LOCAL
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
Former Okla. Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre, Tony Williams and Mary Williams gather for Greenwood Remembrance Day. Photos, Kimberly Marsh
Mayor proclaimed May 30 – June 1 Greenwood Remembrance Day in the City of Tulsa.
Since 2023, Tony Williams has been leading the effort to “Go Green for Greenwood,” a simple initiative and symbol of unity that asks every business and individual in the District to light their buildings in green and wear green to honor Greenwood, and he also encourages Tulsans across the city to participate.
Mayor Monroe Nichols on Friday, May 30, issued the City’s second year go cc proclamation dedicating May 30-June 1 as Greenwood Remembrance Day in the city of Tulsa, in order to use it as an opportunity to learn about, reflect on and repair broken relationships. The timeframe marks the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in the Greenwood District.
Williams, a lifelong Tulsan and business owner, who others have nicknamed “Mr. Greenwood,” took the idea for the proclamation to people in and beyond the Greenwood District three years ago. He found a lot of support for a continued tradition, and in collaboration with the Mayor’s office, he ensured a remembrance day for years to come.
The idea for a campaign is more than going green, it is meant to be an annual testimony to the spirit of Greenwood founders who created a successful Black Wall Street economy and community. The campaign honors the spirit of the businessmen and families who founded Black Wall Street 105 years ago and its resilience.
In presenting the proclamation, Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes commended Williams and his supporters for taking action. Photo, Kimberly Marsh
“Now look at this. We have over two dozen organizations and businesses that have green on their buildings. And look at all of us. We’re all doing something together in honor of something that was tragic in our history,” she said.
Williams is using social media and a website to get the word out and encourage Tulsans to join in.
“Look at everybody, people from all walks of life and organizations are here together for something that was supposed to be something we weren’t supposed to recover from,” he said. “But here we are in 2025, and everybody now is here together. I’m grateful to be a representative, not only to my community but my city. I thank you guys for continuous love and support, and let’s not just leave this here. We all now have a duty to keep this legacy of Greenwood going, and we have a duty to ourselves to come together and work together.”
Tulsa native Niyo Little Thunder Pearson (southern Cheyenne/Muscogee), the other member of the founding duo, noted that the participation has grown from eight to more than 30 entities.
“What we want to see is that Tulsans take this mantle and make sure that this continues to be an enduring and long, lasting movement, around us being able to sit down, have a conversation, be a united Tulsa, be able to rectify what the past,” he said. “I think beautiful things lay ahead for Tulsa if we are united.”
For more information visit gogreenforgreenwood.com and on Instagram at gogreenforgreenwood.
The Proclamation
The proclamation reads: “Whereas, The Black-majority, Tulsa community was formally organized in the early 1900s and named Greenwood, home of a thriving Black community and district known as “Black Wall Street;” and Whereas, from May 31- June 1st 1921, Greenwood suffered great tragedy and loss; and Whereas remembering these days is an opportunity to learn about, reflect on, and repair broken relationships from within the City of Tulsa; and Whereas the green lighting of the downtown community will serve as a symbol of remembrance and hope, aligning to the City of Tulsa’s Resilient Strategy, Therefore, I, Monroe NIchols, Mayor of the City of Tulsa, do hereby proclaim May 30th to June 1st as Greenwood Remembrance Day in the city of Tulsa.
