The Untold Story of the Remarkable Life of Dr. Olivia J. Hooker
The Greenwood District emerged as a symbol of African American wealth and communal strength during the early 20th century in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The area that housed more than 10,000 African Americans became an economic powerhouse known as Black Wall Street in the United States. This place stood as a thriving hub for dreams and businesses until it faced intentional and destructive ruin.
Black-owned businesses formed the foundation of Greenwood's daily existence and represented economic self-sufficiency. Local people enjoyed movie screenings at the Bill Williams Dreamland Theater and purchased essential goods at D.L. Residents of Greenwood could buy essentials at D.L. Hooker’s General Store while receiving medical care from the prestigious African-American surgeon Dr. A.C. Jackson. Tourists frequently chose to stay at the deluxe Black-owned Stratford Hotel while families brought their children to Williams Confectionary for sweets.
The tragic events that unfolded on June 1, 1921 abruptly ended the community's progress.
A Planned Attack, Not a Riot
The event commonly referred to as the "Tulsa Race Riot" actually represented a premeditated massacre. White supremacists attacked the Greenwood community after false rumors about a Black man and a white woman circulated. Within a few hours hundreds of Black residents lost their lives while thousands became homeless before the thriving neighborhood turned into a pile of ashes.
Eyewitness accounts, such as that of attorney Buck Colbert Franklin, revealed harrowing details: Airplanes deployed flaming turpentine balls onto rooftops while organized armed groups looted and destroyed homes and businesses. Property losses surpassed $1.5 million in real estate and $750,000 in personal property at that time yet amounted to more than $30 million when adjusted for today's currency.
The State of Oklahoma took 80 years to officially recognize the Ku Klux Klan's responsibility in planning the tragedy. Dr. Olivia J. Hooker left behind an influential life and enduring legacy.
At the age of six years old Olivia J. Hooker experienced the massacre which permanently altered her life trajectory. The night confronted her with the brutal racism that targeted her community because she had been protected from such realities during her early childhood.
In a chilling memory, Dr. Hooker recalled believing it was hailing during the attack, only for her mother to point out the truth: "Look at that American flag. Your country is shooting at you."
Even though she experienced trauma Hooker's existence demonstrated both resilience and barrier-breaking. She moved to Columbus, Ohio with her family where she completed her undergraduate studies at Ohio State University and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937. After challenging her initial Navy rejection she became a trailblazer in the U.S. Coast Guard being the first African-American woman to serve.
Hooker completed her training at Manhattan Beach, NY in 1945 as a yeoman specialist and subsequently began her work in Boston. Following her military service she secured a Master's degree from Columbia University's Teachers College and obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Rochester in 1961.
Dr. Hooker maintained a steadfast dedication to empowering society's marginalized groups during her entire professional life. During her time at the Albion women’s correctional facility Dr. Hooker demonstrated how many incarcerated women wrongly labeled as "disabled" possessed abilities that exceeded general expectations. Her open-minded approach brought about significant life improvements for numerous women.
She taught as a professor at Fordham University until 1985 while establishing herself as one of the founders of the APA’s Division 33 for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and directing the Kennedy Child Study Center in New York City.
A Voice for Justice
Dr. Hooker maintained her memories of Greenwood throughout her advanced years. As a founding member of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission she battled to uncover the truth while seeking reparations for survivors and their descendants. Her unwavering conviction that the massacre was a "planned desecration" proves the attack was intentional and reaffirms the importance of maintaining historical accuracy.
Dr. Olivia Hooker achieved a remarkable age of 103 years while establishing a legacy that demonstrates the power of perseverance and the continuous battle for justice.
Remembering and Honoring Black Wall Street.
Black Wall Street represents more than an American historical tragedy because it demonstrates Black communities' resilience against systemic racism while illustrating their continuous development. We must honor Dr. Hooker's legacy because it serves both to preserve history and to motivate future generations toward equality, justice, and empowerment.
