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A diverse group of Tulsans lineup to run in Tulsa’s 5th annual Race Against Racism 5K
Published 09/16/19 | Reading Time 1 min 46 sec
By BWSTimes Staff
TULSA, Okla. — On Sunday RacismStinks held its 5th annual Race Against Racism 5K and Skunk Run on Greenwood Avenue in the historic Greenwood District.
Associate Professor Karlos K. Hill, Ph.D., of African and African-American Studies at the University of Oklahoma presented a history lesson on the significance of hosting such an event, as the Race Against Racism 5K race, in the historic Greenwood District.
In 1921 the Greenwood District was destroyed by racial hatred from a mob that envied the sight of black prosperity occurring in Greenwood. The mob destroyed 36 square blocks of the prosperous black district and murdered some 300 black Tulsans.
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Before the 5K race, founder and executive director, Richard Zobon Baxter said, “Racism in our state held its ugliest battle right here on Greenwood Ave, right hear on Black Wall Street. By jogging this historic path together, we are symbolically stomping out racism with every step.” Baxter’s declaration was followed by a moment of silence for all who died during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and destruction.
At the Junior Skunk Olympics, Tulsa Police Captain Jonathan Brooks stole the show during the tug of war challenge. His teammates’ collective median age rage was estimated at 8-years-old, with Captain Brooks being the major outlier.
Tulsa Police Captain Jonathan Brooks shows the community he knows how to have fun at the Junior Skunk Olympics.
Sargent Richard Meulenberg, of the Tulsa Police Department, introduced himself to a crowd that could only be described as diverse saying, “The thing I want to emphasize is [the importance of] personal connection. What it takes is me reaching out to you. My name is Richard. That’s my name. When I’m not wearing this…” hinting at the police uniform that he was wearing, “I’m Richard. I’m Richard when I’m wearing this, and I’m when I’m not. What we need to do is have more and more personal connections. We need to breakdown all of this, ‘I don’t know you.’ Most people don’t know cops. You know me now. I’m Richard. We have to be a community.”
D’Marria Monday, executive director of Blockbulderz and a RacismStinks board member, signs up Tulsans for the 5K
Sanya Rene presented her book “Momma, Did You Hear the News?”, a book about 10-year-old Avery’s first encounter of hearing about a police shooting on the news. In the midst of Avery’s personal panic, his parents decide it’s time for ‘The Talk,’ that every black parent or grandparent has with their black child. The book teaches both children and parents unique ways to remember what to do if approached by an officer and emphasizes that all police officers aren’t bad.
RacismStinks’ organization is already planning next year’s 5K, and are preparing for it to be the biggest yet. For more information about RacismStinks and its unique programs follow their Facebook Page for updates: RacismStinks.