'Deep Greenwood' Series Returns April 11 to Talk Protests Past and Present

We'll re-examine the widespread protests of 2020 and discuss what folks can do now to continue looking out for their community

When I wrote the book proposal for Built From the Fire in 2018, I did not expect protests to play a large role in the modern section of the book. I knew I’d be covering issues like criminal justice reform and the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement here, but I thought I’d be arriving in Tulsa after the passion around these issues had passed its peak. Of course, I was wrong.

This Thursday, for the next event in the “Deep Greenwood” series we’re going to revisit the summer of 2020, when the largest protest movement in the history of the United States unfolded. The talk be at 7 p.m. on April 11 at 101 E. Archer St. (formerly the Ahha building). I’ll be joined on stage by two people who played key roles in organizing and activating people that summer—Greg Robinson, a North Tulsa native and former mayoral candidate, and Adriana Laws, who has been leading protest movements in Oklahoma City since 2020 and now works as a political strategist.

Though the summer of 2020 touched every corner of the nation, Tulsa became an international flashpoint. Three back-to-back landmark events here got people to take to the streets—the murder of George Floyd, the 99th anniversary of the race massacre, and the relaunch of President Trump’s 2020 campaign in Tulsa on Juneteenth weekend. If you were here, you remember the energy, the danger, the joy, the fear, the possibility of that moment.

But part of my work as a writer is broadening people’s understanding of our politics beyond “moments.” This is also the work of activists and community organizers. So we’ll be exploring questions like: How do you create a bridge for citizens from protest to policy? What did activism in Greenwood look like before the modern era? For the folks who have been reading and learning since 2020, what can they do, right now, to tangibly make a difference? “Activist” and “protester” can sometimes be used as dismissive labels by politicians and within media. Some people feel nervous taking on those titles. But the question isn’t what you call yourself; it’s figuring out the ways you can be part of community building, rather than sitting on the sidelines.

It should a great talk. We’ll look back a little, but let’s also look forward. I hope to see you there.