May/June 1921 Race Riot

Were there any Jehovah Witnesses living in the area of the Tulsa Race Riot?  Yes, there were.  At that time they were known as the International Bible Students.  Please note the following personal experience from Mrs. Mary E. Jones Parrish's book, Events of the Tulsa Disaster, pages 25 and 26, as published in 1923.

                          "Tulsa, Okla., June 22, 1921.

     On the night of the Riot we had our class of Bible study, as usual.  After the class was over, and far into the night, we heard shooting down town, which we could only interpret to mean that there was trouble of some kind.  We went into the house and went to bed listening to the spasmodic shooting, which clearly convinced us that there was trouble of some kind.  

     In the morning the shooting was more severe in front of our house.  The Whites were firing on Colored, who, seemingly unaware of the trouble, were on their way to work, and in passing were met with vollies of shot.  We remained in the house until some folks came and stated that if we wanted protection we had better go to Convention Hall at once.  This we promptly did, leaving our house partly open.  About two o'clock we were called for by some White friends and brought back to our home to find everything considerable tumbled around, but no serious damage done.

     We found a White gentleman in charge of the house, who related to us that himself and son and a few neighboring White friends had prevented any further molestation of our home.  The stated that they were ready to stay with us all night if we thought it necessary to insure that we would not be molested.

     My principal loss was a two-story brick building on Greenwood Street.  (Of course, we lost some clothes, shoes, money and other things in the house that we did not consider worth while.)

     As to preventing such mob violence, I refer you to my statements in the Oklahoma Sun, Tulsa, Okla., the Black Dispatch, Oklahoma city, The Muskogee Scemiter, Muskogee, Okla.  That is the best solution I know of for race riots and mob violence.

                                     RICHARD J. HILL, Atty.,

                                                    International Bible Student."

Were the "White friends" who came to Richard Hill's assistance fellow believers?  Very possible. What a fine show of love for the Christian brotherhood.  UPDATE! According to a June 30, 1974 article in the Tulsa World, Brother Arthur Claus went to Convention Hall to get Brother Hill and his family released.  This article also stated that Brother Claus gave talks at Brother Hill's home in north Tulsa despite Jim Crow laws*. "This favorable impressed many and added to the growth of Tulsa's second congregation."

R.J. Hill's balanced view of a horrific tragedy wherein many lost their lives and 34 to 35 square blocks were looted and burned is impressive.  He shows no vindictive feelings but endeavored to give a witness of hope to those who had suffered loss as noted below. 

Mrs. Jones Parrish's book included a section on pages 69 through 75 subtitled "WHERE ARE THE DEAD".  This was also written by Richard J. Hill and is an amazing witness regarding the hellfire doctrine, the condition of the dead and the resurrection.  He quotes many scriptures from the King James Bible and reasons on them simply, but effectively. More to come about Richard J. Hill in future blogs.           

*The Jim Crow laws forbid blacks and whites to congregate together anywhere... in schools, restaurants, churches, etc.