In 1997 , Franklin was selected to receive the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award , a career literary award given annually by the Tulsa Library Trust . Franklin was the first ( and so far only ) native Oklahoman to receive the award . During his visit to Tulsa to accept the award , Franklin made several appearances to speak about his childhood experiences with racial segregation , as well as his father 's experiences as a lawyer in the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa race riot
Tulsa race riot
Tulsa race riot
John Hope Franklin