Watch

Film Brings Awareness to Tragic Events on Greenwood Avenue

Creator:
Published:
January 30, 2024
February 1, 2020
This historical filmmaker is bringing awareness to the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred on Greenwood Avenue.|This historical filmmaker is bringing awareness to the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred on Greenwood Avenue.

(This story includes violent images from a historical reenactment of a race riot.)

Ayana Baraka is the creator of an upcoming historical film about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Filmed on the actual Greenwood Avenue, this film is both a way to preserve history and bring healing.

"When you film on the land with the ancestors of folks who were murdered or who survived, it resonated," she shares.

Video Transcript

Meet Ayana: Historical Filmmaker

Tulsa, Oklahoma: Ayana is recreating a race riot that destroyed a thriving black community in 1921.

Speaker 1: Sound, camera.

Speaker 2: Rolling. Scene two, take eight.

Speaker 3: Action!

(People acting out scene — yelling, fighting in the street)

The film is called Greenwood Avenue: A Virtual Reality Experience

Ayana Baraka, watching cut of scene: Is it jarring? Did it bump you? It bumped me a little bit, did it bump you? I think our color shift towards green was a little too much.

Speaker 4: Yeah.

Ayana: I remember being maybe a preteen and trying to prove my blackness, as if I needed to do that. You know what I'm saying? I thought I was past that, but I really needed to unpack that in order to make this project — to really understand how complicated race in America is, 'cause it's complicated.

Yeah, we're going to look at episode one from the beginning.

(Voiceover from film playing) “There’s a community where African Americans can feel free — Black Wall Street.”

Ayana: My grandmother helped raise my sister and I, and while I was at USC she passed away. And I felt sick because I didn't have her recipes, her favorite songs. So I just was really about preserving history.

We filmed on the actual Greenwood Avenue. We wanted to show the beauty of Greenwood so we had everyone in the 1920s outfits. It was like, you know, we're doing this historical piece for no money. This is a half a million-dollar production that we're doing on buttons. We took down street signs, all of that. We recreated it — 1920s. We are in severe credit card debt that we will be shoveling our way out of soon. You could feel it on set, that three-year journey of us just trying to get it together. I don't know, it was magic — movie magic.

(Voiceover from film playing) “And this all started over a boy and a girl and an elevator.”

Ayana: When you film on the land with the ancestors of folks who were murdered or who survived, it resonated. And I think that was powerful, and that was the best takeaway. That memory and the beginning of the race massacre at night

[audio from film]

— folks cried, and there was healing that was happening there.

(Cast of film cheering, hugging)

Ayana hopes to release the film this summer to honor the 99th anniversary of the riots.

(Acting out riot scene)

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
January 30, 2024
February 1, 2020
On a related note...
Suicide Survivor Gives Back to Support Prevention

Suicide Survivor Gives Back to Support Prevention

Grotto

What I Believe About the Things I Tell Myself

What I Believe About the Things I Tell Myself

Anna White

Women Find Healing Through Kintsugi Workshop

Women Find Healing Through Kintsugi Workshop

Grotto

This Podcast Explores the Deepest Questions We Can Ask

This Podcast Explores the Deepest Questions We Can Ask

Cate Von Dohlen

The Sacred Gray Area

The Sacred Gray Area

Sarah Adams

Build Us A Home: In Appreciation of John Prine

Build Us A Home: In Appreciation of John Prine

Marty Moran

"Poker Night"

"Poker Night"

Megan Ulrich

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Grotto

My Hands Were Made to Serve

My Hands Were Made to Serve

Chelsea Kau

Choir Raises Money for Cancer Patients in Kenya

Choir Raises Money for Cancer Patients in Kenya

Grotto

Free Download: Lenten Wallpapers for Phone and Desktop

Free Download: Lenten Wallpapers for Phone and Desktop

Grotto

What It Takes to Be a Great Mentor

What It Takes to Be a Great Mentor

Grotto

How Beauty Gave Me Strength in Suffering

How Beauty Gave Me Strength in Suffering

Bridget McCartney Nohara

Actor Hasn't Forgotten His Immigrant Roots

Actor Hasn't Forgotten His Immigrant Roots

Grotto

Harlem Juice Bar Brings Healthy Choices to the Neighborhood

Harlem Juice Bar Brings Healthy Choices to the Neighborhood

Grotto

Sister Barbara Visits Death Row

Sister Barbara Visits Death Row

Grotto

St. Teresa of Ávila Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

St. Teresa of Ávila Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

Blind Inventor Creates Assistive Technology

Blind Inventor Creates Assistive Technology

Grotto

Meet the Present (& Future) Saints of Synod 2018

Meet the Present (& Future) Saints of Synod 2018

Grotto Shares

This Worldwide Peace Movement is a Call to Unity

This Worldwide Peace Movement is a Call to Unity

Katie Faley

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.