued hope of racial reconciliation in Oklahoma, the United States and around the world.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 941 cities and 173 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2021, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.66 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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