The lynching of 17-year-old Jess Washington in 1916 is described in detail , as are riots and murders like the Tulsa race riot of 1921 . As James Allen says in regard to why these events have faded from human memory : " White America has maintained to this day control of the history of racial violence as victors . Its as if we live in an occupied country intellectually and as long as white America retains the power and maintains the myth of moral superiority the history will never become fully public and be written into our national conscience . " Besides this , black people were characterised as buffoons in traditions like the Blackface
Tulsa race riot
Tulsa race riot
Racism: A History